H T Fell Walking Club: July 2010

Wednesday 14 July 2010

August Walks from Castleton

Our next walking will be on

Saturday 14th August

and will be from

Castleton in the Derbyshire Peak District

Castleton is an outstandingly pretty village situated at the head of the lovely Vale of Hope, in the heart of the Derbyshire Peak District National Park. Castleton is surrounded on 3 sides by steep hills and the mighty bulk of Mam Tor looms high, 2 miles to the north west of the village. On a hill, overlooking Castleton, is the ancient Peveril Castle.

We last visited Castleton in October 2006

There will be three walks;

A Walk led by; Gareth Cox
B Walk led by; John Smith
C Walk led by; Norman Jones

More details will be posted as they become available, but by 8th August.

More details about Castleton here and Here

On top of MamTor in 2006

A Party Walk from Castleton

Walk Leader: Gareth Cox

Total Distance: 11.5mls

Total Ascent/Descent: 2300ft

The castleton A walk in my estimation is an average difficulty A walk taking advantage of the panoramic views of both Castleton and the Edale valley.

From the back corner of the car park, a small lane leads for 80 yards to a junction: bearing left we walk out of the village up Hollowford Lane. After .3 of a mile we take the first turn right and walk along the lane, turning right after the cattle grid and walk straight across the fields and along the lane to the rear of Losehill Hall. We head towards Losehill Farm. Ascending to 1,563ft. to Losehill pike, on the summit there is a useful viewfinder and on the NE. side of the summit is a brass plaque dedicated to G.H.B. Ward. Walking along the ridge and over Back Tor we descend Back Tor Nook and pass Back Tor farm and over the bridge to join the main Edale road for a distance of only 1 mile when lunch will be taken. After lunch we ascend the ridge to Hollins Cross and walk the ridge to Mam Tor (1,695 FT,) with its commanding views. Descending Mam Tor we pass Windy Knoll and follow the fields towards the lead mines. Bearing left passing Hurdlow Barn and on towards Peveril Castle and back to Castleton.

B Party Walk from Castleton

Walk Leader: John Smith
Total Distance: 7.3 miles
Total Ascent/Descent: 1640ft

CASTLETON – THE GREAT RIDGE

The views on this walk are tremendous and an excellent reward for the height gained. We start walking through the lanes and then fields, gently gaining height in the approach to Lose Hill (1429ft), having started at 612ft in Castleton.

The views start form this point and you see the Edale Valley on your right for the next 2 miles with the Hope Valley on your left. If the weather is good, we shall stop on the Great Ridge for lunch admiring the views and, if not good, we shall still stop because there is no shelter on the Ridge. Continuing to Mam Tor (1391ft) after dipping down to Hollins Cross (1211ft), the path descends across fields and farm track.

A final turn left towards Castleton leaves about 1mile to go.

C Party Walk from Castleton

Walk Leader: Norman Jones

Total Distance: 5.25 miles

Total Ascent/Descent: 840 ft

We leave the village in a NW direction across fields for 3/4 of a mile, then through bracken to the site of the former Odin lead mine. We join a road for 1/4 of a mile, its traffic free as it was closed some years ago due to road subsidence and massive slippage of the adjacent mountain side of Mam Tor. The path climbs up, gently at first and then a little more steeply for the final 1/4 mile, which is also uneven and narrow due to the gorse.

At the top we enjoy a little over 1/2 mile central section of the superb ridge walk which in full is the 2 miles from Mam tor to Loose Hill. The view is of Edale to the north, Castleton and the Hope Valley to the south.

Our descent, gentle and good underfoot, is through wood below Back Tor and Loose Hill, then passing a number of former farmhouses now transformed into exclusive residences.

There is a number of stiles on the walk, some of which have high steps.

5 1/4 miles and a height gain of about 770ft.