Hope to Hathersage or Bamford (via Castleton) walk

27.0 km (16.8 mi), with 728/742m ascent/descent. For a shorter or longer walk see below Walk Options.

8 out of 10, with 7 hours walking time. For the whole outing, including trains, sights and meals, allow at least 13 ½ hours.

This route at the top of the scenic Hope Valley starts with a gentle loop through pastures between the Peak District's breath-taking limestone and gritstone landscapes with ever-changing views to the hills around. You head for the mysterious Mam Tor, before ascending its flank through the large landsliped area at its foot. A variation leads to the dramatic limestone gorge of Winnats Pass and past a couple of the show caves Castleton is famous for. A high-level traverse of pastures-with-views loops down to Castleton through the fascinating Cave Dale (a collapsed cave), past the Norman Castle ruins towering above it.
After lunch you pass the fascinating Hope Cement Works, which dominate the views from any hill walk in the area, pass through Bradwell and go steeply up to Bradwell Edge. The impossibly scenic Over Dale is skirted along its rim and Abney and Offerton Moor are crossed along good paths with surround views. The descent to the Derwent River offers yet more stunning views before a riverside finish to either Hathersage or Bamford.

Note: To protect ground nesting birds, only dogs kept “…under effective control on Public Rights of Way” are allowed on the Access Land of Abney Moor/Smelting Hill/Offerton Moor, until at least 04/2022.

A late starter might want to – after 4.6 km – follow Hollowford Road for 300m into Castleton for lunch first, before continuing the route (see route map and text).
A Variation in the morning takes you past Speedwell Cavern, the bottom of Winnats Pass dry gorge and Treak Cliff Cavern, rather than past Odin Mine and through the active landslip of Mam Tor.
A Variation of that route leads up through the dramatic dry gorge of Winnats Pass to the side of the road.
Cut out the loop through Castleton Village and past its lunch stops: cut 750m.
An out-and-back in Castleton to Peak Cavern adds 500m.
Finish the walk in Castleton and take a bus back to Hope or Sheffield or Chesterfield (14.0 km/8.7 mi).
Finish the walk in Bradwell and take a bus back to Hope or Sheffield or Chesterfield (16.9 km/10.5 mi).
An Alternative Ending leads to Bamford Bus or Train Station, this is 800m shorter.
A Variation of the Hathersage Ending crosses the Derwent on Stepping Stones and leads to Jagger’s Lane and the heart of the village. This is almost 2 km less distance and even walking on to the station from the village would still be shorter than the main walk route (but with some more tarmac and road noise).
An optional loop through Hathersage village past its tea stops adds up to 1.6 km.

OS Explorer: OL1 (The Peak District – Dark Peak Area)
OS Landranger: 110 (Sheffield & Huddersfield)
Harvey Superwalker XT25: Peak District Central
Harvey British Mountain Map: Dark Peak

Hope Station, map reference SK 180 832, is 18 km south west of Sheffield, 231 km north west of Charing Cross and 169m above sea level. Bamford Station, map reference SK 207 825, is 3 km south east of Hope Station and 151m above sea level. Hathersage station, map reference SK 232 810, is 3 km south east of Bamford Station and 163m above sea level. All are in Derbyshire. The stations are on the Hope Valley Line from Manchester to Sheffield, with a journey time of 19 to 26 mins from/to Sheffield. Sheffield is the terminus of the Midland Main Line from London St. Pancras, with up to two trains per hour (journey time from 118 mins Mon-Sat, longer on Sundays).

Saturday Walkers’ Club: Take a train no later than 9.00 hours.

In Castleton (13.4 km/8.3 mi to 14.1 km/8.7 mi from the start):
Castleton Fish & Chips, Dolly and Ted’s Tearooms, Peak District National Park Visitor Centre Café, Three Roofs Café, The Castle, The Bull’s Head, Castleton Maid Ice Cream, Peveril Tea Rooms, The George Inn, Rose Cottage Café, 1530 The Restaurant, Tilly’s of Castleton, Ye Olde Nag’s Head, The Baytree Tea Room & Gifts, The Rambler’s Rest, The Peak Hotel, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese.

In Bradwell (16.6 km/10.3 mi to 17.6 km/10.9 mi from the start):
Ye Olde Bowling Green Inn Smalldale Head Road, Bradwell, Hope Valley, Derbyshire S33 9JQ (01433 620 450).
The White Hart Inn Towngate, Bradwell, Hope Valley, Derbyshire S33 9JX (01433 208 513).
The Shoulder of Mutton Inn Church Street, Bradwell, Hope Valley, Derbyshire S33 9HJ (01433 640 427).

In Hathersage:
The Plough Inn Leadmill Bridge, Hathersage, Hope Valley, Derbyshire S32 1BA (01433 650 319). The Plough is located 230m off route, 1.3 km from the end of the walk.
The David Mellor Design Museum Café Leadmill, Hathersage, Hope Valley, Derbyshire S32 1BA (01433 650 220).
The Little John Hotel Station Road, Hathersage, Hope Valley, Derbyshire S32 1DD (01433 650 225).
The George Hotel Hathersage, Hope Valley, Derbyshire S32 1BB (01433 650 436).
Bank House Bar & Restaurant Main Road,Hathersage, Hope Valley, Derbyshire S32 1BB (01433 449 060).
The Scotsman’s Pack School Lane, Hathersage, Hope Valley, Derbyshire S32 1BZ (01433 650 253). A ‘Scotchman’ or ‘Scotsman’ is a name given to a pedlar, not necessarily from Scotland, which is how the inn derived its name.

In Bamford:
Tastebuds Café at the Hope Valley Garden Centre.

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National Rail: 03457 48 49 50 • Traveline (bus times): 0871 200 22 33 (12p/min) • TFL (London) : 0343 222 1234

Nov-21 Thomas G