Youlgreave and Elton

Introduction

With leaves and beginning to fall, I thought I’d take a hike out in the heart of the White Peak to enjoy the last of the greenery!

Rain was forecast for post-lunchtime, so I was out early. It was a cloudy morning, 16deg C as I set off from the village of Youlgreave.

It’s a touch over an hour to drive from Cheadle Hulme.

The walk is 7.5 miles and took 3.5 hours, there being 1100feet of ascent to negotiate.

There were plenty of sheep and a few cattle pasture fields on the walk, but plenty of empty fields and tracks too, so rather mixed for dog walking.

I walked in a clockwise direction.

The walk is on OS Explorer Map OL24.

I parked in the Coldwell End car park, where there is a recently built toilet block, use postcode DE45 1UY.

Youlgreave To Harthill Moor

Youlgreave is a pleasant village that still has 3 pubs and 2 shops. I walked down the road from the car park to the planned start point. From here, I took the narrow lane downhill past more toilets (!), and the River Bradford came into view.

As I reached the river, I spied some people going for a swim. Impressed!

I reached the road where I was to leave the river, but I’d be back on the upstream section later.

Setting out over the fields, I enjoyed the views ahead, and back to Youlgreave.

This part of the walk follows The Limestone Way, which runs through the woods, rather than up around the ancient monument of Castle Ring.

After the wood, a short road section led me up to Harthill Moor, and the rocks of “Robin Hood’s Stride”.

Robin Hood’s Stride

This is an elevated rocky outcrop. The path goes round the rocks, but I choose to spend some time climbing up to the top of the rocks.

The map indicates a stone circle nearby. Aah, here it is!

A little further on is another rocky outcrop with another ancient monument, “Hermit’s Cave” . I didn’t investigate, so have saved this for another day,

Elton, And Anthony Hill

After dropping down to the valley, my route then rose again, up Dudwood Lane.

Halfway up the hill, my route left the road and Limestone Way to cross the fields towards Elton.

I skirted through the edge of the village, and took in the views to my next staging post, Anthony Hill, on the right of the this photo.

At the hill, there was evidence of historic quarrying activity.

After rounding the hill, the path follows the contours of the ridge, with spectacular views across the valley. And the sun even managed to put in an appearance.

Farming Country

The route passes several farms in this fertile landscape – Rock Farm, Gratton Grange Farm and Lowfields Farm, with a variety of animal life on show!

Llamas and oversize chickens

Cows on the ridge of a distant hill

Lazy horses in another sunny moment

River Bradford

Soon enough, I reached a pond which feeds the head of the river.

There are simple footbridges to cross.

The river flows through a deep gorge, and it has been made into a series of pools with fast flowing river between them, similar to its near neighbour the River Lathkill.

The landscape would have been highly industrial in the distant past, but is delightfully tranquil now.

It is popular with the aquatic birds too, the water being crystal clear for food spotting.

Eventually, I left the river by this bridge, and steeled myself for the climb up the path out of the valley.

Any walk in the dales and over the hills of this part of the Peak District is beautiful. I’ll never tire of walking here…. well at least mentally I won’t, though the routes are quite physical, always involving plenty of uphills and downhills!

And Finally….

Leisureland is the new album from Wreckless Eric. I love this, it’s called Southern Rock.