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Location: Derbyshire Peak District
Distance: 26km
Date: January 2013
Kit: Tent (Vaude Power Lizard)
The second wild camp, determined to be more successful than the first!
This was longer but gentler route than the first, this route started at Baslow and headed to Stanage Edge and back. The route started on a cold January Saturday morning leaving Baslow at the North East up onto Baslow Edge. Stopping for a coffee at the top the route continued North to Curbar Edge. The path along Curbar and Froggatt Edge are very accessible and therefore very busy. Keen to keep away from the busy footpaths that become motorways of ramblers we headed directly towards White Moor (lots of deer here). This led us into the Longshaw Estate, which I must say is worth a visit as there are plenty of nice shorter circular walks around the estate. The plan was to head up onto Higgor Tor and across to Stanage Edge to camp for the night, however we’d misjudged the distance and remaining daylight. We couldn’t make it to Stanage with the remaining daylight so started to look for a camping spot near Higgor Tor. This became a race against the clock before nightfall. Eventually we opted to abandon the idea of camping on Higgor Tor, the ground was rocky and like much of the Peak District, covered in Heather. Unable to find a suitable spot we headed back down to the Longshaw Estate. Reluctantly we ended up camping within the estate grounds woodland. Although this made for a great wild camp we felt a little uneasy about camping there given the National Trusts attitude to wild camping! The evening was fine, sheltered amongst the trees. However the morning was freezing! Tents were frozen inside and out. Trying to get some warmth back into my body it was time for a Wayfarer breakfast and a few hot cups of coffee before leaving to return to Baslow. The route was a retrace of the previous days route back to the car. See my Wild Camp Map for more route info.
All in all a successful wild camp, slightly disappointed about the “there and back” route and not making it to Stanage Edge but otherwise a success.
