Castles In The Peak
Hidden in the Dark Peak, this formidable natural fortress silently stands watch over the Dales and Valleys of the Peak District.
Alport Castles remains a hidden gem of the Peaks.
This remote wilderness is guarded by the tall silent sentinels, gradually falling away to form what is the largest landslide in The British Isles
The gritstone motte and bailey castle secretly stands to the West of the famous Ladybower Reservoir and to the North of Snake Pass.
There is nothing quite like the feeling of being surrounded by ‘nothing’.
This ancient site, though naturally formed, does feel as though it was once a great stronghold; formidable and powerful in times gone by.
Tolkien fans would love this place. One can almost imagine 'The Fellowship' struggling across this wilderness and learning of ‘The Tower’ that looks out across the landscape.
The route taken to find the hidden location weaves and undulates through a labyrinth of different landscapes, that when you finally reach the plateau and look out onto the Castle, it is as though you have entered another world.
The spruce & Fir forests surrounding the banks and slopes of the Ladybower reservoir and dam seem the likely place for a day’s adventuring and exploring, and though it is easy to follow the meandering path around the beautiful banks of Ladybower reservoir, it is not the most rewarding of destinations in this area.
Following a hidden and discreetly signposted path heading West from Ladybower, we head instead into the less trodden path through the forest covering the valley slopes. The path is dusting and strewn with tree roots. It doesn't take long before the still and quiet of the surrounding trees encompasses you and pulls you along the old path. It is easy to be carried along by the forest, hardly noticing the you have been gradually climbing out of the valley.
It is only when you look to your right do you notice you are now above or level with the great tall trees of the forest, with their great trunks continuing skyward.
After a final steep ascent, a momentary pause is needed where one can look out across the valley, and progress thus far. The woodland hike has meant the sun has remained largely hidden until this point. The late afternoon sunlight hits the tops of the forest covered valleys and reminds us we have only just begun our adventure...
A short while later we leave the forest canopy, where the path continues to meanders up and down and inbetween fields and farmland; this path has been here for hundreds of years, etched into the landscape and solidly marked out by the dry stone walls on either side; another signature synonymous with the region.
We are continuously climbing now, across and through fields, climbing over walls, some more dilapidated than others.
Measuring our progress with the creeping shadow, slowing become longer as time moves forward toward the sunset we are chasing.
We finally reach the precipice of the valley and walk along the lip of the landscape, following it toward what will become the landslide area. We turn and walk into the setting Summer sun. It doesn’t however offer much respite against the chill and wind that is being swept up as it races and skirts along and around the side of the valley that we are navigating.
It is from this vantage point where you can see the manmade influences that are an important part of life in this part of England. From farmsteads, with sheep grazing, steel towers of industry, to the carved out horseshoes of quarry’s; they all coexist together in this patchwork of England.
The clear sky, more lavender than blue, offers such a contrast to the green expanse before us. Then we move on and follow the tip of the valley where it begins to plateau; to our left the sweeping descent, to the right a bleak and untamed land.
Looking back to the East, where we have come from, we can see the vast expanse and it is hard to imagine there are towns, roads, cars and people not too far away. There is nothing quite like the feeling of being surrounded by ‘nothing’.
Once we arrive, we set up our vintage camp while the sun lowers. After a light supper and a drink from our favourite distillery, we leave all our equipment at the base camp and make our way to Alport Castles.
It is stunning and despite the anticipation, the sight is entirely unexpected and breath taking. We have to remind ourselves that this is England and a short hike from civilisation, not some far away land that time forgot.
All there is to do now is wait and watch...
The sun seems brighter now than before, hitting the Dark Peaks with a golden glow that is unique to this time of day.
It then happens quite suddenly and silently. The golden tones fall away and a grainy saturation hits the hills and valleys; we get to experience the same landscape in a different light on our descent and it is as equally as breathtaking as earlier.
It has been a magical experience, and despite knowing we can always return, we know future visits will never quite be the same as our first.
View The Full Campaign
The Adventure Ensemble
With Special Thanks to Thomas Powell (Model) and Joe Hall (Photographer).
Location : Alport Castles, Peak District National Park, England.