V is for Victory (Birchen Edge)

We're almost at the end of our Derbyshire A-Z, visiting some of our favourite spots in this fabulous county.

Yesterday's stroll was, quite literally, a "Victory" as we visited the 'Ships Rocks' carved with the names of three of Nelson's ships: Victory, Defiance and Royal Soverin (that's the spelling!), on Birchen Edge near Baslow.

We walked out in a loop along nearby Gardom's Edge, a stunning gritstone edge that's equal parts grassy/fern covered and stone, before turning back up towards Birchen Edge and following the lower path at its base.

From the lower tree line you catch a glimse of 'Nelson's Monument' erected in 1810 by a local businessman from Baslow called John Brightman, in honour of Lord Nelson.

The path splits near the Robin Hood Pub and turns sharply, climbing up through heather and ferns and onto Birchen Edge.

The ships stand some 20m back from the edge of high was peppered with climbers, whilst the monument sits proudly overlooking the valley.

Further along we passed the Birchen Edge trig, freshly painted and looking gorgeous in the fleeting sun, before continuing out along the edge and descending back across open moor to our start.