Overview

A fairly easy walk, starting the link along the Hope Valley towards the start of the Pennine Way. We take in, remnants of ancient woodland near the bizarre cafe / pub of Grindleford station.

From Higger Tor we have fine views of the Derwent valley towards Chatsworth before we climb to Stanedge a favourite haunt of gritstone climbers.

We descend to the dam buster pub in Bamford and finish with a pleasant stroll across the fields to Hope Village.

Distance: 18.5 km - Climb: 310 metres - Time: 6 hours

Start: "The Plough"  - Leadmill Bridge - GridRef: SK234805

Finish: "Woodroffe Arms"  - Hope - GridRef: SK172835

Going: A relative gentle walk with the climing taken in easy stages. Quite firm underfoot, but could be boggy on the moors after prolonged rainfall.

Waymarking: No waymarking and few sign posts on this section, but the paths are well trodden and fairly easy to follow.

Maps:

• Sheet 1, Dark Peak Area, of Ordnance Survey Outdoor Leisure Series 1:25 000. This is printed on both sides to cover the whole of the Dark Peak, and some of the South Pennines.
• Sheet 24, White Peak Area. Unfortunately a tiny bit of this section, ie 2 km around Grindleford, is off the bottom of sheet 1. I have tried to fill the gap by giving more detail in this area. You might, however, want to buy sheet 24 , as it is a good map to have when you want to explore the limestone region.

Hathersage to Grindleford

- Start "The Plough"  - Leadmill Bridge

From The Plough, cross Leadmill Bridge to the Hathersage side of the bridge. Here there is a signpost pointing downstream "footpath to Grindleford". Followed this metalled track for 700m to Harper Lee House. Here we enter the field to the right of the house and head south rejoining the river in 400m.

For the next 3.5 km we are off the Dark Peak map no. 1, so in case you haven’t got sheet no. 24 I will provide more detail.

Follow the river bank for 300m to the boundary with Coppice Wood, managed by the National Trust. This is a well established wood, with good signs of regeneration in oak, birch and rowan.

The path divides several times in the wood, keep to the left climbing towards the railway line. After 500m you cross over the line on a substantial stone bridge. Follow the path heading east, away from the line, for about 200m.

Here we join a metalled track going south towards Padley Chapel, scene of the burning of the Padley martyrs.

The track bends east and then south to reach Grindleford station

  Grindleford Station Cafe - 3 km From Hathersage

If there was a pub hiker’s restaurant at the end of the galaxy it would be the buffet on Grindleford Station. They serve hot and cold meals, tea and beer for most of the day. Open daily 0830 - 1830.

You deserve at least a cup of tea and a hot bacon butty to celebrate the start of your walk.

Padley Gorge 3.1 km from Hathersage

Retrace your steps, 150m north, to the last bend before the station. There is a small gap in the wall marked "National Trust, Padley Gorge".

The gorge is a good example of a moorland clough. It contains a wide variety of plants including remnants of the ancient woodland, birch, oak, beech and alder (see flora and fauna section). If you are interest is in natural history it is worth taking your time in the Gorge as you can visulise what the wilderness of the northern Britain might have been like before man started to chop down the trees and graze sheep.

Following the east bank of Burbage Brook for 600m where a small wooden bridge allows you to cross to the west bank. Climb the west bank a bit to find a good track winding up the gorge. Just before you leave the wooded section there is an old fenced area 20m to the west of the track. This small section of moorland was fenced around 1970. Note the complete regeneration, proof that free from grazing, gritstone moorland would eventually return to birch/oak woodland.

Continue up the track to the gate at the top of the wooded section. If you have time, visit a small disused quarry 150m NNW of the gate. It has a lot of almost complete millstones. What are they made of? Millstone grit of course. A good photo stop.

By the way, you are now back onto map no. 1. From the top of Padley Gorge follow Burbage Brook up to the A625 road at Toad’s Mouth

Toad’s Mouth - 5.5 km

Cross the road and find the second stile west of the bridge. Follow the path north up along the low ridge onto Hathersage Moor. The first craggy peak has the strange name ‘Carl Wark’ and is the site of an old iron age fort. There are good views to the south along the Derwent valley towards Chatsworth House mentioned in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. You are now on the high moor. Low bushes of heather and bilberry nestle in places the sheep cannot get and the plaintive call of the curlew reminds you this is their territory, not yours.

