Ladybower Inn Circular via Derwent Edge and Strines Walk

25.8 km (16.0 mi), with 850m ascent/descent. For a shorter walk see below Walk Options.

8 out of 10, with 6 ¾ hours walking time. For the whole outing, including trains, sights and meals, allow at least 13 hours.

A walk of contrasts on the Derbyshire/South Yorkshire boundary in the north east corner of the Dark Peak area of The Peak District. From the Ladybower Inn you rise in stages up to Derwent Edge, towering above the Upper Derwent Valley – with ever-improving views over the surrounding hills of the Central Dark Peak area and along Ladybower Reservoir. You then follow a clear and well-engineered path along the edge past some famous gritstone rock formations to the highest point of the walk at Back Tor and out to a magnificent viewpoint on Lost Lad hill. Derwent Head, Bleaklow and Kinder Scout dominate the views from here.
An easy gradual descent through the moors on a good track leads into Bradfield Dale to lunch in Strines, overlooking the Strines Reservoir.
Through woods and pastures you then reach the elongated Dale Dike Reservoir and loop around it through some pretty woods with views up and down dale. Rise to Boot’s Folly, a tower on a grassy ledge above Strines Reservoir, and further up Lodge Moor, and follow ancient turnpike roads (with far views) past remote farms and pastures back to a viewpoint above Ladybower Reservoir, where the morning ascent route is met. Turn left along Lead Hill and Ladybower Tor for final views to Win Hill and the Hope Valley and descend back to the Ladybower Inn.

Options to shorten the route are described, as are Alternative Endings (or Starts) in High and Low Bradfield.

You can cut the out-and-back to Back Tor and Lost Lad viewpoint (cuts 1.7 km/1.0 mi, but is certainly not recommended in good weather, however tired you are!).
Picnickers can cut the out-and-back up the road to The Strines Inn (cuts 900m and 35m ascent).
Shorter Endings lead to High or Low Bradfield and a circular bus route to/from Hillsborough Interchange (lines 61 [anti-clockwise]/62 [clockwise], both hourly Mon-Sat, every 2 hours Sun) for frequent bus and tram connections to Sheffield Station:
· either before lunch from Back Tor across the moors to High Bradfield and The Old Horns Inn (cut 7.4 km/4.6 mi and 370m ascent),
· or after lunch from Wragghouse Plantation by Dale Dike Reservoir along the Sheffield Country Walk to Low Bradfield and The Plough Inn (cut 7.9 km/4.9 mi and 313m ascent).
High and Low Bradfield are also alternative start points, with a more frequent bus service.
A Shortcut in the Afternoon cuts the loop around Dale Dike Reservoir (cut 3.8 km/2.4 mi and 70m ascent).
An obvious Shortcut in the afternoon follows Sugworth Road, where the route turns left up Lodge Moor to Moscar Cross and then loops back to the road along the old turnpike road (cut 1.0 km and 48m ascent).
At Moscar Cross you can cut down to the Moscar Lodge bus stop on the A57, for services to Sheffield or Ladybower and Bamford (cut 5.9 km/3.7 mi and 146m ascent).
A more direct finish from Cutthroat Bridge to the Ladybower Inn cuts 2.4 km/1.5 mi and 126m ascent.

OS Explorer: OL1 (The Peak District – Dark Peak Area)
OS Landranger: 110 (Sheffield & Huddersfield)
Harvey Superwalker XT25: Peak District Central (but not all of the Bradfield start/finish)
Harvey British Mountain Map: Dark Peak

Ashopton, Ladybower Inn Bus Stop, map reference SK 204 864, is 16 km west of Sheffield, 233 km north west of Charing Cross, 221m above sea level, and in Derbyshire. It is served by bus line 257 from Sheffield Interchange to Bakewell or Glossop (journey time 33 mins from Sheffield (04/22: £4.00 one way, £6.00 return). Sheffield is the terminus of the Midland Main Line from London St. Pancras, with up to two trains per hour (journey time from 118 mins Mon-Sat, longer on Sundays).

Saturday Walkers’ Club: This walk can be done as a day walk from London, despite the infrequent bus service, but – on the current schedule – only Monday to Saturday. Take a train no later than 8.00 hours.

The Strines Inn Bradfield Dale, Mortimer Road, Sheffield, S6 6JE (01142 851 247). The Strines Inn is located 10.7 km/6.7 mi into the walk. It is a traditional pub in a 13^th century farmhouse.

The Ladybower Inn Bamford, Hope Valley, Derbyshire, S33 0AX(01433 651 241). The Ladybower Inn is a quaint stone pub with rooms (some offering views of the picturesque Ladybower Reservoir). Under New Management as of 2024.

Bradfield Endings:
The Old Horns Inn Towngate, High Bradfield, Bradfield Dale, Sheffield, S6 6LG(0114 285 1207). The Old Horns is located at the end of the High Bradfield Ending off Back Tor.
Bradfield Brewery Watt House Farm, High Bradfield, Bradfield Dale, Sheffield, S6 6LG(0114 285 1118). Bradfield Brewery is located at the end of the High Bradfield Ending off Back Tor.

The Plough Inn New Road, Low Bradfield, Bradfield Dale, Sheffield, S6 6HW(0114 285 1280). The Plough is located at the end of the Low Bradfield Ending from Dale Dike Reservoir.
The Schoolrooms Mill Lee Road, Low Bradfield, Bradfield Dale, Sheffield, S6 6LB(0114 285 1920). The Schoolrooms are located at the end of the Low Bradfield Ending from Dale Dike Reservoir.

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National Rail: 03457 48 49 50 • Traveline (bus times): 0871 200 22 33 (12p/min) • TFL (London) : 0343 222 1234

Mar-22 Thomas G