Castleton, Hollins Cross, Lose Hill, Hope, Castleton
Castleton, Hollins Cross, Lose Hill, Hope, Castleton
Walking with my brother RFM Blue Line
07/06/2024
This Derbyshire Peak District walk is in the heart of the tourist area of Derbyshire but avoids the very popular Mam Tour. One advantage of being in such a walker dominated area is that the paths are generally good surfaces and easy to follow. We began this route early at about 7.30 from Castleton's main carpark. We always try to use the municipal car parks in order to contribute in our own small way to the upkeep of the area by paying for official parking. The car park at this early hour was pretty empty except for a small group of young men who had apparently been night hiking. Not for us.
The bulk of Mam Tor in the distance is the back drop to the first part of this route along side the Odin Sitch stream towards Knowlegates Farm. As ever sheep and lambs were in abundance. 
The overcast conditions and cool temperature for early June made crossing the meadows a very pleasant start to this walk. In the distance we could see the tops of Barker Bank, Back Tor and Lose Hill which made up the high levels of this walk.
The overcast conditions and cool temperature for early June made crossing the meadows a very pleasant start to this walk. In the distance we could see the tops of Barker Bank, Back Tor and Lose Hill which made up the high levels of this walk.
Near Knowlesgate Farm was a small flock of sheep that were occupying the path and were reluctant to move aside for us to pass but as always with sheep they gave way in the end.
A short sharp climb pass the farm to Odin Mine A small mound of rough ground marked the location of this disused mine and gave an unusual view of Mam Tor through the trees. We mused about the efficacy of sleep for people of our age. My sleep having been split in 2 for some reason and Peters being ok. We agreed that what was lost one night was normally made up for on a suceeding night. The key to good sleep being good daytime activity ie being tired enough to sleep.
The view from Mam Farm looking back down Hope Valley was beutifully rural. 
A small well aged wood at the back of Mam Farm lead to the upper part of the route to Hollins Cross. This was a steep wooded path unexpected in this open landscape of moor and sheep fields and much welcomed.
Moving ever up towards the view point of Hollins Cross the path quickly ascended and gave us another topic of conversation. This is a path made up of hardcore brought in for the purpose. We wondered first of all how it was achieved and secondly why it didn't all wash away.
This is a relatively easy path to the ridge above but still requires energy and effort to complete so even here sometimes its just head down and complete the distance.
A view back to Mam Tor shows the well defined path climbing diagonally up the hillside.
From the ridge we could see down to Castleton in the bottom and a little of the erosion caused by footfall approaching the ridge.
This view of Kinderscout looking north from the Ridge over the Edale Valley, shows the line of a wall to the top of the centre clump of trees and farms that was the route we took up Kinderscout a couple of weeks ago and was slippy and vertiguous contrary to todays relatively benign route. Should you read the blog we are on the Turneresque hillside refered to in the text.
The rock face at Back Tor with the roughly stepped path running up the right side is impressive with an easy ascent up the steps although you are always aware that there is a drop to the left. Just ramble up with care especially for dogs and kids, not necessarily in that order.
Because we set off early we had not seen many other walkers but we met a young couple and dog walking towards Lose Hill. As ever we were happy to have a brief conversation with them.
The next and final hill of the day is Lose Hill. The weather was a bit duller when we reached it. At the top we met the couple with the dog who were back tracking along the ridge to Mam Tor. They could have planned a circular walk a little better but hey everyone to there own.
Looking to the East towards Sheffield with Edale End in the foreground and Derwent Moors and Bradfield Moor on the horizon.
The things we talk about. The rail-line going through EdaleValley connects Sheffield and Manchester but Peters observation from the top of Lose Hill was that it always looked like a model railway from the hilltops. Do you know ..he is right. Its a tribute to the model makers that they get the scale so correct in their models that in real life we compare the train to a model.
Managed to get a photo of a hovering Kestrel. There were 2 of them actively hunting the hillside to our left as we descended.
Descending towards Lose Hill Farm the trees framed a lovely shot of the Hope Valley.
We were commenting upon how the hills were relevantly quiet today when we came across a young couple going up the hill. We very rarely allow anyone to pass us without at least a short conversation and it turned out this was an interesting encounter. They were setting up, presumably at the Top of Lose Hill, a check point for the youngsters doing the Duke of Edinburghs Award. They warned us to expect a few groups ascending.
Dropping down into the farmland above Hope we encountered several groups of teenagers navigating their way up the hill. They were all very polite and I would say excited to be on an adventure. It was really nice to see such a wide selection of todays young people being entrepid kids. There were quite a lot of them so the hill was going to be busy. Good luck guys and thanks for being considerate ramblers.
We had a coffee and bun sat on a bench near the wonderful church at Hope. For some reason our conversation ventured into the changes we had both experienced in our working life regarding the employment of people with physical and or educational challenges. We both regretted the change in the way society values the work and benefit to the individual of this kind of subsidised work. I blamed Maggie Thatcher as usual and Peter put it down to an irrational over commitment to the balance sheet. I would never have thought in the 70's that we would be looking back 50 years later with the belief that society was more caring then than it is now but in some very specific areas it simple is true. Its a shame we can't have the inclusiveness of today with the care of yesterday. Come on politicians sort it out!
The last quarter of the walk meandered from Hope to Castleton following the stream called marvellously, Peakshole Water.
It was very pleasant following the stream through sheep fields with various styles and gates to negotiate. The middle photo shows the route we took along the ridge earlier in the walk.
During this time we passed another set of children in small groups being lead by teachers. these were much younger children possibly from Sheffield who were enjoying a day in the country. Again many were happy to say hello as we passed.
We came across this building near Castleton at a place called Spital Bridge. It was looking old and about to fall down but the surrounding sheds and building seem to be being worked upon. We decided it must have been a factory though for what we could not imagine. Anyway with our imagined quantity surveyor expertise we decided it wouldn't be worth saving and should be demolished. Probably as well we are not planners. We did say thet perhaps we should find out what Spital meant as this might give a clue to what kind of factory it was. Anyway I looked up Spital after the walk and it turns out it refers to a hospital especially for lepers. So who knows... certainly not us.
Finally we re-entered Castleton and made our way along the streets back to the cars. Plenty of walkers and visitors around when we got to the centre. Interesting sign outside one of the pubs claiming to be a husband cresh. Definitely the kind of building suitable for the job.
This is a very nice walk with all the ascent in the first half and a gentle finsh along the meadows. It was great to see all the kids in the countryside.
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