Take the path downhill from Longshaw 'Woodcroft' car park (GR267801) towards the
'Visitor Centre'.
(see map one) Cross the small bridge, then turn left up the wide track through the trees
behind Longshaw Lodge to reach a white gate. Go through the gate and along the
track ahead around the contour of the hillside with views of Longshaw Country
Park. The path rises gently then divides. Take the left fork uphill, passing
the 'wooden pole' to reach the gate at the road junction (GR268790).
Cross the junction of the B6054 and seek out the stile in the wall 15 yards to
the left of the gates. Enter the Eastern Moors Estate and take the path uphill
keeping close to the fence. Turn right with the fence to pass a walled copse.
The path continues ahead through the heather (waymarked on small posts) to an
'estate' sign. Again, continue forward along the well-trodden waymarked path
across moorland to the stone wall (GR266778) follow the signpost for 'Curbar'
along the length of White Edge until the 'No Access' sign. Veer right, as
directed, downhill to a signpost (GR267751) Take the path for 'Curbar Gap'
along the wall, over a wooden bridge, then ascend to the corner of the field.
Veer slightly left to join a track to reach a double stile and Curbar Gap car
park (GR262747).
Cross the car park. Climb the steps signposted to 'Curbar Edge'. Turn left along
the wall and round to a gate. Follow the eroded well-trodden path uphill and
along the edge with views of Curbar and the quarries of Stoney Middleton below.
On the first long downhill stretch notice the rectangular stone-walled field
ahead. When you reach the corner of this field (GR250762) locate the small
wooden post in the grass to the left of the path.
Go downhill beside the quarry face (notice the unfinished grindstones). Near the
end of the rockface the path descends steeply through woodland to a wooden gate
beside an information board. Go through the gate and downhill on the well-worn
path to the road (GR247760) close to nearby Chequers Inn. Cross the road to a
wall stile beside a gate.
(see map two)
Descend the boggy field through scrub and trees to reach a squeezer stile at the
bottom. Go right, along the lane, then turn left over the bridge (notice the
two distinctly different bridge arches) to cross the River Derwent. Ascend the
lane up to the B6001 (GR240760).
Cross the busy main road to go over a wall stile. Ascend directly up the hill to
go over another wall stile beside a gate. Follow the line of the wall uphill to
a squeezer stile on a bend in a road. Across the road and slightly to the left,
locate the stile beside a gate. Take the path uphill with the wall to a gate.
Ascend between the drystone walls, the path widens (and often gets very
boggy!). At the top, go left and round on a path through the trees, overlooking
the quarries in the valley below, to emerge (beside the entrance to Top Riley)
on a farm track. Go left, pass the National Trust's Riley Graves, and descend
the lane to emerge on the road just outside the village of Eyam (GR223765).
Go right, pass the Miners Arms, turn right and go up Water Lane. Pass the water
troughs and continue until the lane ends (you may rest on the seat here!). Go
through the pedestrian gate on the left and ascend diagonally across up the
field to a further gate onto a road. Cross the road to a gate and ascend the
steep path through the trees to a gate at the top. Continue beside the wood to
a gate at the lower corner of a field. Cross two fields diagonally via gates to
a road (GR217773).
Go left 20 yards along the road to a wall stile on the right. Ascend the field,
keeping with the wall, until you reach a wall stile. Cross the rough road to
wall stile and follow the well-trodden path across moorland to a cairn
(GR215787). The well-used path veers left and descends to a wooden stile. Ahead
is a grassy path that gently descends as it hugs the hillside with views of
Bretton Clough below. Follow the line of the wall, go over a ladder stile, then
descend veering left, then right on the path downhill to a footbridge at Stoke
Ford (GR211795).
From Stoke Ford take the path behind the Peak District & Northern Counties Footpaths Preservation Society sign (no 99). Contour the
hillside following the course of the brook below. Cross a small stream, ascend
to two gate posts and continue around the hillside. When you reach the rutted
track, descend down through trees to a watersmeet at footpath sign (no 219).
Cross the main brook via the footbridge, go over the stile and take the track
uphill in a plantation, then go over the stile beside a gate. Ascend the field
following the line of old tree stumps to the high wall and reach the double
gate onto the road (GR218801).
Turn right, then almost immediately left down the track opposite Highlow Hall to
join a metalled lane. Keep to this lane, pass the entrance to Callow House, and
eventually reach Offerton at a sharp bend. Keeping to the right-of-way as
signposted, proceed down between Offerton Hall and Offerton House, where the
lane is flagged
(see map three)
As you descend the metalled lane it soon becomes a rough track, and when it
turns sharp left locate the stile left of the two farm gates ahead. Follow the
track downhill to the footpath sign, cross the stream and reach a redundant
stile by the River Derwent. Go left (upstream) keeping to the river's edge
path. Pass a barn and after crossing the second footbridge keep to the left
side of the field to the squeezer stile onto Shatton Lane (GR203826). Turn
right and go over the bridge, crossing the River Noe, to the main road.
Cross the busy A625 and go through the gate. Walk past the Garden Centre car
park to reach a further gate. Go under the railway. Locate the stile beside the
embankment on the left and keep to the edge of the field beside the track. At a
redundant stone squeezer the path veers right to follow the line of the hedge
round to a stile beside a gate. Go left up the lane, and then, almost
immediately turn right along the footpath beside the 'Quaker Community'. Cross
the track to a stile and ascend the hill with the fence. Continue on this path
between a wide ditch and a fence until you reach a stile beside a house
(GR199834).
