Ascent/Descent: 861/868 m; Net Walking Time: ca. 6 ½ hours
Toughness: 9 out of 10
From London , take the 09.02 Sheffield train from St. Pancras, arrives Sheffield 11.01 and change onto the 11.14 Manchester Piccadilly stopping service via the Hope Valley (Dore & Totley 11.21, Grindleford 11.29), arriving Hathersage at 11.32.
Sheffield Advance tickets are currently showing for a price of £31.00 (w/o Railcards). Buy this and then a Sheffield – Hathersage Open Return onboard the second train to get the best overall price for this trip. Low-Priced Off-Peak Returns (£83.50 w/o RC) are not valid on the 09.02!.
If already in the area and arriving from the West, take the 10.49 Sheffield train from Manchester Piccadilly (New Mills Central 11.16, Chinley 11.23, Edale 11.32, Hope 11.38, Bamford 11.42), arriving Hathersage at 11.45.
If already in the area and arriving from the West, take the 10.49 Sheffield train from Manchester Piccadilly (New Mills Central 11.16, Chinley 11.23, Edale 11.32, Hope 11.38, Bamford 11.42), arriving Hathersage at 11.45.
Return trains to London: xx.46 until 19.46 (change at Sheffield, just under 3 hours total journey time).
Return trains to Grindleford and Sheffield: xx.46 until 19.46 , then 21.47 and 23.15.
Return trains westbound: xx.31 until 21.31, then 23.06.
“Starting in Hathersage, an attractive village in the Hope Valley, this route leads up a quiet green valley towards the cliffs of the Stanage Edge, only to fork off along the Hood Brook through attractive woods (bluebells in season) and to rise further in a westerly direction through pastures-with-views and along the flanks of Bole Hill up to Bamford Moor and along its gritstone edge. Panoramic views of Mam Tor, Win Hill and Ladybower Reservoir keep the interest before a steep descent through an ancient oak wood and a newer plantation wood to the reservoir shore and the Ladybower Inn for lunch.
After lunch, a gradual ascent through woods leads up to Lead Hill and then the Derwent Edge, revealing stunning views of the Upper Derwent Valley and the Kinder Scout and Bleaklow plateaus. Turn right away from the edge down through Derwent Moor and gently up through Moscar Moor (on good paths) to Hordron Edge with its Bronze Age Stone Circle and across Jarvis Clough back to Bamford Edge for more views up the Hope Valley before the gradual descent to Bamford and the station beyond.
After lunch, a gradual ascent through woods leads up to Lead Hill and then the Derwent Edge, revealing stunning views of the Upper Derwent Valley and the Kinder Scout and Bleaklow plateaus. Turn right away from the edge down through Derwent Moor and gently up through Moscar Moor (on good paths) to Hordron Edge with its Bronze Age Stone Circle and across Jarvis Clough back to Bamford Edge for more views up the Hope Valley before the gradual descent to Bamford and the station beyond.
A post-lunch shortcut is described as well as an alternative afternoon route across Moscar and Bamford Moors past an array of pre-historic features.
Note : For the protection of moorland birds, dogs are not permitted on Moscar and Bamford Moors at any time.”
Walk Options:
Shortcut after lunch : from the Ladybower Inn avoid the ascent up Lead Hill and on to Derwent Edge. Cut 4.9 km/3.0 mi and some ascent, rated 8/10.
Shortcut after lunch : from the Ladybower Inn avoid the ascent up Lead Hill and on to Derwent Edge. Cut 4.9 km/3.0 mi and some ascent, rated 8/10.
Bus stops on the A57, either by the Ladybower Inn or further along the route at Strines Lane End, allow a finish by bus to either Sheffield or Bamford.
Alternative Afternoon Route across Moscar and Bamford Moors : from Hordron Edge follow a meandering route across the moors past one of the Peak District’s finest selection of pre-historic cairns, stone circles and solitary standing stones (in parts without good paths).
Alternative Descent Route into Bamford : a much more direct descent from Bole Hill into Bamford follows Leeside Road down the Bamford Clough for 600m. This is an ancient packhorse route and was the steepest ‘road’ in Derbyshire until it was closed for traffic. The average gradient is 22% and it is not recommended to take this route other than in perfectly dry conditions, with good profile soles and preferably also with walking poles, as a fall onto – and subsequent slide down – the mainly cobble or concrete ‘road’ otherwise is all but guaranteed. Absolutely and entirely at your own risk!
Lunch: The Ladybower Inn (10.2 km/6.3 mi, food all day).
Tea: The Anglers Rest (1.6 km from the end of the walk).
For walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.360