Corbar Road (Buxton) - Corbar Woods- Corbar Hill - Flint Clough - Black Edge - Hob Tor - Short Edge - Castle Naze - Combs Edge - Midshires Way - Corbar Road (Buxton)

On what looked like a promising day for weather I travelled to Buxton to start a walk in part of Derbyshire I had not visited before. I parked my car on Corbar Road in Buxton (a quiet road with plenty of roadside parking) just off the A5004 - Buxton to Whaley Bridge. The start of the walk is along a lane next to Corbar Hall marked "Corbar Woods - Private Lane". After a very short distance one enters Corbar Woods through a brightly coloured entrance on the right. There then is a short but steep ascent up through the woods before turning left along side a wall to a stile which gives access to the top of Corbar Hill. At the summit there is a trig point and a huge cross (which can be seen for miles around). Corbar Cross dates back to 1950 and was presented to the Roman Catholic Church by the Duke of Devonshire.

Leaving Corbar Hill there is a thin grass path leading westerly towards Moss House Farm. Then at the corner of a wood pass through a gate, turn north alongside the left-hand side of a fence to another stile. Turn north west following a path towards the farm then cross a stream (you will need to find the best place to cross - could be boggy at certain times). Then it's north north east uphill to a break in the wall with a makeshift small gate. Cross the wall here onto the Open Access land. Next follow the wall north east towards Black Edge along a good walkers path through the grass and heather. Very soon Flint Clough is reached where the path heads upstream for about 150 metres to cross the stream before heading back to follow the edge again. Eventually Black Edge Summit Trig Point is reached. This is the highest point of the walk at 507 metres. There are good views all around including Mam Tor and Kinder Scout.

From Black Edge Summit the route continues to Hob Tor and Short Edge. There is a choice of paths here - follow the edge or cut across the moor. Both paths merge again further on. I took the path across the moor for a change of scenery but I suggest if the weather is not too good follow the path next to the edge. The path then crosses a stile (looked very new) and heads towards Castle Naze where there is a ancient fort. From the fort cross another stile. Soon you will notice a path which heads steeply down towards the valley bottom - ignore this and follow the path along the edge. At this point Combs Edge is arrived at. There were some climbers on the edge today practicing their skills. Ladder Hill with it's OS pillar and communication mast can clearly be seen across the valley.

The route then continues by following the thin (but clear) path along the edges back to Midshires Way. Several small streams are crossed including Pygreave Brook, and three tributaries of Meveril Brook (followed by another tributary of Meveril Brook further on). The views along the edge are lovely down into the Combs Valley and on to Kinder Scout in the distance. About half way along the route back (which contours around the valley) there is a Shooting Hut which is quite distinctive on the rocky edge. I presume that this hut is used in the Grouse season. It is locked and bolted so no entry is allowed in here. However there is also a small stone shelter nearby which may be entered in bad weather. Eventually the path veers left following a boundary wall (do not cross the boken wall at this point) and heads uphill for a short distance. After 250 metres the wall turns left. Our path turns right here and descends steeply down into the valley below. A couple of stiles are crossed to reach the Midshires Way. Here is the Outdoor Pursuits Centre of White Hall. The final leg of the route continues along the Midshires Way and the A5004 back to Corbar Road in Buxton. This was a very enjoyable walk in a particular quiet part of the Peak District.

Reference Books Used