Hope

HOPE, LOSEHILL HOUSE HOTEL, MANCHESTER-SHEFFIELD RAILWAY LINE, WIN HILL, DERWENT VALLEY, THE YORKSHIRE BRIDGE INN AT YORKSHIRE BRIDGE, THORNHILL TRAIL, HILLCROFT FARM, HOPE CEMETERY AND THE OLD HALL AT HOPE

Distance: 9-10 miles.

Difficulty: Strenuous.

Weather: Sunny with clear blue skies.

Walkers: Peter Beal, Chris Corps and Fergus, Colin Davison, Alan Hart, Terry Jowett, Jock Rooney and Tips, and George Whaites.

Apologies: Tom Cunliffe (pub duties), George Dearsley (lecturing in Manchester), Lawrie Fairman (lecturing on cruise ship), Tony Job ( gardening back injury), Julian Ross, Ken Sparrow (Cheltenham racing) and Geoff Spurrell (undergoing replacement hip operation).

Leader: Corps (assisted by Fergus). Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Road outside Hope Primary School, Derbyshire.

Starting time: 9.45am. Finishing time: 2.52pm.

In the absence of any B walker companions, Terry made his debut with the A team on a day of glorious sunshine and blue skies. The early mist encountered en route had cleared by the time we set off in ideal walking conditions.

After six months of five-mile walks on fairly flat terrain, Terry found the spectacular views breath-taking in more ways than one as we took on one of our more strenuous journeys. 

We were rewarded for our endeavours with a series of stunning views from the ridge approaching Win Hill.

We began by walking away from the centre of Hope village, passing High Peak Hall on our left (9mins) and turning left up Lose Hill Lane (11mins). This took us past Losehill House Hotel and Spa on our right (18mins) before we turned left over a wooden stile marked with a yellow arrow (25mins).

After crossing another wooden stile (40mins) we followed the yellow arrow pointing right and walked through a tunnel under the Manchester-Sheffield railway line. We turned right then immediately left at a wooden public footpath sign (43mins).

After a short steep descent we crossed a bridge over the River Noe and passed the National Trust Dark Peak Area Office on our right. We turned right at a sign for Hope Cross and Jaggers Clough and went right at a post marked with a yellow arrow (50mins).

Readers may be disinterested to know that a jagger was the name for a peddler in ancient times (as well as being the name of the lead singer in a certain rock band in less ancient times).

By now we were embarking on a prolonged climb, which led us through a gate marked with a yellow arrow. With several stops to admire the view and, coincidentally, to catch our breath, we reached a lane by the side of a gate and paused for pies and port (67mins). During our break, we acted as gate-keepers for a cyclist, two trail-bikers and six horsewomen.

Resuming, we headed diagonally right towards a line of trees to reach a ridge. Here we turned right for a more gentle approach towards the summit of Win Hill. On our right was Lose Hill. According to legend these were the nearby peaks occupied by rival soldiers during Anglo-Saxon times.

The warriors from Lose Hill went down to the valley and then ascended Win Hill where they were beaten – probably the most predictable outcome in the history of warfare.

When we reached the final ascent of Win Hill (115mins), Peter B, Colin, Jock and Tips opted to take the route to the summit, which they found swarming with tourists, while the rest of us went round the right shoulder, meeting again during the descent at a wooden gate (134mins).

The next stage was a tricky steep rocky slope to a track (153mins) which we crossed to descend steps leading to the River Derwent. By turning first right and then left we crossed the river (155mins) and walked uphill to Bemrose  Gate on our left (161mins). 

The pub was now in sight and we reached the Yorkshire Bridge Inn (164mins) for excellent pints of Bakewell Best and Farmers Blonde cask bitter at £3-35. They were enjoyed in the warmish sunshine at tables outside the front door.

Yorkshire Bridge Inn

Continuing our walk after refreshment had been taken and ablutions performed, we retraced our footsteps back to the river and turned left (169mins). After 50 yards we turned right at a gate (170mins), went left along a track for 20 yards and then turned right along the Thornhill Trail.

We were heading uphill again and rested for lunch (185mins) at a footpath crossroads marked for Yorkshire Bridge, Thornhill, William Hill and Hope. Resuming uphill towards Hope, we walked through a gate (187mins) and headed diagonally left through a field. We were then able to follow the beaten path through a series of fields and over stiles as we made the descent back to Hope.

We passed Hillcroft Farm on our left (201mins), went down Aston Lane and turned left at a public footpath sign (203mins). This brought us to a lane where we turned left (207mins) and then turned right following a footpath sign for Fairfield Farm (213mins).

After walking through a tunnel under the Manchester-Sheffield railway line (219mins) we passed Hope Cemetery (222mins) and reached a lane where we turned left. This brought us to a road where we turned left (223mins) and reached our cars to de-boot (225mins).

Some photos courtesy of Colin Davison follow.

We drove back towards the main road and stopped at The Old Hall on the left at the junction.  Here we had a choice of Theakston’s Old Peculier, Castle Rock Harvest Pale or Adnams Southwold cask bitters, all around £3-30 a pint and in good fettle.

Next week’s walk will start at 9.40am at The Little Mill Inn at Rowarth, calling for a livener at either The Grouse at Chunal or The Lantern Pike at Little Hayfield, before returning to the Little Mill around 2.20pm.