At the lane turn right into the village of Thornhill, then first left by the
telephone box. Pass a chapel, then take the next on the right up Town Head
Lane. The lane peters out to become a wide path. Ascend to a squeezer stile
beside a gate. Keep with the main path ahead (this is initially indistinct, it
follows the line of the field boundary) and ascend the hill via two gates.
After the second one with a stile, climb the steep grassy track, veering
slightly to the right to join a sunken track. Go right and along this track
until you reach a fenced off plantation (GR192851). Ignore the first stile on
the right, instead go through the trees to the left on a well-trodden eroded
path uphill.
The path opens out onto heather moorland and ascends to a stile. Climb up and
over Win Hill (GR187851) (via triangulation point) on a distinct path,
(see map four) carry on to a signpost 'Hope Cross', continue along a stone wall to a metal
gate. The wide path veers to the right and then steadily descends to a wall
beside a plantation. Descend with this wall until a stile at the corner of a
field is reached (GR165869). The path continues along the plantation between a
wall and fence. Go over the stile at Hope Cross. Veer left to the rutted track
and ascend to a stile beside a gate.
Take the track right, signposted 'Derwent via Hagg' down through a gate and
along the side of the plantation to a further gate. Enter the woodland and head
down the stony track. After the sharp bend to the right look out for a wooden
squeezer stile on the left (GR162882). When you reach the bottom, cross over
the river Derwent at Haggwater Bridge and proceed up the track to a gate.
Cross the busy A57 and go up the lane opposite. At the entrance to Hagg Farm
Centre, head straight up the rocky track through woodland to a gate. The track
zigzags up to a further gate and signpost (GR164891). A bridleway crosses at
this point, go up to the gate on the right ('Crookhill Farm'). Continue along
the edge of a plantation, at the end of which the path veers to the right,
cutting the corner of the field, to a ladder stile/gate. Proceed along path
ahead to a gate, then veer left and downhill to a farm gate in the corner of
the field (GR179875).
Follow the signpost to 'Crookhill Farm and Derwent Valley'. The bridleway over
rough and marshy ground is indistinct to begin with, but is then marked by four
short posts (blue arrowed) as it contours the gently sloping field around to a
track along a stone wall. Go through a gate. At the National Trust sign 'NT
path avoiding Farmyard' go left through the gate as directed (GR186870) walk
diagonally across the field towards the barn, cross the track through two
gates, then (as indicated at the corner of the barn) diagonally across the
field to the gate near the stile. Go over the ladder stile and proceed downhill
to the gate posts in the corner of the field. Aim for the viaduct as you cross
the field to the right-hand side of a fenced copse. Beside the fence go left to
a gate and the road (GR191865).
Go right, then left over Ashopton Viaduct (A57). At the end of the viaduct turn
sharp left up a road, then hairpin right. After several cottages the road
becomes a track. After passing the entrance to Ding Bank Farm, go through a
gate and head for the further gate onto moorland.
(see map five) The path goes round the side of the hill overlooking the reservoir below and
eventually passes the rear of the Ladybower Inn before it joins a track.
Ascend to a gate and a sign 'Ladybower Wood Nature Reserve', proceed with this
track uphill and over moorland, passing through a gate after crossing a ford.
Cross the path coming up from the main road (GR213875), go over the brook and
follow the electricity lines eventually reaching a stone stile and milestone
(dated 1737). Keep to the wall ahead. Go through a gate and head for Moscar
House. Continue straight ahead via several gates, then follow the fence to a
gate at a road junction (GR224885).
Take the Ughill road and go through the first gate on the right and ascend the
wide track, keeping with the wall as it swings round to the right (passing an
old milestone) to a metal gate. Proceed down and over stile to the main road.
Turn right and cross to the other side of the A57 Sheffield to Manchester road
(GR231879).
Take the footpath off to the left, over the stile (see map six) and up the well-worn path eventually to reach a broken wall. Follow the path
over the wall to join the path along Stanage Edge. Continue past High Neb
triangulation point (GR228854), go over a ladder stile and, when you reach Long
Causeway, go left then over the stile to the right and proceed along the edge
again. Just before the next triangulation point (GR251830) take the path off to
the right and descend to the road.
Go left, then at the stile in the fence on the right traverse the field to a
further stile and a road. Cross to a stile and go up the stepped path onto
Higger Tor. Follow the path to the end and scramble down to the well-worn path
that leads up to Carl Wark. At the reconstruction of the wall (GR258815) go
left and walk to the end of the Dark Age hill fort. Clamber down the rocky
slope to the path below. Go downhill (to the right) on the eroded path. Cross
the wide brook over the boulders and climb up to the wide track (Duke's Drive).
Go right and reach the A625 via a set of gates (GR263806).
Cross the busy road to a mini-gate and enter Longshaw Estate. The grassy path
veers left through woodland and then gently rises to another mini-gate. Cross
the road and walk down Longshaw Lodge drive, before the visitor centre turn
left up the track. Turn left again and go over the bridge and back up to
Woodcroft car park.
