White to Dark Peak trek. 1st and 2nd October 2020

 This is the route created by Country Walking magazine to celebrate their 25th birthday. It turnedinto  a fantastic mini adventure with sons Ben and Rowan.

In overview  the route is - Bakewell - Monsal Trail - Cressbrook Dale - Litton - Eyam -Hathersage - Stanage Edge - Ladybower - Win Hill - Hope.

A detailed pdf download of the route can be found here.:-

https://www.livefortheoutdoors.com/whitetodark

The route is 27 miles but due to the closure of Headstone tunnel leading to Monsal viaduct we had to divert through Little Longstone and drop back down to the viaduct via Monsal Head, so we probably clocked 28 miles.

We opted to do the route in two days rather than the recommended three, with a stop at the Miners Arms in the lovely village of Eyam.

Day 1 Bakewell to Eyam 

As soon as we got on the Monsal trail we found notices about closures of Headstone, Cressbrook and Litton tunnels. A quick look at the map showed we could divert through Little Longstone and then join the trail at the viaduct to get around the Headstone closure. The other two tunnel closures wasn't a problem as the track leaves Monsal Trail just before the Cressbrook tunnel.

Section 1 Bakewell to start of Cressbrook Dale

The other deviation from the standard route is that we hopped straight onto the Monsal Trail from Bakewell instead of the cross country path that meets it near Hassop.

Short break at Monsal Head pub

View from the viaduct

Section 2 Cressbrook to Wardlow

Heading down to Cressbrook Dale

Tansley Dale

Lunch at the top of Tansley Dale

A typical White Peak scene

Top of Tansley Dale just before we arrived in Litton

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Wardlow to Eyam

Slight variation on the standard. We headd into Eyam via Tideswell Lane rather than through Foolow.

Looking down to Cressbrook Dale from just outside Litton

Tideswell Lane

across the fields towards Eyam

Cressbrook Dale.

The dynamic duo in Eyam

After a nice evening at the Miners Arms in Eyam  we set out out for Hathersage (after a massive breakfast).

Day 2 Eyam to Hope

Eyam to Stoke Ford

Stoke Ford to Hathersage

Hathersage to Stanage Edge

Stanage Edge to Ladybower

Ladybower to Hope

I have to say this was one of the best days hiking I can remember. Long, and tiring maybe but with magnificent views throughout after Eyam moor which was unfortunately shrouded in morning mist. We climbed out of Eyam onto Sir William Hill and then onto a misty Eyam Moor.

Eyam Moor

Crossing the moor was (for me) the clear transition from White to Dark.

Bretton Clough

Walking along the edge of Bretton Clough

Highlow Brook

Climbing up to Highlow Hall

Highlow Hall

Over the Derwent

Hathersage

Unfortunately, at this point Ben was knackered with a sore shoulder, so after some lunch he made the decision to leave us and get the train back to Derby. Well done Ben - he had walked from Bakewell to Hathersage in a day and half. I have since agreed to do the Hathersage to Hope section as a day hike as soon as we can arrange it.

Around 1.00 PM We set off out of Hathersage via the church where Little John of Robin Hood fame is allegedly buried.

Exit to the Churchyard

The mighty Stanage Edge.

I normally do walks around the edge by parking at one of the higher car parks. By the time I got to the top I was soaked in a full body sweat !!

On the Edge

Really ?

High Neb

Pit Stop near Cut Throat Bridge

Ladybower and Win Hill

Once we got to the end of the dam wall we had a short break and necked down an energy drink each and chocolate flapjack, ready for the last climb after 8 hours of walking.

Final peak of the day

View from the top

Looking back to Win Hill on the way down

We arrived in Hope at 6.00 PM and thirty seconds later Anne pulled up to collect us. What an epic two days of walking. Really pleased to have got this one done after the Hadrians Wall fail.

A massive thank you to Anne. She dropped us off in Bakewell, and then picked us up in Hope.

OS OL1 Dark Peak and OL24 White Peak. 28 Miles