Pastures with views, Mam Tor's landslip area, Cave Dale, lunch in
Castleton, Hope Cement Works, a large upland moor and a scenic descent
to the Derwent River
Length: 27.0 km (16.8 mi) [shorter and longer
versions possible, see below]
Ascent/Descent: 728/742m
Net Walking Time: ca. 7
hours
Toughness: 8 out of 10
Take the 09.14 Manchester Piccadilly stopping service via
the Hope Valley (Dore & Totley 09.21, Grindleford 09.29, Hathersage
09.32, Bamford 09.36), arriving Hope at 09.39.
Return trains: xx.42 from Bamford and xx.46 from
Hathersage.
This route at the top of the scenic Hope Valley
starts with a gentle loop through pastures between the Peak District's
breath-taking limestone and gritstone landscapes with ever-changing views to
the hills around. You head for the mysterious Mam Tor, before ascending its
flank through the large landsliped area at its foot. A variation leads to
the dramatic limestone gorge of Winnats Pass and past a couple of the show
caves Castleton is famous for. A high-level traverse of pastures-with-views
loops down to Castleton through the fascinating Cave Dale (a collapsed cave),
past the Norman Castle ruins towering above it. After lunch you pass the fascinating Hope Cement Works, which dominate the
views from any hill walk in the area, pass through Bradwell and go steeply
up to Bradwell Edge. The impossibly scenic Over Dale is skirted
along its rim and Abney and Offerton Moor are crossed along good paths with
surround views. The descent to the Derwent River offers yet more stunning
views before a riverside finish to either Hathersage or Bamford.
Note - It is likely that this is still valid: “To protect ground nesting birds, only dogs kept “…under effective control on Public Rights of Way” are allowed on the Access Land of Abney Moor/Smelting Hill/Offerton Moor.”
Walk Options:
A late starter might want
to – after 4.6 km – follow Hollowford Road for 300m into Castleton for lunch
first, before continuing the route (see route map and text).
A Variation in the morning takes you past Speedwell Cavern, the bottom of
Winnats Pass dry gorge and Treak Cliff Cavern, rather than past Odin Mine
and through the active landslip of Mam Tor.
A Variation of that route leads up through the dramatic dry gorge of
Winnats Pass to the side of the road.
Cut out the loop through Castleton Village and past its lunch stops: cut
750m.
An out-and-back in Castleton to Peak Cavern adds 500m.
Finish the walk in Castleton and take a bus back to Hope or Sheffield or
Chesterfield (14.0 km/8.7 mi).
Finish the walk in Bradwell and take a bus back to Hope or Sheffield or
Chesterfield (16.9 km/10.5 mi).
An Alternative Ending leads to Bamford Bus or Train Station, this is
800m shorter.
A Variation of the Hathersage Ending crosses the Derwent on Stepping
Stones and leads to Jagger’s Lane and the heart of the village. This is almost
2 km less distance and even walking on to the station from the village would
still be shorter than the main walk route (but with a lot more tarmac and road
noise).
Lunch: Plenty of
options in
Castleton (ca. 14 km into the walk) or in Bradwell (ca. 17 km
from the start), see the pdf for details.
Tea: Plenty of options in Hathersage, see the pdf
for details.
For walk directions, map, photos,
height profile and gpx/kml files click here.
T=swc.343
2 comments:
Of the 15 walkers yesterday, one departed in the evening, the Glossop woman stayed at home, but then the Hybrid SWC/Capital Walkers man rejoined the fold, so n=14 today.
The weather performed to forecast, i.e. w=very-low-clouds-producing-drizzle-or-rain-most-of-the-day.
Not many views up to Castleton, but some eerie scenery, with dampness and clouds or mist rising out of valleys. The land slipped road found some interest, then we paused at The Blue John Café for refreshments, before going up the pastures and across the high pastures with views (not today though). The clouds briefly lifted enough though to see the top of Mam Tor (but not much else), then came the descent down Cave Dale, a stunning place, although the limestones were a touch slippery today.
Lunch in Castleton, most of us in The George, then on. It was still raining until we had passed the interesting cement works and gotten through Bradwell. On up steeply, and the clouds lifted and it stopped raining.
That was just as well, as now came the bits where far views made the difference: the Rebellion Knoll viewpoint, Offerton Moor and the following stunning descent into the Derwent Valley.
With smashing views by now (even the sun broke through briefly). All but a few went to The Plough in Leadmill, where some still are.
Great day (especially if accounting for the dismal weather forecast).
Supplementary: #1 took the alternative ending to Bamford station and the 18:42 service to Sheffield. A lovely walk with the first half in rain not damping spirits but influencing a change of pace post lunch and this walker’s subsequent evening plans. Lunch was taken at the George in Castleton where the food and service was excellent. Using the walk poster’s text enhanced the day as no ‘errors’ were made. Recons were done over the River Derwent Stepping stones even though the crossing is not necessary if heading to Bamford.
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