A Stroll Around the Hope Valley

For the second week running JohnB and I went for a stroll around the Hope Valley, but this time we mainly chose tracks we hadn't been on before. The weather was rather mixed but the views, as ever in the Peak District, were stunning.

We started the walk from the car parking area on the old road into Castleton that is now permanently closed because of land subsidence from Mam Tor (grid ref: SK129 831).

The grid references are taken from Ordnance Survey map OL1 The Peak District - Dark Peak Area (courtesy of TrackLogs Digital Maps).


A short way down the road from where we were parked we walked past the entrance to the Blue John Cavern (grid ref: SK131 831). We carried on down the road, which was severely damaged by the landslide in 1979, and just before we reached the hairpin bend (grid ref: SK132 838) John took this picture that gives a great view of part of the Great Rdige. Our path was to take us past the trees seen middle left. and if you look carefully you can see the path leading up onto the ridge.


This picture was taken part way up the path onto the ridge (at grid ref: SK133 843) and gives a view of the Hope Valley looking towards Castleton (top left).


The path finally reached the Great Ridge at Hollins Cross (grid ref: SK135 845), which is an excellent view point that allows you to look not only into the Hope Valley (as seen in the picture) but the Edale Valley as well. Hollins Cross is the lowest point on the ridge at 1,232ft and is therefore a popular route taken with walkers either wishing to cross from one side to the other, or to start a walk along the ridge. At one time coffins from Edale were taken over Hollins Cross to Hope Church until a church was constructed in Edale, leading to the nickname of the "coffin road" for this route.


After stopping to admire the view and chat to a family of walkers we carried on along the Great Ridge to Back Tor (grid ref: SK144 848). For those who don't feel like climbing the rocky path onto the tor there is a lower level route through Brockett Booth Plantation. We were feeling energetic so we took the uphill route, and were rewarded with a terrific view of the Edale Valley.


From the top of Back Tor it was a rather more gentle climb up to the highest point of the Great Ridge at Lose Hill (grid ref: SK153 853). Lose Hill gets its name from the Battle of Win Hill and Lose Hill in 626. Prince Cwichelm and his father, King Cynegils of Wessex, possibly with the aid of King Penda of Mercia, gathered their forces on neighbouring Lose Hill and marched on the Northumbrians based on Win Hill. Despite their superior numbers, Wessex was defeated by the Northumbrians building a wall and rolling boulders down upon them.

Another name for Lose Hill is Ward's Piece. In a small gully on the left of the hill that many walkers (us included) use to shelter from the wind whilst eating their sandwiches, there is the plaque shown in the picture. It commemorates the work done by local rambler George Herbert Bridges Ward in the early to mid-1900's that led on many occasions to him being on the wrong side of the law but eventually also led to the right for all of us to roam these wondrous hills and dales.

After finishing our lunch John and I, stalked of course by Brett and Sam, began the steep descent of Lose Hill. We took the track down to Crimea Farm (grid ref: SK158 846), also called Losehill Farm on some maps, where we went through the stile on the right and continued down to Spring House Farm (grid ref: SK156 840). From there we turned right again and followed the path past the National Park Study Centre at Losehill Hall. A short way past the study centre we should have taken the path straight ahead but were too busy talking, thus missing the junction and carrying on left instead along the main path that eventually took us out onto the A6187 road at Spital Bridge (grid ref: SK154 833). There we turned right to walk into Castleton.


After a short stop near the stream in the car park in Castleton (grid ref: SK149 830) to eat the last of our sandwiches (in the rain and much to the amusement of people sitting in their cars) we set off on the last leg of our walk. After crossing the main road we took a route past the Youth Hostel (grid ref: 149 828), Peak Carvern  (otherwise known as The Devil's Arse and at grid ref: SK146 826) and the Speedwell Cavern (grid ref: SK139 827) to arrive at the Winnats Pass.

We crossed the road and passed through the stile in the wall and took the path past the Treak Cliff Cavern (grid ref: SK135 831). This final picture shows our last view of the Great Ridge, with Back Tor top left and Lose Hill top right. The path then continued uphill for a short distance before gradually levelling out just before reaching the Blue John Cavern. From there it was just a few hundred yards to the car to complete a very pleasant day out.