Birchen Edge facts for kids
Birchen Edge is a cool place in the Peak District, England. It's a big rock face made of a type of rock called gritstone. Lots of people love to visit Birchen Edge because it's great for walking and for beginner rock climbers. Most of the climbing paths here are not too hard, making it a perfect spot to learn!
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Exploring Birchen Edge: Great Walks and Views
Birchen Edge is a fantastic spot for an easy walk high up in the hills. From here, you can see amazing views of the nearby village of Baslow and parts of the famous Chatsworth House estate. Behind the rock face, there's a wide, open area called a moorland plateau.
How to Get to Birchen Edge
You can get to Birchen Edge by following a public footpath. This path starts near the Robin Hood Inn, which is on the A619 road. It's about 10.5 kilometers (6.5 miles) from Chesterfield.
Walking Trails Near Birchen Edge
If you enjoy longer walks, you can combine your trip to Birchen Edge with visits to nearby places like Gardom's Edge and Blackstone Edge. This lets you make a big loop and see even more of the beautiful Peak District. A long walking path called the Peak District Boundary Walk also goes right along Birchen Edge, passing by Nelson's Monument.
Nelson's Monument: A Tribute to a Hero
One of the most interesting things you'll find at Birchen Edge is Nelson's Monument. This monument is a tall column, about 3 meters (10 feet) high, made of gritstone, with a round ball on top.
Who Built Nelson's Monument?
A local businessman named John Brightman from Baslow built this monument in 1810. He wanted to honor Lord Nelson, a famous British naval hero. The monument was later fixed up in 1992 by a group called the 1805 Club.
The "Ship Rocks" at Birchen Edge
Close to the monument, there are three rock formations known as the "Ship Rocks." Someone carved the names of three of Lord Nelson's famous ships onto these rocks: Victory, Defiance, and Royal Soverin (which is a slightly different spelling of "Sovereign").
Rock Climbing Adventures at Birchen Edge
Birchen Edge is a popular place for rock climbing, especially for people who are just starting out. The rock face has many different climbing paths, and most of them are not too difficult.
Climbing Safety and Challenges
When climbing, it's important to have good "belays" at the top. Belays are anchors that help keep climbers safe. Usually, you can find good belays here, but in some areas, like Stoker's Wall, it can be a bit tricky. Also, the very start of some climbs can be a little awkward because the rock sometimes curves inwards.
Popular Climbing Routes
There are many well-known climbing routes at Birchen Edge. Some of these include:
- The Crow's Nest (a medium difficulty climb, called VS)
- Nelson's Slab (a harder climb, HVS)
- Sail Buttress (VS)
- Sail Chimney (an easier climb, S)
- Topsail (VS)
- Orpheus Wall (HVS)
- Peaches (a very hard climb, E4)
- Trafalgar Crack (a very easy climb, V Diff)
- Camperdown Crawl (VS)
- Powder Monkey Parade (S – but don't think it's too easy!)
