Frosty conditions in the Peak District


Just a quick post about a wonderful afternoon exploring an unknown bit of the Peak District near Buxton. A few years ago I recall being quite impressed with the climbing crags at Castle Naze, but had never wandered up onto Combs Moss and the moors above the A6 just north of Buxton before. But with such cold clear and frosty conditions it was a great day for photography that couldn’t be missed! Heading up the old Roman Road towards White Hall Outdoors Centre we climbed up onto the edge, passing some amazing frosty ponds with frozen ripples on them. Continuing along the edge of a drystone wall, we stopped briefly at a stone wind-shelter – with ruined drystone walls ahead and left, picking up the low rays of the clear winter sunlight. Winter sunlight on ruined drystone wall, Combs Moss, Derbyshire (Chiz Dakin)

Realising that we probably didn’t have time to get all the way around the whole edge of the moor, we followed the drystone wall left, heading towards Combs Edge in time to get the last hour of light. Stopping for a photo of the drystone wall in the foreground and two sinuous curves of Combs Edge before we got to the edge itself, I think the views from higher up were better than when we got to the edge – as there were more parts of the edge visible!