Characteristics
The escarpment forms the eastern rim of the valley of the River Derwent in this part of its course, and when viewed from the valley below, casts an imposing impression of 'rocky crags' against the skyline. At the top of the escarpment is a part-managed heather moor, which is purple with bloom in late summer. Part of the moor management involves periodically burning sections to discourage reforestation and promote fresh heather shoots. Below the escarpment, on the valley slopes heading down towards the Derwent, is a forest of birch trees, the bare branches of which appear maroon-purple when viewed en masse in winter. The escarpment is a place of outstanding beauty and offers excellent views across both moorland and valley. On the paths that run along both the top and bottom of the escarpment, the underlying gritstone is often exposed and subsequently worn by the passage of many feet, creating a warm-coloured sand that is characteristic of this part of the Peak District.
As with many of the gritstone edges in the Peak District, Froggatt was used as a source of millstones; a number of half-completed mill stones can still be found at the bottom of this and other edges in Derbyshire.
Read more about this topic: Froggatt Edge