Rock formations and boulders can be some of the most interesting things to photograph and they can also be challenging to capture as well, working with leading lines in order to frame a composition and the landscapes in which rock formations can be found within can also be quite magical as well. Last week though I decided to take up the opportunity and try to find a rock formation that I had heard about but never visited and of course this particular rock formation is located within the peak district - the chances are is that many people visiting the peak district have probably not heard of this place either, and those who have, know of it’s sheer beauty and mystery almost existing in the middle of nowhere and creating a loud and bold symphonic statement within the mind when you first see it.
Yes I'm on about the impressive rock formations of “Robin Hood’s Stride” which is perhaps one of the most unique and interesting places that I have photographed in a long time. Feeling inspired from what I had read and seen about Robin Hood’s Stride - I just knew it was somewhere that would challenge my photographic abilities and I was not wrong, for a start it is located in a rather hidden spot of the peak district; between Winster and Bakewell, just off the B5056. It really is one of those blink and you miss it places which is quite sad as it is literally an Aladdin's cave of exploration along with photographic opportunities and something that is of an evocative and thought provoking place to explore; is sanctuary a good place to describe it as? Perhaps as it is one of those places that during the photography I pondered and gathered my thoughts on the world along with the pandemic that we are all living through at the moment. Either way though when I arrived at Robin Hood’s Stride after a magical walk up a very long driveway and forked left and followed the ironically named “Limestone Way” I caught the first glimpse of this magical rock formation in front of me.
Dark is the colour of stone in which Robin Hood’s Stride is formed from because the rocks that make up this impressive natural structure is millstone grit, yet the ironic part is that it happens to be in an area surrounded by limestone, hence the above and the limestone way. I digress though because after I had walked along a rather narrow but well trodden path, with brambles lying about on the floor I had arrived in a location that was magical, mysterious and a landscape that would have not looked out of place within a lord of the rings film. For the woodlands at the base of Robin Hood’s Stride might be small and perfectly formed but just walking through them is like being in a fantasy film almost akin to middle earth.
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| The base - (Colour). |
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| The base - (Black and White). |
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| Hobbits around here in quiet harmony. |
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| Targeting the sky. |
It is perhaps the textures within the woods at the lower foot of this magnificent rock formations that make it like middle earth - with moss clinging to millstone grit rocks and an almost eerie atmosphere that can be found at the bottom; it is like the dampness remains even if it is spring so somehow the mind gets enveloped into thinking that it is still autumn. Still though the woodlands at the bottom of Robin Hood’s Stride with the lower sections of rocks are just the first thought provoking and magical settings that you get too. I explored these woodlands, small but perfectly formed and began to lose myself within what felt like a film site, for this felt like,
“It was another planet. Here I am exploring woodlands, I walk further on and exit the small but perfectly formed woodlands and here in front of me are giant slabs of rock, millstone grit with markings on them from yester-years climbers who had been using these slabs of rock as a playground to climb on, I turn around and behind me is the first view I get of Robin Hood’s Stride and it is a cross between an alien ship which has landed or a sleeping giant - either way though it is a playground for explorers and rock climbers alike, not to mention photographers and those people who are wanting to seek out something new and unique. Perhaps it has got a slightly spiritual connection running through it? Either way it is purely magical to see a contrast between woodland, trees, rocks and the landscape”
Exiting the woodlands and I had finally approached slabs of rock, like stranded ships or vessels which had once sailed the hypothetical seas that might have existed here at one time and come to a rather abrupt end - for now these old slabs of rocks provide entertainment for people who use them as climbing frames; at the end of the day a “national park” provides an outdoor sanctuary for many and a place like Robin Hood’s Stride is a perfect example of nature creating something which is similar in many ways to a climbing frame. The only difference here is that the rocks are what people climb. From the smallest and easiest of rock faces to the more vertical rocks that are around it really provides a challenge for the most experienced of climbers to absolute beginners.
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| The lookout. |
But I was here for the photography!
Now just across the way from Robin Hood’s Stride is an area of rock called “Cratcliffe” another rock climbers paradise, that again also lends itself to photography. Just a stone’s throw away (pardoning the pun) is the mysterious “Nine Stones Close, Stone Circle” although when it comes to the number of stones within this stone circle it is actually just four. Naming conventions eh? After taking those photographs that overlooked the surrounding area I knew I had to turn around and see for myself the elusive and mysterious rock formation that makes up the stride, that stride being, Robin Hood’s Stride.
Whilst I had hoped for the day in which I had visited to be slightly warm, it was anything but, instead it was rather cool and grey, which for the end of April/Early May was something of a disappointment - but did this actually matter? Well no it did not as it added a drama to the photographs that I was capturing. I had decided to place the tripod in a low position and framed up a composition of Robin Hood’s Stride, the grey skies behind made for an interesting and slightly dystopian look and I let my camera run for four minutes, needless to say I was completely blown away with the end results.
