As close as we are from the PD (I'm in Loughborough), I've never really explored the area as a wildlife venue. I intend to drive up this weekend but would appreciate advise from those who's been or live in the area, with regards what to expect this time of year and where.
I'm up for most stuff but am limited to 400mm for tele. I'm good for macro and also own a wideangle.
Any advise you have is greatly appreciated.
Des
PS: I'm a little "geographically challenged" so you'll have to be fairly precise with regards location
In absense of other replies, here is my recollections from quite a few years ago....... the PD is HUGE and in 2 distinct areas
the southern/softer White peak includes Dovedale and Mam Tor/Castleton regions etc generally lowland streams, woodland and soft moorland, the northern Dark peak is more upland fells / harsh moorland and water board reservoirs, transition between the two is roughly a line between Macclesfield and Sheffield
my haunts when I lived in South Manchester for White peak area were;
Dovedale NT near Thorpe/Ashbourne for dipper and grey wagtail - especially the northern end by Milldale where it is slightly quiter and less trampled by daytrippers, landscape opportunities throughout
Coombes Valley RSPB reserve SE of Leek (but birds are entering autumn moult now and are conspicious by their absence...) and the 2 reservoirs Rudyard and Tittesworth NW of Leek
Above 2 are probably your closest ports of call from Loughboro',
Macclesfield Forest and the ramble up to the moors to Shuttlingsloe Peak, return back in a northernly direction and the streams again used to hold dipper or the nearby Wildboarclough area, there is a nearby country park at "Tegs Nose", but I never went there
Dark Peak I found much harder work, but can be good for red grouse/moorland birds
try - the infamous Stannage Edge above Hathersage which is SE of the Ladybower reservoir complex, and the moors above Ladybower/Derwent in most directions
The Cat & Fiddle inn (just follow the numerous motorbikes across the A54 from Buxton.to Macclesfield...) / Shining Tor moors across to the Erwood/Fernilee reservoirs (another tourist trap unfortunately), but the cat and fiddle makes up for this inconvenience
Baslow - the edge above the "The Robin Hood" pub (back towards chesterfield on the A619) had a fair amount of meadow pipets on it last weekend.
Owler Bar - The waalk/road down to the resevior had quite a lot of hare on it three weeks ago.
Stanton in Peak . Follow the road up and walk onto Stanton Edge, because of the wet weather the birch woods by the 'standing stones' have quite a lot of fungi at the moment.
Posted by Paul Gibbs on August 3, 2007 at 10:51 AM
Sadly i'm not in this weekend else i could of given you a guided tour of Longdendale and the glossop area. Near by are swallows wood which has Roe Deer, little owls, etc, and towards swineshaw, red grouse, and i spotted some ouzel while walking the other week.
Discussion
5 repliesI'm up for most stuff but am limited to 400mm for tele. I'm good for macro and also own a wideangle.
Any advise you have is greatly appreciated.
Des
PS: I'm a little "geographically challenged" so you'll have to be fairly precise with regards location
the southern/softer White peak includes Dovedale and Mam Tor/Castleton regions etc generally lowland streams, woodland and soft moorland, the northern Dark peak is more upland fells / harsh moorland and water board reservoirs, transition between the two is roughly a line between Macclesfield and Sheffield
my haunts when I lived in South Manchester for White peak area were;
Dovedale NT near Thorpe/Ashbourne for dipper and grey wagtail - especially the northern end by Milldale where it is slightly quiter and less trampled by daytrippers, landscape opportunities throughout
Coombes Valley RSPB reserve SE of Leek (but birds are entering autumn moult now and are conspicious by their absence...) and the 2 reservoirs Rudyard and Tittesworth NW of Leek
Above 2 are probably your closest ports of call from Loughboro',
Macclesfield Forest and the ramble up to the moors to Shuttlingsloe Peak, return back in a northernly direction and the streams again used to hold dipper or the nearby Wildboarclough area, there is a nearby country park at "Tegs Nose", but I never went there
Dark Peak I found much harder work, but can be good for red grouse/moorland birds
try - the infamous Stannage Edge above Hathersage which is SE of the Ladybower reservoir complex, and the moors above Ladybower/Derwent in most directions
The Cat & Fiddle inn (just follow the numerous motorbikes across the A54 from Buxton.to Macclesfield...) / Shining Tor moors across to the Erwood/Fernilee reservoirs (another tourist trap unfortunately), but the cat and fiddle makes up for this inconvenience
Baslow - the edge above the "The Robin Hood" pub (back towards chesterfield on the A619) had a fair amount of meadow pipets on it last weekend.
Owler Bar - The waalk/road down to the resevior had quite a lot of hare on it three weeks ago.
Stanton in Peak . Follow the road up and walk onto Stanton Edge, because of the wet weather the birch woods by the 'standing stones' have quite a lot of fungi at the moment.
T
Des