Win Hill Lose Hill 28th July 2012

A much more strenuous walk than last week and just what I needed after sitting for hour on Friday night watching the olympic opening ceremony.



I parked at Castleton visitors centre car park and met Richard there. From there we walked to the end of the village and turned right on the footpath than runs along the side of Peashole water. To our right we could see the summit of Win Hill which looked quite a long way away. The path crosses the railway line and there is a short stretch on the road just south of Hope before picking up a footpath towards the village of Brough. The big disappointment there was the site of the Navio Roman fort....there is nothing there apart from some raised earhworks. 

River Noe

 Footbridge over the River Noe and then a short footpath to the left brought us to the A6187. A short stretch on the road and then a footpath to the right took us to a footbridge over the track at Hope Station. The path then led us northwards to Aston and then up to a crossroads of paths just above Twitchhill farm. The path up to Win Hill is right from here and after a short sharp climb we had reached the summit. Win Hill is only 462 M high but it is a well defined rock summit with spectacular views all around. Ladybower resevoir , Bleaklow, Bamford Edge , The Great ridge , Kinder Scout. We just dropped of te top for some shelter from the wind to have some lunch and soak up the views.

Win Hill Summit on the horizon

Lose nd then The second half of the walk took back down to the crossroads in the footpaths and down to Twitchhill farm. A weel defined footpath took us down to the Edale road where we turned right for and walked on the road for a couple of hundred yards before turning left just after the railway bridge.

Lose Hill and the ridge to Mam Tor from the top of Win Hill

After another couple of hundred yards there is a right turn signposted for Lose Hill. We took that and soon the the path started climbing. This was quite a slog (harder than Win Hill), but soon we had reached our second summit of the day.

Ladybower from the top of Win Hill

 After soaking up the views we headed along the ridge and just after back tor and before Hollins Cross we took a left turn off the ridge and followed the path back down into Castelton for a well deserved cup of tea.

view from the top of Win Hill

About 10 miles OS OL 1 Dark Peak

Higger Tor - Burbage Brook 22nd July

Just a short walk today.  Wasn’t planning on one but the weather was so good I had to get out.

Some walks you have to work hard before you are rewarded with great views. This one has great views from the start and all the way through without much effort.

From Hathersage I drove up the Ringinlow Road and parked at a layby just below Higger Tor. Cross the road and a short climb to the top of Higger Tor. Great views across to Stannage Edge , Burbage brook and Burbage Rocks. A gentle scramble from the top down to the well marked path that leads to Carl Wark Fort. I didn’t know before that this is the remains of an Iron Age fort. As I reached the top I thought  ‘that is a massive dry stone wall’.....no it was the remains of the fort. Again great views back to the Higger Tor and Burbage Valley. From there I dropped down to the path that leads to the A6187 near Toads Mouth. Just after I crossed Burbage brook I took a left before I got to the road to get on the Sheffield Counrty Walk which is an excellent wide path leading along the other side of Burbage valley and under Burbage rocks and then climbing gently to Upper Burbage Bridge.

From there it was a walk along Fiddlers elbow and another climb to the top of Higger Tor before dropping back down to the layby.

I am definitely going to do this again and make it a longer outing taking in the round walk down into Hathersage and along Stannage Edge.

OS OL1 dark Peak area  About 4 miles.

Linacre Resevoirs 1st July 2012

This is a walk out of the AA 1000 Walks in the UK. Walk number 739.  I haven't tried this before and it was very enjoyable countryside walk in this quiet North East corner of Derbyshire.

Parked in the resevoirs car park and followed the path down through the woods to the corner of the middle resevoir.  From there up through the woods to a path that came out near the dam wall of the top resevoir. The path through the woods then climbs up and you lose sight of the resevoir. The path didn't quite match what my instructions were saying, and after a steady climb along an overgrown track I came out well above the top resevoir oi the corner of a farm field. At that point I took a bearing from my Garmin to check exactly where I was - bottom of a field with wigley Hall farm at the top of a gentle slope.

Middle resevoir

From there on the instructions were spot on. Up to Wigley Hall farm, and thenleft along the road for a couple of hundred yards before picking up Bagthorpe Lane. walking along here reminded me of Bell Lane in Shipley park. The track took me through a couple of farmyards with mean looking dogs on the end of chains.....I know why folk do that but it just seems cruel to me.

Top Resevoir

At the top of Bagthorpe Lane I took a left turn along westwick Lane to BroomHall farm. Just before the farm a path turns left down over the river hipper and then up the valley side to Old Brampton.

Left into the picturesque village of Old Brampton for about 100 yards, and then therre is a track just after a phone box to the right which takes you to the edge of Linacre wood. From there I could see the edge of the bottom resevoir and a short descent through the woods brought me to the edge of the resevoir.

Bagthorpe Lane

From there a pleasant stroll along the top of the resevoir and then up through the woods to the car park.

A really nice walk which is a real contrast to recent hill climbs.

About 5 miles OS OL24 White Peak area