Sunday Walk - Alternative Walk: Ladybower Inn Circular (or to Bamford) via Alport Castles and Derwent Reservoirs [Sheffield Trip]

A grassy ridge to Britain’s longest inland landslip. Descend to skirt the famous Derwent Reservoirs. Hilly return options across moors or along edges.

Length: 26.9 km (16.7 mi) [shorter or longer walk possible, see below]

Ascent/Descent: 715m

Net Walking Time: ca. 6 ½ hours

Toughness: 8 out of 10

 

Take the 09.45 bus line 257 from Sheffield Interchange, arrives Ashopton, Ladybower Inn at 10.13. 

From the Hope Valley, take a taxi to the Ladybower Inn or the early train into Sheffield for the bus.

Return bus to Sheffield: 16.50, 17.50. 

Return bus to the Hope Valley: 16.13, 17.13 (calls Yorkshire Bridge Inn at xx.18).  

Trains from Bamford to Sheffield: 17.39, 18.39, 20.39, 21.38.

 

You cross Ladybower Reservoir and rise through pastures to Crook Hill to follow a grassy ridge with fine views to Win Hill and the Great Ridge, out towards the Kinder Scout and Bleaklow upland peat bog plateaus and across the Derwent Valley to Derwent Edge. At Alport Castles, the fascinating site of Britain’s longest inland landslip with its rocky pinnacles and debris, you turn down from the ridge along a good track through grouse moors into the wooded Derwent Valley and follow Howden Reservoir’s shore to cross Slippery Stones packhorse bridge into the open wild countryside of the Upper Derwent Valley. From there, the return route follows the famous Derwent Reservoirs (Howden, Derwent and Ladybower) back towards the start with ever-changing views across the large bodies of water, partly in open country, at other times flanked by enchanting woods.

The Derwent River near Slippery Stones bridge , with its deep rockpools, is a famous Wild Swimming spot.

Three variations of the return route break the long, nearly flat reservoir-side walk by climbing up a hill or ridge with fantastic views and descending back to the reservoirs further along.

 

An Alternative Ending from Alport Castles descends through the tranquil Alport Dale and crosses the Woodlands Valley to ascend Win Hill’s ridge with a choice of finishes, back at the Ladybower Inn or at Bamford Station.

On the Alternative Route, a loop exploring the landslip area of Alport Castles is described. This leads through some very rough, bouldery ground and has stretches of both very steep and somewhat exposed ground, with scrambling skills coming in handy, so is not recommended for inexperienced hill walkers. The route shown and described includes a scramble over the top of The Tower, which might be daunting for the inexperienced. Check the text for where to turn left to cut this out.
On the Alternative Route, easier descent routes avoiding some or all of the steep and potentially slippery descent through the beautiful Parkin Clough are described.

A Shorter Ending of that Alternative Route finishes at the Yorkshire Bridge Inn with its bus stop (on the same line as the Ladybower Inn). 

 

Lunch: Picnic. 

Tea: The Ladybower Inn or The Yorkshire Bridge Inn (on the Win Hill ending).

 

For summary, walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here . T=swc.349