Tuesday 11 October 2011

Stanage Edge and Win Hill from Hathersage


15.21 Miles, 5-6 Hours

I was looking forward to a return to the Peak District after scaling Mam Tor and Kinder Scout on my previous visit back in June.
 I had read about Stanage Edge on Wikipedia, and saw that it was in easy reach from Hathersage. I wanted to make it into more of a hike than just taking on Stanage Edge, so on a study of the area decided to take in Win Hill aswell.

The day was hot, and overcast so was pretty humid. On arrival in Hathersage I took the main road from the rail station towards the junction with the A6187. I took the road right, and followed it through Hathersage for about 500 yards. I then cut left along Baulk Lane...
Baulk Lane will lead you through some beautiful Peak District countryside, and at this point you get glimpses of the dramatic Stanage Edge at certain points...
 Just before you get to this farm, take the left hand track...
The track will lead you to the edge of Brookfield Manor. At this point a lane cut out from the Manors grounds. Follow the lane around to the right...
 Following the lane round, I took this 'path' steeply upwards. A sign indicating this is 'access land' is situated roughly where the sheep are in the below pic...
This is probably not the best place to ascend towards Stanage Edge, I would after my trip up this hill recommend taking the lane around it instead. This hill is high bracken and tufted grass, and had no specific path, so was a tough old slog to reach the top...

Here looking down the hill back towards the lane...
 Looking towards Stanage Edge...
After hiking across this hill, the other side leads back down onto the lane. Turn right up the lane towards a car park which sits at the foot of Stanage Edge.

A well walked pathway cuts up onto the high escarpment...
 Looking back towards the car park, and the hill which I climbed to get back to the lane...
 Looking north west along the plateau of Stanage Edge...
I turned right to go south east along the ridge, in order to bag the Stanage Edge Trig Point (457m) which is about quarter of a mile from the car park, which you can just see again in the below picture...
Then it was a matter of retracing my steps, but this time following the full escarpment of Stanage Edge north west towards the highest point called High Neb. This part of the walk takes in some great scenery...
 This is a real Mecca for rock climbers, most of the cliff faces are crawling with them. Looked like fun...
 Here are some of the rock climbers, and in the distance High Neb sticks out...
 Stanage Pole...
 Great view of High Neb...
 The pathway splits here, I took the right hand path in order to get to the summit of High Neb at 458 metres...
A distant Win Hill sticks up (centre) across Bamford Moor, with Kinder Scout on the horizon...
 A Grouse drinking bowl...
Follow the path to the left here, which cuts down the ridge side of High Neb...
 The pathway cuts back along the foot of High Neb...
 The lane in the distance next to the trees in the below picture is the next part of the walk...
 Happy Mill Stone beneath High Neb...
 Take the path right here...
 The stile takes you onto the lane...
The lane takes you up over Bamford Moor, there is quite a bit of road walking from here. But the scenery is quite impressive. You pass Bamford Edge about a mile along the lane.

 Great Tor, on Bamford Edge...
 Win Hill looking a little closer now...
 A distant Hope Cement Works...
 More of Bamford Edge...
 The lane cuts eventually onto the A6013 on the out skirts of the village of Bamford...
Win Hill up close, and looking steep...
 When you get to the A6013 you should see a lane opposite, this takes you to the Yorkshire Bridge...
Once you've crossed the Yorkshire Bridge, turn right along a track. You will then notice the sign for Win Hill. This is where things get very steep...
The ascent from Yorkshire Bridge is a steep climb of 300 metres in 3/4 mile, and after about 10 miles of walking so far, this was a tough climb...
You need to continue straight ahead here...
 The trees soon disappear when you near the summit, known as Win Hill Pike...
Looking down onto Ladybower Reservoir...
 Win Hill Summit Trig Point 463 metres...
 A set of keys are attached to the trig, I would love to know the story behind them. I did ask a walking party who had also just ascended the hill, if anyone knew the story behind them... but unfortunately not!
 Looking across to Bamford Moor, and a now very distant Stanage Edge...
 looking north west towards Kinder Scout...
 Looking back at Win Hill Pike...
At this point take a path left through a kissing gate, and keep following the pathway down...
 The pathway brings you out onto a lane, this cuts along the flanks of Win Hill back towards Bamford...
 Win Hill not looking quite so impressive from this angle...
Try and stick to the footpaths rather than the lanes for a much more pleasant walk...
 Heading back into Bamford Village...
 Weather closing in on Win Hill...
At Bamford you have the option to take the train from there. Or walk along the A6187 (There is pavement all the way) for two miles back into Hathersage, which I decided to do.

 Overall, a great walk taking in some of the best views in the High Peak of Derbyshire, even if you just decide to do Stanage Edge.

Thanks for reading.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Excellent as always. The detail you include would be invaluable to anyone who isn't familiar with the area; especially if they have a smartphone with internet access (I don't - I'm too tight and nowhere near technically proficient enough).

Fell_Finder said...

Thanks Byeways. I've recently been looking at the new Garmin etrex 30. After getting nearly lost in heavy cloud on Rye Loaf Hill back in January, it would be a good tool for me! Hinting at the wife as a Christmas gift ha ha.
Thanks again for the comment

Lee said...

A lovely walk in an area I regularly visit. I reckon you chose the steepest route up Win Hill though.

Fell_Finder said...

Agreed! Win Hill was tough old slog from Yorkshire Bridge, great though. I want to explore more of the area, recommend anywhere else locally?