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| Landed spaceship. |
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| A spaceship has landed. |
“Dramatic would be an understatement, the rocky outline of Robin Hood’s Stride is akin to that of a castle or a spaceship from something out of either Star Wars, Star Trek or Battlestar Galactica - for sleek lines do not exist, industrial is what it looks like”
I was amazed and I just had to explore more of this incredibly interesting place, the land in which it is located on provides some interesting scenes to photograph and I moved on, I approached the base of Robin Hood’s Stride and looked up at a tree, that was growing; it took me a bit of time to compose these following images, but drama here is something else - for this was pure natural theatre seeing how this tree could cling and grow - thus survive on this rocky millstone grit outcrop.
After photographing the rather haunting looking tree, I looked over in the direction of Youlgreave and at the base of the stride are rocks of all shapes and sizes, which provide interesting subjects, a small but perfectly formed woodland provides an interesting backdrop against these rocks and I knew that this would make for some interesting and thought provoking photographs, it was the way the ancient rocks co-existed with the woodlands and landscape surrounding this truly stunning part of the world
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| Woodland glow - (colour). |
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| Woodland glow - (Black and White). |
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| A tree clings on. |
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| Aliens and Rocks |
Woodland, Trees clinging from rocks and boulders I knew I had to explore more, but this time a path which would lead away from the stride and this path would eventually lead onwards to The Nine Stone’s, Stone Circle, of course though walking slowly away from Robin Hood’s Stride I was aware that this rocky outcrop was still behind me, looking over me as I walked to the stone circle; towering over my back and shoulder - I stopped and the skies magical, by now the grey skies had gone and it was akin to looking back at a battleship, huge and slightly daunting. Either way the delights of the stone circle were a few fields away.
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| And life stood still - (Colour). |
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| And life stood still - (Black and White). |
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| The frame. |
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| Between the rocks is life. |
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| Scattered in time. |
So it is only a short distance away is the stone circle, and from Robin Hood’s Stride you can actually see the Nine Stone’s, Stone Circle - a five minute walk later and I had arrived; okay so as I mentioned above, there are only four stones within this stone circle; but either way the view from here looking back with towards the outcrop of Robin Hood’s Stride is equally impressive and is one of contrasts. One minute you are amongst millstone grit rocks with impressive woodlands that feels like it is another planet or something from Lord of The Rings, the next you are in the green fields of the peak district countryside wondering; just how exactly did people manage thousands of years ago to construct a stone circle? Compare the construction of modern buildings now, in an age of consumerism and a throw away society that are designed to “fail and go faulty” these ancient standing stones that form this perfectly small stone circle are still standing thousands of years after they were built and that is amazing in it’s own right.
Still though the Nine Stone’s, Stone Circle is quite extraordinary; the location a field and a lone tree hangs over them providing an element of shelter and in some way protecting them from the elements, but it is also challenging to capture a stone circle, close by to Nine Stone’s, Stone Circle is “Stanton Moor” home to the Nine Ladies, Stone Circle and trying to capture the Nine Ladies is slightly more difficult than the incredibly picturesque quality of the Nine Stone’s, for it is almost as if this small but perfectly formed stone circle had been built and constructed knowing that thousands of years ago, photographers would want to capture them.
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| In warp over the ancients. |
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| Ancients and mysteries. |
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| A stone dance - (Black and White). |
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| A stone dance - (Colour). |
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| Rocks on the horizon. |
Magical is the stone circle and again the way in which it is lined up with the imposing outcrop of Robin Hood’s Stride, does beg the question - was it built there for ancient religious purposes or ritual? Perhaps even it was constructed as a navigational beacon; I guess I shall never know nor will anyone else apart from maybe a geologist or a local historian. Either way we can only ponder on why the stone circle was constructed and located where it stands.
Now though it was time for the walk back, and this involved a gentle downhill walk, past the stride and down a rocky but glorious picturesque path, in front of me the outcrop grew in size and I had to say a final goodbye to it.
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| A giant watches on. |
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| The watchful eye of the rocks. |
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| The sleeping giant. |
For the path now was downhill, until I got to a bench that I had passed, a few hours before, when I had arrived at Robin Hood’s Stride. It is dedicated to someone who lived in the farm house, situated at the bottom of Cratcliffe, now I suspect another family lives there, and when you walk the limestone way - you pass this fantastic and hidden property. Part of the limestone way is actually the driveway to the house, and walking towards Robin Hood’s Stride you end up gradually climbing up this driveway before forking left and walking towards the stride, either way that bench does provide a fantastic place to stop and admire the views, as I did on the way back from Robin Hood’s Stride and the stone circle.
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| Sit and have a minute - (Colour). |
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| Sit and have a minute - (Black and White). |
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| Up or Down the Drive? |
I am pretty sure that many a person who has sat on that bench has done for quite a while and pondered on life and the world, thus admired the views and I really can not fault them; for I did as well. Different is how I would describe Robin Hood’s Stride and it’s neighbour, the Nine Stone’s, Stone Circle - but it is also a place that might be hidden from prying eyes, yet despite it being out the way from prying eyes it is one of those places that when you do discover it makes you want to return and that is one of the best things. Yes it might be spring but I can not wait to go back in the Autumn and capture some truly magical colorful scenes of Robin Hood’s Stride with the autumnal glow later this year. Sheer magic is what this place really is and it is a peak district gem.
