A six-mile walk through the Peak District fringe, taking in rolling farmland, ancient churchyards, sweeping Kinder views, and a handful of quintessential Derbyshire surprises.

There are walks that simply get you from A to B, and then there are walks that feel like a privilege. The Rowarth Circular, a six-mile loop on the edge of the Peak District, is firmly in the latter camp. Winding through farmland, wooded valleys and high ground with far-reaching views, it showcases some of Derbyshire’s finest scenery in a surprisingly compact route.

On the 22nd November 2024 we had an unexpected early snowfall during the night on top of icy conditions that resulted in me cancelling a photo-shoot. Having risen early I decided to walk to Poynton Pool with my camera as conditions everywhere were treacherous.

Well, needless to say I was greeted by an amazing sunrise and was the only person there to witness the spectacle. The image from that morning is the one shown above “Winter Sunrise Poynton Pool”.

The name Woodford, or derivatives of Woodford, dates back to the Middle Ages, when 500 square miles of forest covered the area, from Leek to Marple. The name is most likely attributed to the crossing of the River Dean, near the Deanwater Hotel, meaning the place in the Wood to ford the river, or perhaps the ford made of wood. The jury is out on that one, as there will likely be contributions in future issues to further the debate.