The Longshaw Estate

A public information sign in the Longshaw Estate

The week after my trip to Edensor and Chatsworth House, with the fine weather continuing into late September, I decided to go out to the Peak District National Park again – this time to the Longshaw Estate on the No. 272 bus. 

A Google Earth view of the Longshaw Estate

I had travelled on this route several times in recent years to see Cave Dale and Peveril Castle in Castleton, St Michael & All Angel's church in Hathersage and also Carl Wark, Higger Tor and Burbage Rocks. 

The Fox House

Alighting at The Fox House this time, I checked the bus timetable for my return journey and was extremely surprised to discover that, apparently, no buses ran back to Sheffield between 13:30 and 16:30. With no network connection available on my phone to check online what I thought was an obvious error, given the popularity of this bus route, I had to change my plans. 

A Discover Longshaw leaflet

Having never been here before, I had just intended to spend a couple of hours here – to go to the visitor centre, before having a quick wander around to see what there was to do on an extended future visit; however, with no signposts that I could see to direct me beyond the car park and an outdated Discover Longshaw leaflet containing a map that was upside down – with north strangely depicted at the bottom of the map – my day wasn’t going well. 

The map on the Longshaw Estate website

Instead of trying to find a way to Longshaw Lodge, I went to the Moorland Discovery Centre, which I could see, and I briefly discussed these problems with a very helpful member of their staff. Explaining that I was a geologist and that I wanted to see some rocks, I was provided with directions that would get me to Burbage Brook and, if I wanted, down through Padley Gorge to Grindleford railway station, where I could then catch the hourly train back to Sheffield.

Grindleford railway station