Grindleford station to Dore and Totley station

My first decent walk in a while was one I have done before, but at the wrong time of the year to see the heather in bloom. I enjoyed this walk the first time and it isn't too strenuous; indeed a nice introduction to get back into walking in the Peak District.

The walk begins in the delightful area I know as Padley Gorge. Mossy stones, ferns and the sound of Burbage Brook below to the right accompany us through the wood. At times it is like being in a rainforest, as the air is unbelievably humid and the sweat is soon streaming down my face. I pause to take a break as Sybil splashes in the stream below. A sneaky Snickers bar makes up for a missed breakfast and we continue on our way, soon reaching the open moorland near the Longshaw Estate.

Too busy looking for squirrels to pose for a photo

Carl Wark and Higger Tor are visible in the distance, with swathes of purple heather dominating the view. It's the first time I've seen heather in flower so I stop to admire the view whilst Sybil makes friends with a Border Terrier.

The Burbage Brook is calmer here, with less waterfalls over the flat ground. We head towards the road, ignoring the temptation of the ice-cream van parked nearby, and cross over, following the wide path through more woodland towards Longshaw Lodge.

There are several sheep near the Lodge, so it's back on the lead for Sybil until we double back behind the Lodge and onto more open moorland. The views are fantastic to our right, but the rain is closing in so we head to Little John's Well and climb the steps to the road, where we cross over and get to my favourite part of the walk, the expansive moorland of Totley Moss.

Violet Ground Beetle

Totley tunnel shaft

A ground beetle wanders across my path, and I pause to have a look. It is only after reading about them on the internet that I discover they can actually give a sharp nip, so I'm glad the one I handled seemed docile!

We pass the Totley tunnel airshaft and tramp across the moor, a fantastic sense of isolation creeping in as the moorland closes in. Sybil is having a great time, bounding ahead yet frequently stopping to check I am following her.

The heather becomes more and more colourful as we head along the track. As Sheffield becomes visible on the skyline, almost every flower is open on each plant and the ground is a deep, rich purple colour.

We begin to descend, the track eventually becoming a road as we leave our temporary solitude behind and re-join civilisation. We pass horses and sheep in the fields to our right, then march along lonely roads until we eventually reach a stile that takes us by a small stream. On the footpath I notice a dead mole, not the most pleasant sight, yet interesting to see. You can really appreciate that those spade-like hands were made for digging:

Sybil gets her last taste of freedom for the day while I sit on a bench and reflect on our days' walk. Despite her normal lack of love for anything wet, she reaches for her inner Labrador and has a play on the weir.

All that is left now is a long road slog back to the train station. The walk seems longer than last time and just as I'm about to check we haven't walked past it, a sign appears and we gratefully slink into the station shelter, with half an hour to wait and recover.