CAVERNS  &  PEAKS  WALK

CONTACT : Janet Housley, 5 Mount Pleasant, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Notts. NG17 4DE
Tel: 01623 469108      E-mail:  south-yorks-strollers@bwf-ivv.org.uk

DISTANCE:  13km
GRADE: 3
ENTRY FEE:  £1.00 per walker  (Cheques payable to South Yorkshire Strollers)
AWARD:  Badge at £2.50 each
ENTRY SYSTEM: Postal

START VENUE:  Public car park at western end of Castleton Village.   Map 11: GR SK148830
CAR PARKING: At the start venue
PUBLIC TRANSPORT:  Bus service within 1km of start.
TERRAIN:   Minor roads, farmland and moorland
REFRESHMENTS:  Available at cafes and pubs in both Castleton and Hope.

The walk starts from Castleton which is famous for its limestone caverns and the route passes a number of these before climbing Winnats Pass to join the ridge from Mam Tor to Lose Hill. The ridge walk provides magnificent views of the Derbyshire countryside before dropping down to the village of Hope and returning to Castleton along the valley. The walk involves a number of very steep slopes.

ROUTE DESCRIPTION

From car park cross road and follow footpath signposted 'Riverside Walk to Peak Cavern'.  At lane turn right over bridge and up hill (Goosehill)  At end of lane continue on up track.  Through gate and continue on path keeping wall on right hand side.  Go through metal gate/squeeze stile and continue with wall on right hand side.  Cross stile (next to gate) to road and turn left up hill past Speedwell Cavern.

Q1.    What stone is worked at Speedwell Cavern?

Cross stile to left of cattle grid and continue on road (or path on right of road) up Winnats Pass.  At top just before cattle grid (worst is now over!) cross bar stile in wall on right hand side and bear left keeping farmhouse on left hand side.  At finger post continue ahead (Mam Tor) wall on left hand side.  Cross stile and continue straight ahead.  Cross stile, road and another stile and continue ahead - right hand path (Windy Knoll).  At stone track turn right to stile and road.  Cross stile, road and stile diagonally left.  Straight on up grass bank, cross stile and go up steps to road.  Turn right over stile.  Go up steps to follow paved path to top of Mam Tor.  Continue along distinctive ridge path for 2.5km passing 2 stiles, memorial stone and a futher 2 stiles.  Just before woods on right hand side cross stile on left and proceed up steep bank with wire fence on right to top of Back Tor.  Continue on path to top of next hill (Lose Hill).

Q2.    On compass at top of Lose Hill - how for is it to Castleton?

Turn right down paved path: cross stile and continue ahead for 70m to another stile.  Cross this and turn immediately left downhill (wire fence on left hand side).  Follow path round to the right towards trees.  Continue downhill to finger post and then continue straight on downhill (signposted Hope).  Pass farmhouse on right hand side to reach stile.  Turn right to another stile and continue ahead (Wall on Left hand side).  50m after wall changes to wire fence cross stile and stream and go diagonally left to another stile.  Continue downhill (wire fence on right hand side). Cross stile and ahead.  Cross next stile and keep to left hand side of trees.  Through kissing gate and go straight ahead.  Cross stile and continue ahead on path with trees on either side.   After 80m follow path to right and then ahead with trees on left hand side.  Cross next stile and continue ahead between outbuildings.  Cross track and go through squeeze stile opposite.  Continue ahead to stile and bridge over railway.  Cross stile and ahead to redundant squeeze stile; then after wire fence on left hand side cross 2 more stiles and keep straight ahead.  Cross a further stile and straight ahead through gate towards houses (wire fence on left hand side).  Go through gate to road.  Turn left and at T junction turn right.  At main road turn right, cross road and then immediately left by churchyard.

Q3.    When was the commemorative tree planted in the churchyard 50m from corner?

Pass the first turning on left and then at fork in road go right.  After a very short distance before bend in road, take public footpath the Castleton on right hand side.  Follow footpath for 2km crossing the railway track and a number of stiles, mostly in the company of Peakshole Water.  When path emerges onto main road at Castleton turn left and continue along main street round 'S' bend and back to car park.

When you have completed this trail please use the Permanent Trail Entry Form

This trail is registered until 31 December 2008.

HOME    EVENTS CLUB INFORMATION   BWF    IVV

Sunday Strolls     Evening Saunters    Permanent Trails