OUT AND ABOUT
Youlgreave Circular Walk
a Peak District Spectacular With Dearne Valley Ramblers Photos: John Watson
A 7mile circular route taking in stunning views over the southern Peak District.
Grade: Mainly moderate but strenuous in places. Route entails farmland/fields so dogs must be kept on leads at all times.
Start: Near to the George Hotel in Youlgreave (DE45 1UW), on-street parking available on Church Street or Conksbury Lane.
Cross the road towards the 12th century All Saints’ Church, following the road at the right hand side of the church down the lane. Where it forks, follow the right hand road until you reach the River Bradford. Cross the river using the stone slab bridge, walking up the grassy bank. Pass through a stone gap leading onto Mawstone Lane, heading up the lane towards the footpath sign marked Limestone Way. Head diagonally up a gravel track across fields that may contain cattle. Follow the footpath, through a further gate to stepping stones across Bleakley Dyke, then Kissing Gate Steps, up the steep hill to a stile. Continue on path heading for single tree and three upright stones. Pass through the gate, going uphill towards Harthill Moor Farm. Climb over the stile and follow the drive which bends to the left (arrowed on stone post), then bears right towards Cliff Lane. Cross the road to an access point immediately in front you indicating the route to Robin Hood’s Stride/Limestone Way.
Look for four stones in the adjacent field; these are the remnants of the original nine-stone circle dating back to The Bronze Age.
A good coffee spot would be upon reaching Robin Hood’s Stride - an imposing rock formation which is sometimes referred to as Mock Beggars’ Hall, owing to its similarity with a turreted building when viewed from the nearby village of Elton. Walk back down the banking towards the fence on your left, climbing the stile and turning right down the lane to Crancliffe Tor, an area of large gritstone boulders which includes the large Hermit’s Cave with a carved crucifix on the back wall.
50
aroundtownmagazine.co.uk
Pass through the gate and down a grassy slope past Hilary’s Seat on your left, heading downhill along the Limestone Way to reach a tarmac path. Pass through the gate with the main road on your left. Walk straight on along the Limestone Way, known locally as Dudwood Lane, the path rising gradually in the general direction of the village of Elton. With housing on your right and a farm building on your left, keep an eye out for a substantial tree on your left, bearing a yellow coloured footpath sign which indicates a path immediately to your right, leading into a field. Climb the stile and follow the muddy footpath which gradually rises in the direction of Elton.
As you pass the sports centre to your left, the path will lead upwards to the end of the field and to a gap between housing. Cross the lane near to disused cars and enter the graveyard of Elton Parish Church. Walk in front of the church, dropping down steps leading to a sloping road. Turn right and walk down the road past cottages and gardens until you reach a fork in the road. The tarmac road bends to the right, but you should take the left-hand fork which rises gradually past a sign for Youlgreave and emerges out onto a field with magnificent views of the route ahead. Follow the well-used path down the hillside which meanders diagonally to the right, passing through about four fields, before it comes out onto Cliff Lane. Cross over the road to a stile in a fence, following the gradually rising path through a gap in the wall until you reach another stile. You will see a fenced and gated property which is a retreat and has a Peak
Serenity sign at the access point. Walk past the site, keeping it on your left, following the path downhill until you reach a further stile. Cross fields leading to Tomlinson Wood, keeping an eye out for a stone wall edge sign to Hopping Farm and Middleton. Turn left, climb over the wall and cross a field leading to a Way Mark. Head diagonally over the stone stile to the left of a double gate, continuing diagonally through Bleakley Plantation to a gap in the wall. Pass through a green gate where you will be rewarded by a panoramic view of your final destination point - Youlgreave.
Head to the top of the field, reaching a gap with a wooden bar across it. Walk down the hill to Hopping Farm and caravan site, crossing Mawstone Lane. Pass through the gate into the caravan site, walking between caravans, round the side of the farmhouse.
Continue to Middleton Dale by gravel path surrounding the farmhouse. Pass through a gate, walking diagonally to the right where you will see a new wooden gate. Follow path through woods and cross a bridge to the left of Middleton Dale. Walk down the steps crossing a further bridge to your right. Follow the path by the River Bradford which should be on your left, keeping an eye out for active Kingfishers and Dippers along the way. You are passing through the beautiful Bradford Dale, where the footpath reaches a large grassed are. Turn left then immediately right, the river now on your right, to a pond-like feature used by bathers, known locally as The Swimming Pool. Follow the path to a further fence, exit onto the same road from Youlgreave from the outward journey. It is a bit of a climb back up to the village, taking you back to the church and to the start of your walk near to The George Hotel.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100
