Derbyshire Area News - Derby and South Derbyshire Ramblers

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Derbyshire Area News—Winter 2012/13John King - Derbyshire Dales GroupFollowing on from the informative article by Sue Weatherley in the Summer AreaNews which reminded readers of the delightful hills in the Upper Dove valley it is evidentthat very few ramblers are exploring the tracts of land that have become accessiblesince implementation of the CROW Act. This is probably due to the fact that althoughdefined by perimeter boundaries on Explorer maps the access points and bestroutes are not commonly known. In this connection I have devised the following twocircular walks in order to encourage greater usage of eight of these hills, all of whichprovide superb views over the surrounding countryside. The narratives give detailedreference points and route directions for the uncharted areas to supplement the publicfootpath information shown on the White Peak map.Hartington – Longnor CircularFurther Adventures in Access LandThis walk of about 11 miles enhances the popular Manifold and Dove valley round byproviding an alternative high level return leg with far reaching views throughout. FromHartington village duck pond proceed via public footpaths past the former cheese factoryand over the westerly ridge to Sheen. Cross the road and take the most directpath to Brund to pick up the Manifold riverside path directly to Longnor. From Longnormarket place walk up Queen Street and continue straight ahead to the walled trackwhich climbs initially to a field before descending steeply past the sewage works toBeggars Bridge. Go straight on up Green Lane (ignoring the path to the right which isthe start of the low level Dove valley route back to Hartington). At the junction ofGreen Lane and the Crowdicote-Earl Sterndale road turn left for a short distance tothe access point to High Wheeldon on the right at GR09746611. The access waymarkon the stile points directly ahead up the steep slope which is a lung bursting route tothe summit. The easier way is to climb obliquely to the left initially towards Aldery Cliffto meet the lower slopes before turning right on to the gently ascending grassy ridgeto the Trig. Point. At 422 metres this gives a superb 360 degree panoramic view includingthe next section of access land in a south easterly direction which provides ahigh level continuous stretch all stiled for over two miles. From the Trig. Point descendSE to the stile at GR10086598 and continue just below the wall to the next stile atGR10256571. The path then crosses a small dip before heading slightly downhill towardsa small wood on the right. Proceed on a level course about 40 yards above thewood and when the houses at Crowdicote come into view head downhill slightly to theexit gate at GR10346516 which is on the upper curve of the sharp S bend on theCrowdicote-High Needham road. Walk up the road about 50 yards to the access gateon the right to begin the next section.Head SE just below the wall initially before following two waymark posts across a dipand broken down wall to a ladder stile at GR10906485. Follow the direction arrowstraight on SE and below the ridge on a faint path through rough grassland. At thesmall rocky outcrop in front take the path up to the left to the upper wall boundary andcontinue ahead ESE initially to follow a more distinct path line going up the forwardbank and beyond. When high above Pilsbury Castle climb up more steeply towards22
Derbyshire Area News—Winter 2012/13the upper boundary fence to a ladder stile at GR11716411. This is easily missed if youare too far down the slope. Over this stile the views to the east open up for a shortdistance prior to continuing below the ridge through a broken down wall; after whichthe path becomes more pronounced with waymark posts leading to the roadside exitgate alongside a concrete dew pond at GR12406367. Cross the metalled road (on thebend below Pilsbury Lodge) and take the signed public footpath S to Carder Low andonwards to return to Hartington. If desired, the walk can be shortened by confiningthe outward leg to Harris Close and the Dove valley via Pilsbury hamlet, Crowdicoteand the footpath to the Green Lane junction mentioned previously.Hollinsclough Northern CircularThis relatively short walk of 8½ miles is nevertheless fairly strenuous as the summitsof six separate tracts of high level access land are visited. The preferred direction isanti-clockwise in order to tackle the steepest climbs first although it could be reversedif preferred.From Hollinsclough village take one of the paths leading to the southern slopes ofParkhouse Hill. Contour round the lower slopes and where the path bifurcates take theleft fork direct to Glutton Grange, ignoring the signs on the way pointing upwards toaccess land. Walk between the buildings at Glutton Grange to a track where straightahead there is a marked entry point to access land at GR08386712 leading to theunnamed hill with a tumulus as marked on the map. Although of modest height it is asteepish climb so swing to the right initially before ascending the ridge to the tumuluscircle of stones. Head SSE down to the access point on the col leading to ParkhouseHill which is ascended by going straight ahead up the grassy slope to a slight dip onthe ridge. Turn right and follow the ridge path to the highest rocky outcrop to admirethe view. With Chrome Hill ahead descend on the ridge path which initially is on theleft of the ridge before switching to the right hand side. Take extra care on this path –a walking pole is particularly helpful. On approaching the final pinnacle and just beforethe path swings back to the left side of the ridge it is better to drop down the grassynorthern bank to the field below instead of following the path line which falls quitesteeply on the other side. Walk to the metalled road and turn right for the access pointto ascend the grassy slopes of Chrome Hill and the summit at 425 metres. ContinueNW on the ridge and descend to a concessionary path which climbs past Tor Rock toa boundary wall above Stoop farm.At the 3 way fingerpost above Stoop farm turn right over the cattle grid then immediatelyleft on the metalled road in the direction of High Edge for about 500 yards to acattle grid where there is a signed stile at GR06176870. The access land of HighEdge is encircled by a superfluity of barbed wire fencing and hence access andegress is only possible at the stiles for the two public footpaths that cross the site.Looking ahead from the aforementioned stile High Edge has two separate summitseach having a distinctive concrete structure on top. These are well preserved WorldWar 2 pillboxes which were built in 1940 to counter enemy air attacks. Peak baggersmay wish to visit the southern pillbox first as this sits on a rocky promontory which at462 metres is the highest point of the walk. In this case walk from the stile alongsidethe adjacent wall and barbed wire fence to a small rocky outcrop directly ahead whichrises to the top of the wall. There is just enough room to manoeuvre round the end of23
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Derbyshire Area News - Derby and South Derbyshire Ramblers

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