Introduction

Indian Summer days don’t come any better than this, so Cal and I took ourselves off to Castleton in the heart of the Peak District to make the most of this glorious weather.

The journey to Castleton took 50 minutes.

This walk is 4.7miles but with almost 1000 feet of ascent it has quite a kick!

There is some sheep pasture, but plenty of places to let a dog off the lead. But beware the steep cliff edges on Back Tor.

We walked in a clockwise direction, and completed the walk in two and a half hours.

The walk is on OS Explorer Map OL1.

We parked in the car park for £4.50, postcode S33 8WN. What 3 Words ///couches.renamed.succumbs

Hollowford Road

Following the stream out of the back of the car park, we made our way out of the village, past neat cottages, farms and a play park.

Mam Tor appeared between the trees.

Soon enough, the road became a track, and then a path as we began the steady rise towards the ridge.

We took it slowly on the steep slope, stopping regularly to enjoy the day.

Back Tor

All in good time we reached the ridge and prepared ourselves for the final climb.

It’s steep and rocky, but fortunately rough steps have been constructed from the rocks. One of us mistook a step for a bench….and why not with this view to Edale and the Kinder plateau beyond!

At the top the full splendour of the view could be taken in, and we stopped awhile.

This 360 degree video starts looking east to Lose Hill, takes in Edale to the north, Mam Tor to the west, and Castleton and the Hope Valley to the south.

Brockett Booth And The Lose Hill Descent

We could have taken the ridge along to Lose Hill, but we decided to return the way we had come before turning through the delightful wood, Brockett Booth Plantation.

After the wood we traversed the hillside before turning downhill, taking in the views back to Mam Tor, where the hang glider exponents were beginning to enjoy the conditions.

We made good time going downhill, and the softer farmland landscape made for a pleasant stroll back to the village.

Back in the village, there was time to sit out for a light lunch and a cup of tea.

Before returning to the car, we had time to take a stroll along the brook to the entrance to The Devil’s Arse!

And as we drove up Winnat’s Pass at the start of the trip home, we enjoyed a closer look at the hang gliders soaring around Mam Tor!

All in all an utterly splendid day!

And Finally….

This is the brilliant Steve Cropper, from his album Friendlytown. The track is “I Leave You In Peace”.