Castleton

 January 29th 2025

 

CASTLETON, BLUE JOHN CAVERN, MAM TOR, HOLLINS CROSS, BACK TOR, LOSE HILL, THE OLD MILL AT HOPE, PINFOLD, PEAKHOLE WATER, OLDMAM TOR ROAD. TEAK CLIFF CAVERN

 

Distance: 11.4 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous.

Weather: Dry with gentle breeze, clear and bright.

 

Walkers: Andy Blease, Steve Brearley, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Alistair Cains, Mike Cassini, Neil Millington, Chris Owen, Andy White with Bertta, Simon Williams, Cliff Worthington, Clive Rothel.

Alternative walker: Jock Rooney with Milly.

Apologies: Peter Beal (blocked ears – that’s a new one), Mark Enright (w**nking), Keith Welsh (dealing with a big log), Dean Taylor.

Leader: Cliff Diarist: Cliff.

Starting point: Road side of Rushups Edge near Blue John Mine Castleton.

Starting time: 9.52am. Finishing time: 3.20pm.

 

What a fabulous day for walking with early light mist giving way to bright sunshine with just a few fluffy clouds. Today we welcomed Alistair’s neighbour Neil Millington whom we last met on the Manchester walk/pub crawl before Christmas.

 

For this wander we normally park on Old Mam Tor Road but today we started on higher ground near the Blue John Mines. Anyone who thought this would make the walk easier were very much mistaken.

 

We walked a few yards past the mines and turned left through a gate to the base of a steep, very slippery, hill. At the top of that we reached the well known gate to the start of the stone steps that lead up to the trig point on Mam Tor. No chance of a team photo on the summit as Chris disappeared off into the distance along with a few others.

 

From the trig point looking across the great ridge

 

We continued along the ridge, towards Hollins Cross when we were surprised to find Chris walking up behind us. It turns out that like Keith he had a big log to attend to.

 

From Hollins cross we descended along the ridge to the base of Back Tor where we stopped for pie time. There were fabulous views across the valley below spoilt only by the old cement works.

 

Thereafter, we climbed up the near vertical staircase of rocks leading up to the top of Back Tor. On reaching the summit we were gain afforded fantastic 360 views.

 

We now started another descent before another climb led us to a sign marked Losehill Pike - Wards Piece. 

 

G.H.B. Ward was a local access activist who was given the land in appreciation by the Sheffield branch of The Ramblers Association in 1945. He subsequently presented it to the National Trust.

 

This soon brought us to the Trig Point at 1,562 feet and this time we assembled for a team photo curtesy of Clive. This was missing the elusive Chris who had elected to avoid climbing to the top of Lose Hill – because he’d done it before – you could say that about the whole walk!

 

We began our descent by taking the path to the right and walking down a steep and slippery pathway – keeping the wall and the fence to our right. Near the bottom we reached a road where we turned right. This leads directly to The Old Hall, but not before passing the farm shop renowned for their home make pork pies. Mike purchased a large pie and a whole leg of lamb, his bag now felt like he was carrying a bag of bricks.

 

At The Old Hall we met up with Jock and Milly. I don't know how much a pint was as I’m on tea, but I noticed that a pint of lime and soda was only £1.20.

 

Departing later we crossed the road, turned right and then left after the church. We briefly paused at this corner where I pointed out that the fields we were about to cross would be very muddy and I offered the option of walking back via the main road. This was of no interest, so we carried on, over a bridge before turning right passing through a gate into the first of a series of fields with the steam flowing rapidly to our right.

 

Of course, after a few minutes there were shouts of complaint about the amount of mud! I just muttered I told you so. We proceeded through field after field though a series of gates and styles before emerging on the main road in Castleton.

 

As we were leaving the town centre we turned right up Old Mam Tor road and commenced a long and very tough climb,  passing Treak Cliff Cavern until we met with what is know as the Broken Road.

 

This was a section of the A625 road between Chapel-en-le-Frith and Sheffield which finally closed in 1979. Over many decades the road had been closed and repaired after landslides caused by unstable layers of shale. This gave Mam Tor (Mother Hill) the alternative name of Shivering Mountain.

 

              

We turned right and continued our relentless climb until we emerged at the Blue John Mines round the corner from our cars. 

 

Next week's walk will start at 9.40am from the car park at Sutton Hall Macclesfield where Chris will lead us to the Ryles Arms.

Happy wandering !