The Western Moorlands
To the South West of Buxton, a ridge of moorland sweeps down into Staffordshire. The Western moorlands have millstone grit underneath, and some lofty, windswept, scenic places: so they qualify as part of the Dark Peak. Even so, they have a very different feel to them. Between the purple moors are soft valleys and pastures with gently flowing streams. The landscape has a beautiful shape and feel, and a sort of vivid colourfulness which is hard to pin down.
The Western Moors, and the Peak National Park, come to an abrupt finish in the south-west at the impressive escarpment of the Roaches, seen here from the North. Arguably the Roaches are the finest gritstone outcrops in the Peak District: majestic and dominant, but a friendly part of the landscape nevertheless.
A scrollable panoramic view taken from a spot just to the west of Axe Edge.
Titsworth Reservoir. From the Roaches, one can survey mile upon mile of the low countryside of Staffordshire and Cheshire. This is where the high country really comes to an end (or a beginning).
(view this scrollable panorama as a jpg)
The tiny white speck in the far distance, centre right, is Jodrell Bank!
The hill of Shutlingsloe, to the west of Buxton.