Continue north to a second crag called Higger Tor and get an even better view, if the day is clear. Follow the east rim of the rocky plateau then descend NNW to meet a tarmac road.

Cross this first road and follow the well used track 400m NW to cross a second small road. Follow the same line for 500m to climb onto the start of Stanage Edge The path brings you onto the edge near the trig point at 457m alt, a good navigational reference. By the way, you are now on the third stage of the Alternative Pennine Way.

Stanage Edge - Trig Point 457m altitude - 8.5 km - 2 hr 55 min from Hathersage

If you have time wander back NE along the edge for 300m to Cowper stone. This huge 4 metre cube of solid gritstone, is sliced diagonally by wind and rain to look like a huge 4 decker sandwich.

Now follow the edge NW. Admire the views in either direction. Looking west almost below you is Bamford Moor 426m and just behind that is the nippled shaped tip of Winhill Pike 462m. Beyond that is Lose Hill 476m at the east end of the Mam Tor Ridge. Finally 15 km to the west you should see the Kinder Plateau itself, at 636m the highest peak in the area.

After following the Edge for 2.1 km an ancient track called ‘the Long Causeway’ leads off Stanage Edge.

Descend this track past Buck Stone, another giant bolder left by the glaciers like Cowper’s Stone. Where water trickles off the edge there are pale green mounds of sphagnum moss.

Cotton grass, like balls of wool on stalks, covers the flat damp areas. The track runs east then south to join a tarmac road at a cattle grid at Dennis Knoll.

Cattle Grid Dennis Knoll 12.4 km -

Follow the tarmac road south for just 300m, then turn right onto a smaller road signposted Ladybower. This runs round Bole hill with a fine view to the South and West.

Looking down the lovely wooded Hurst Clough you can see the confluence of the River Derwent and the River Noe. It is the Noe which runs off Kinder down past Edale and Hope. On the banks of the River Derwent just 2 km below you, as the crow flies, is The Marquis of Granby Hotel. Who wants to be a crow? I do, I am getting hungry. After passing the top of Hurst Clough the road bends right round the shoulder of Bamford Moor.

Just as the road straightens out again a step stony road runs SW, straight into the centre Bamford Village. in just 750m you will descend 150m, your knees will ache, but keep going there is a good pint of beer waiting for you.

Bamford Village - 14.0 km - 4 hr 30 min

When you reach the main road turn left and in 100 m is ‘Ye Derwent Hotel’ 

From Ye Derwent Hotel -

turn right out of the hotel and go up the road for about 50 m, to a lane on the right signed ‘The Hollow’. Follow this downhill for about 300 m to a large dark stone mill on the banks of the Derwent. The path goes to the right of the mill, and takes you round the back of mill to some stepping stones and a wooden footbridge cross the river Derwent.

After you have crossed the river you have a pleasant walk for 400 m over the flat fertile fields of the valley bottom. Don’t worry, the shoulder of Winhill Pike looms ahead, to consume those extra calories taken on board at ‘Ye Derwent’. This starts with a steep climb to the road.

Road to Thornhill - 14.8 km -

The main route turns left into Thornhill village. However if you have rested overnight at Bamford you may be interested in a shortcut to Winhill Pike.

Thornhill - 15 km -

Follow the lane as it loops round to the west in the direction of Aston. Just 100m after the telephone kiosk in the village you come to a small church. Take a small track on the left for 25m then left again onto a path going SW. This cuts diagonally across the fields for 300m then turns south under the railway line and onto the A625 Hope Road. Follow the road W for just 400m where we take a path which cuts off on the left along the bank of the river towards the bridge at Brough Mill.

Bridge at Brough - 17 km -

Follow the road 200m SW through the village of Brough. A path leaves on the right heading north across a small stream. The path climbs NW across pastures overlooking the River Noe. After one kilometre we turn right onto a lane into Hope.

Hope Village - 18.5 km - 6 hour from Hathersage -

Keep right at next junction and we come into Hope, between the church and the Woodroffe Arms.