Walking in the Peak District: Day two
Part two of a two-day walk in the High Peak, tried and tested by environment and travel journalist, Mark Rowe.
Be rewarded with dramatic views of the Peak District
Starting in Castleton, you'll pass through Winnat’s Head farm, climb Mam Tor and finish at Hope station. We're assuming you're comfortable with map reading and grid references, can use a compass and probably prefer in any case to put together your own walk, ad lib a bit, following a path or feature that looks worth nosing around, rather than stick rigidly to a route.
Map
Start:
Castleton, grid ref: SK149829
1
From Castleton follow A625 to Winnat's Pass, then follow footpath through pass and behind Winnat's Head farm.
Winnat's Pass
Winnat's Pass sits on the faultline between the Peak District's two distinctive halves; the dark, northern gritstone and the southern, white, limestone. Granite outcrops, resembling shrouds, emerge from their crests. One particular rock formation resembles a giant backpacker sitting on the skyline. Bears, reindeer, wolves and bison all roamed here.
2
Cross B6061 with care then - via Windy Knoll - the A625 to climb Mam Tor summit.
Mam Tor
Geologists believe Mam Tor - or Shivering Mountain - first began to move or crumble 3,600 years ago, leading to major landslides. More recently, in 1979 the road from Castleton was closed, and landslips keep the mountain moving at the rate of 9cm every year and will probably do so for the next 1,500 years. In between, it's been a hillfort for Celtic tribes.
3
Follow ridge to Lose Hill.
View from Lose Hill
To the east of Lose Hill stands its counterpart, the volcanic-looking, cone-shaped Win Hill. Legend says the names date to the 7th century and a battle between Northumbrian and Mercian kings.
4
Drop downhill, cross stile on right and keep left to go behind Lose Hill farm and follow footpaths to Hope and station.
End:
Hope train station, grid ref: SK181832
