This is another walking route you can do by train or bus. Take the Hope Valley line to Hathersage then walk back to Grindleford over the tops. This route finishes at the Sir William Hotel (feel free to pop in for a pint), but a a shorter variation takes you to Grindleford train station instead (13km rather than the full 15.5km).
Make sure you are well equipped with appropriate kit and skills for the hill before embarking on this walk. If you would like to learn the more about to how to plot and navigate your own walks in the hills take a look at our hill and mountain skills courses.
Please remember to keep any dogs on a short lead between 1 March and 31 July on our access land (including Stanage, Burbage valley and Padley Gorge) to protect birds nesting on the ground and livestock.
Hathersage to Grindleford via Stanage Edge, Burbage Valley, Higger Tor, Longshaw Estate and Padley Gorge
Distance: 15.5km | Total ascent: 442m | Time: approx 4 – 5 hours | Terrain: on-path, some bog and the route-finding is a little tricky below Carl Wark
You’ll find train times here, and 257 bus times here.
Hathersage to Stanage Edge via Hood Brook
1. Leave Hathersage Station and walk down to the main road. Turn right onto the road and follow this to turn right onto the main road at the George Pub. Pass Outside (good cake) and turn left just after the Alpkit shop onto Baulk Lane. Follow this footpath (keeping to public rights of way) across the fields for about 25 minutes until you reach a road (Birley Lane). Be careful here as there is a blind sharp turn to your left.
2. Turn right onto the road, shortly you will see the entrance to North Lees Hall and Farm (left). Head up the steep driveway until path levels out at North Lees Hall and curves round to the back. Take the first right up stone steps and through a gate, then follow the path across the field and into the woodland opposite (gate). Follow the wide woodland path and turn left just before the path meets the road, up some steps to Hollins Bank toilets.
3. Cross the road onto the rising path opposite. Continue up the path, through a gate into a wooded section before the path bears left and gradually rises up onto Stanage Edge. When you get to the top turn right and head east along the edge.
Stanage to Longshaw via Higger Tor
4. After around 1.2km (20 minutes) the path begins to rise. About 50m before the Apparent North trig point pick up the path on the right descending from the edge. Keeping left at any forks, continue straight on for about 500m until you reach the road. Cross and take the gate immediately opposite into a field, following the path diagonally left for about 400m until you meet another road. Cross here and take the gate to reach the wide path up to Higger Tor.
5. Various paths cross Higger Tor but we recommend sticking to the eastern edge to avoid any geographical embarrassment. To reach this path, continue up the wide track keeping left at the fork until you reach a staked path that runs along the edge. Follow this path to the other side of Higger Tor. Here descend along the rightmost of three faint tracks to avoid scrambling and follow wide path towards Carl Wark (another plateau).
6. The path will level out then go back uphill, with steps leading up to the ancient wall of Carl Wark. Once you’ve had a good marvel walk down the left side of the wall to reach descending path through a rocky ‘gateway’.
7. Keep right at any forks and continue along the wide boggy path until you come to an ill-defined T junctions with singletrack path. Turn left onto this path and follow onwards until you meet a small right fork leading up onto the faint spur. Follow this path to its rise and descend gradually keeping the edge below on your left as it weaves down to the A-road just right of a the river. Carefully cross and take the steps down through a gate into Longshaw Estate.
8. Follow the path down until you meet the river and a footbridge. Cross the footbridge and take the cobbled path to the left and then back right. Continue through a gate wooden and continue onwards for until you meet the road.
Longshaw Estate, Padley Gorge and Grindleford
9. Follow the road downhill a short way, taking the first left up the driveway to Longshaw Lodge (facilities, refreshments). Your path leads in front of the Lodge and along a fence until you pass through a wooden gate to a millstone. Turn right here and continue along this path for about 450m to the small lake.
10. Follow the path around the pond, picking up a stone wall for 300m to read Granby Barn (an mini information centre, well worth visit) then follow the path down to the road. Cross and go through the gate into Padley Gorge.
11. Drop down to the footbridge to cross Burbage Brook and turn left to follow it downstream into the woodland. Keep to this path with the river on your left until you reach a stone building with a curved roof on your right (about 1.2km, 20 minutes). Here bear left, passing through the gate to the wide track descending to Upper Padley. For Grindleford station: turn left here and follow the path back to the railway station. For the Sir William Hotel: Turn right at the T-junction, after about 350m you will see Padley Chapel on your right.
12. Continue past the chapel, after the cattle grid take the first left footpath over the railway bridge. Follow the path for 100m until you reach a directional post on the right and a break in the wall on the left. Fork left through the break in the wall and follow the across the field, joining a wall on your right. Follow this path along the wall until you reach a footbridge over Burbage Brook.
13. Cross at the footbridge and continue along the Derwent, following it downstream, until you meet the road (church opposite). Cross and turn right crossing the Derwent on the roadbridge. At the red phone box, cross the road and take the gennel (or alleyway, depending on where you’re from) up to the Sir William Hotel.
Let us know if you have done this walk, or another variation.
Learn how to plan and navigate your own walks in the hills and mountains.
Hati
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