Millstone Edge and Surprise View
In the Northern Lake District there is a "Surprise View" that takes in Castle Crag, Great Gable, Skiddaw, Derwent Water and Borrodale in a great panoramic view. It can be easily reached by car and is one of those views that makes your jaw drop. There's another Surprise View in Yorkshire near Otley and, of course, many other views that could be considered a surprise!
If you drive along the A6187 from Sheffield towards Hathersage you will pass the Fox House Inn, Longshaw and Lawrence Field probably without really noticing unless you are looking for them. Then as a sharp right hand bend appears through a small gap in the rocks a view across the Hope Valley opens out majestically in front of you known as Surprise View. If you are driving, be very sure to concentrate on the road which now drops gently below Millstone Edge and towards Hathersage. From the corner a wonderful vista opens up that takes in the Derwent Valley, the Hope Valley from Hathersage to Hope and Castleton, the Great Ridge (Lose Hill to Mam Tor), Win Hill and Kinder. It's a view that cannot possibly be taken in when driving along and, like the Lake District version, is easily accessible on foot from a large car park provided a few hundred metres away back along the A6187.
The car park is known as the Surprise View car park and the area has consequently become known as Surprise View. I assume that it is technically correct to label the view, but the area from which the view can be best appreciated is Millstone Edge. In my opinion the optimal vantage point is Millstone Edge Nick, the gap in the rock walls through which the road passes. By standing on the southern side above the road the view is just astonishing, but there is also a seat to take in the view on the opposite side of the road. If you are driving along this road towards this point, do take care as the view that suddenly emerges can easily distract you from the curve in the road and the stone wall. This wall has signs of several repairs to it!
(2008-2232) The Surprise View from Millstone Edge Nick
Below Millstone Edge is a quarry that, as implied by the name, was a source of millstones and there are many remnants of this industry scattered about the area including many almost finished stones abandoned years ago. This quarry apparently kept going until the 1950s and the remaining buildings are still largely intact - although please take great care if you explore these as they can be very dangerous.
Views
Surprise View is, well, surprising! But it is also a great view that should be savoured and taken in as the sun starts to drop in the sky or indeed in early morning, although the edge itself does cast a shadow. The rock face is beautifully lit by the warm evening sun and this will bring out the colours in the cliff. I have found it very difficult to create a good clear image that shows Surprise View well; it is often hazy, but I will keep trying!
The view itself is wonderful and does not change enormously from Millstone Edge Nick, across the road and up to the top of Millstone Edge. The path from there leads to Mother Cap which brings yet another view towards Higger Tor.
(2008-3202) Millstone Edge from fields below, May 2008
(2007-1001543) Millstone Edge
(2007-1001557) Millstone Edge. Some challenging climbing available!
(2007-1001565) Millstone Edge from Surprise View
(2007-1001539) View towards Higger Tor (right) and Stanage Edge from Millstone Edge
Access and Walking
The Surprise View viewpoint is almost unique in the Peak District in that it is accessible by wheelchair from the nearby Surprise View car park (pay and display). The path is well maintained and has been praised for its accessibility.
There are plenty of good walks that take in Millstone Edge, but a good short walk is to start from the Surprise View car park, walk up through the birch trees to Mother Cap and explore the weather-worn rocks there, across the Millstone Edge and follow the path that runs back down to the road. Then cross the road into Lawrence Field and follow the path back to the car park. This is not a big walk and is a good one for children - you may hear a cuckoo or see an owl in the woods, or with a little luck see a Red Grouse flying to land in the heather.
(2007-5253) Sun setting over Hope Valley from Millstone Edge
Maps and Guides
Ordnance Survey Explorer Map OL1 - The Peak District Dark Peak Area