Roach End Barn

Our last day in the Peak District and we woke to a lovely warm and sunny morning. We spent today over the west side of the national park, heading first to Three Shires Head on Axe Edge Moor. We followed the River Dane down through the valley until we eventually came to an old packhorse bridge, with some small waterfalls leading into Panniers Pool. A beautiful location and the hours just flew by! 

As we were planning a sunset shoot this evening on top of The Roaches, we decided to stop for an early dinner. However, being only 5pm, none of the pub restaurants were open for business yet!  We thought we'd have better luck in a larger town and headed towards Leek where we came across the Three Horseshoes Inn. An immaculate pub restaurant with views from the terrace overlooking The Roaches.  I had the most exquisite Staffordshire cheese and onion tartlet, with new potatoes and an asparagus salsa and pickled onion gel followed by a cream tea (well, we needed some sustenance to walk up that ridge later)! 

We drove over to The Roaches making a pit stop at Roach End Barn where my blip was taken. A fantastic ramshackle old barn on the hill with far reaching views over the valley towards Leek and Tittesworth Reservoir.

We then drove back down the road and parked in the lay-by and started to make our way (slowly in my case) up The Roaches. The path climbs quickly and it's not long before we were clambering up rocks to reach the top of the ridge! Not easy when you're laden down with camera gear! Little did we know that there was a much easier route from the other end - but we seemed to chose the long, upward routes to all our locations!! We stayed up on the ridge and watched the lovely sunset over the valley below. It was 9.30pm and beginning to getting dark, so we took the easier path back down. Walking back down the road to the car we spotted a lovely lone tree, silhouetted against the gorgeous sky.

The week has gone by far too quickly and in the morning we'll be heading home.  A great week with great company.  Thanks Matthew :)

A few extras from Three Shires Head and The Roaches.

Apologies for the lack of comments whilst i've been away.  Looking forward to catching up with your journals soon!