Walk Memories 2023

It was an overcast day as 14 walkers set off eastwards out from Castleton along a path that followed sections of Peakhole Water (a tributary of the River Noe, which in turn meets the River Derwent).The route took us into the village of Hope and then it headed northward to walk through the village of Aston and past Aston Hall, a grade II listed building built in 1578, by the Balguys family. They were prominent lawyers and landowners of high social standing in this area of the Peak District at that time.

The ‘strenuous climb’ now began as we made our way along steep moorland tracks which brought us out onto the summit of Win Hill, with its panoramic views of the Derwent Valley to the north and the Hope Valley which we admired on our return journey.  The group commented on the large expanse of water in front of us which was the Ladybower Reservoir which was built between 1935 and 1943 by the Derwent Valley Water Board to supplement the other two reservoirs in order to meet the water needs of the East Midlands. A few red grouse were seen and heard on the moorland as we started our way off the summit.

The scenic descent took us out of the wind which was blowing strongly on the summit top.  We then skirted around the village of Hope, before heading north in the direction of Lose Hill.  The steady ascent was cut short as we veered off in a westerly direction, which took us along field paths and tracks, past Losehill Hall, now a Youth Hostel. Our westward route was dominated by the imposing ridge to the north, which comprises of e Hill, Hollins Cross and the famous Mam Tor. The ridge walk to Mam Tor was to be another walk for another day. 

We arrived back at Castleton with plenty of time for a drink and cake.  It was too early in the season for many wildflowers to be around, although there were many snowdrops in flower, bringing signs that Spring would soon be on its way. 

A Culverhouse

The walk was approximately 7 miles long and took the group through some of the most stunning scenery that the Peak District has to offer.The walk began from the car park next to the visitor's centre and headed off through the narrow village streets where we were immediately greeted with the impressive cliff face that towers high above the entrance to Peak Cavern. This offered us the largest natural cave entrance chamber in the British Isles and sits in the gorge below Peveril Castle, high above on the hillside. The trail now was well-marked and easy to follow, although the rocky limestone path made it difficult to negotiate and we had to pick our way carefully as we slowly climbed out of the valley.  As we reached higher ground, we were able to observe a great panoramic view of the valley below and the striking hill known as Mam Tor, the “Shivering Mountain” which we would be walking below shortly. 

Crossing the road leading down from Wannets Pass we now walked past Speedwell Cavern, renowned for its boat trips into the underground cave system. The next show cave we reached was Treak Cliff Cavern which houses a small information centre showing exhibits of the world famous semi-precious mineral Blue John.  We took advantage of the seating and toilet facilities and stopped here for our lunch. 

After lunch the group proceeded along the disused road below Man Tor, which had fallen into disrepair following numerous landslips over the years.  The next section of the walk took us along level paths with stunning views of the Hope Valley.  High on the ridge above our heads walkers were following the popular path onto Mam Tor. From our viewpoint they looked like ants scurrying along. Soon it was time to lose the height and the walk dropped down along field paths and a country lane into the valley bottom.  We were close now to Castleton and it was time for members of the group who only wanted a 4 mile walk to continue on into the village.

The rest of the party of 21 walkers, decided to continue, as the route would now follow easy, level field paths and quiet country lanes to arrive at the small village of Hope. The scenery was again stunning, including the rolling moorland of Win Hill with its distinctive peak, the babbling brooks, and interesting features like the Pinfold in Hope.

 

The walk continued through Hope village and followed Peakshole Water and across the well-used railtrack leading to the Breeden Cement Works.  This works with its large chimney dominates the skyline to the west but is a major employer in the region and has a capacity to produce over 1.5 million tonnes of cement a year. The walk was now coming to an end as we hit the road and made our way back into Castleton for a well-earned drink There were plenty of places to choose from but the local cafés closed at 4pm, so it was the pub for us.

Overall, the walk around Castleton and the Hope Valley was an unforgettable experience. The scenery was breath-taking, the footpaths and small gate stiles were well-maintained, and the village itself was charming and full of history. I need to visit this area again and spend some time exploring the village with its medieval ruins and even venture to climb up to and explore Peveril Castle.  I highly recommend this walk to anyone looking to experience the beauty of the Peak District National Park.

Michael Counter