Bamford Edge

A view SE from Crook Hill, in the Peak District, looking over Ladybower reservoir, and beyond to Bamford Edge and with Stanage Edge on the far upper left skyline. Although not of great elevation compared with the heights all around, Crook Hill's airy rocky summits offer a lovely viewpoint of the surrounding moors and gritstone edges. Crook Hill summits are formed of Kinderscout Grit (Namurian), as is Bamford Edge. Stanage Edge is comprised of the stratigraphically higher Chatsworth Grit (a.k.a. Rivelin Grit).

Ladybower reservoir (western arm) and the Ashop Valley viewed from Bamford Edge, in the Peak District National Park.

Ladybower reservoir and the Derwent Valley viewed from Bamford Edge, in the Peak District National Park.

I'm always interested in viewing landscapes in different ways and occasionally I experiment with exaggerating the vertical scale of my photos. I'm not sure of the validity of this as a photography technique or an art-form, but I do quite like the effect it produces and quite often this enhances geological and geomorphological features, and so is useful as a teaching aid. This view is from Bamford Edge in the Peak District looking to the south west. On the left, the Namurian ('Millstone Grit') succession of Abney Moor, Shatton and Overdale contrasts with the older Dinantian (Carboniferous Limestone) landform to the right. Bradwell village nestles in the valley in between. The easterly (left) dip of the rocks is well seen, as is the stepped topography of Shatton and Abney Moor due to the presence of alternating hard sandstones and softer shales.

This is the Hope Valley in the Peak District basking in the evening sunshine, viewed from near Great Tor on Bamford Edge. Abney Moor and Shatton are on the left, with the deep cleft of Overdale in shadow. Bradwell village is in the broad valley just right of centre. On the extreme right is the Earle's Quarry at t' back o' Pindale, which supplies limestone for the Hope Lafarge cement works (mercifully just out of shot).

Ladybower reservoir viewed from Bamford Edge in the evening sunshine; Peak District National Park.

I'm always interested in viewing landscapes in different ways and occasionally I experiment with exaggerating the vertical scale of my photos. I'm not sure of the validity of this as a photography technique or an art-form, but I do quite like the effect it produces and quite often this enhances geological and geomorphological features, and so is useful as a teaching aid. This is a view of Ladybower Reservoir taken from Bamford Edge in the Peak District. Here, the River Derwent has cut down through the Namurian ('Millstone Grit') succession - mainly Kinderscout Grit and the Shale Grit (an unfortunate name). The hillsides plunge straight down into the water, clearly showing how these are drowned valleys. Less obvious in a normal view, but brought out by this exaggerated scale is the relative flatness of the tops of the hills, above the 'V'-shaped notch of the valleys. This indicates a much earlier uplifted erosion surface (probably Tertiary age) on which the proto-Derwent and other rivers became established. The stepped topography of the hillsides is due to the presence of alternating hard sandstones and softer shales.

Evening sunshine over Ladybower reservoir viewed from Bamford Edge, in the Peak District National Park. Best viewed large.

Not on Bamford Edge, but this is where I parked my car. Stanage Edge on the skyline.