Eastern Edges

My personal challenge for this round of Miss Jenny Matlock's alphabe-Thursday is to post about a location within the borders of my own county of Derbyshire, UK, for each letter of the alphabet.


Look for the letter, to see where I am.

E is for Eastern Edges

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Towards the north east of the county, where the limestone based White Peak area of the Peak District National Park meets the gritstone based Dark Peak area, there is a series of edges.

The most northerly of these is Stanage Edge, rising up above the large village of Hathersage. At nearly four miles in length, it is the longest of the edges and rises to a highest point of 458m. It is popular with both walkers and climbers, with the latter being able to test themselves on hundreds of routes.

It is a much wilder area than the White Peak villages of previous Alphabe-Thursday posts; offering windswept moorland with grouse and heather.

A small number of climbers turn up accompanied by their dogs which scramble around the base of the rocks enjoying whatever fuss and attention they desire, and then curl up on a rucksack or fleece for a nap.

In 2005, Stanage Edge was used as a location in the blockbuster film 'Pride and Prejudice', based on the novel by Jane Austen and starring Keira Knightley and Matthew MacFadyen. It was also used for the BBC production of Jane Eyre in 2006.

At the southern end of  Stanage Edge is the Cowper Stone, a distinctive outcrop of gritstone which almost looks as though it is falling off the end!

After the Cowper Stone, stretching roughly southwards from Stanage Edge are Burbage Edge and Froggatt Edge, with the latter making way for Curber Edge above the villages of Curber and Calver.

Baslow Edge brings the line to an end.

The Edges are a bit of a drive from home, but well worth the journey!