Derbyshire Guide
News
Order a Brochure
New Activity
Free Guided Walks in the Peak District
Accommodation
New Attraction
New Website
Calulcate CO2 emissions

The Route - Kilometre 140 to 163

Kilometre 140 (Mile 87) Bamford

Bamford is famous for its sheep dog trials which are held over the late Spring Bank Holiday.

Bamford also has well dressings. In 2005 they will be 10th to 17th July.

Continue on the A625 towards Chapel-en-le-Frith.

After Bamford is left, there is a tall chimney directly ahead that belongs to the Blue Circle cement works. One of the main ingredients of cement is Calcium Carbonate which in its rock state can be Chalk, Marble, or Limestone (which is why it is built here). Although many would consider it out of place in a National Park, it does provide year round employment.

Divert Off Route As we continue on towards Hope, slightly off route (on the left) is the village of Bradwell. This has well dressings from 30th July 2005 to 7th August 2005. It is possible to see the making of the well dressing from 26th-29th July 2005 at 2-5pm and 7-9pm.

Kilometre 144 (Mile 89) Hope

Hope is one of the best places to start a walk up Loose Hill and Win Hill, both of which can clearly be seen to the right.

There is a car park (with public conveniences) 250 metres after Hope's church.

The Hope well dressings commence on the last Saturday in June. This is also when the Hope Wakes Week begins. See the comprehensive list of well dressings which includes other villages and towns within the Peak District National Park and many outside the Peak National Park.

The Hope Sheepdog Trails and Agricultural Show, is on Monday 29th August 2005. Usually the show has sheep dog trials. For full details see www.hope-show.co.uk for further details.

Continue along the A625.

Kilometre 146 (Mile 91) Castleton

View from CarAs the Castleton boundary sign is passed there is a very good view of Peveril Castle to the right of front.

600 metres (0.4 miles) later, after negotiating a 90 degree left, then a 90 degree right angle bend, park in the large car park 100 metres on the right.

It is the usual pay and display car park; 30p for up to 1 hour; 60p up to 2 hours; £1.20 up to 4 hours; £2.50 all day. It has public conveniences.

"Castleton should be given a wide berth on a Saturday or Sunday in Summer. On those days it overflows with the tripper, for whom it lays itself out to provide, and its streets are apt to be uproarious until the last brakes have gone singing down the vale" This was written in 1905 (Highways and Byways in Derbyshire, JB Firth) and with the substitution of cars and coaches for brakes could easily have been written today. It helps us to realise that tourism is not a modern invention. Castleton was an established tourist centre over 400 years ago.

Clock FaceCastleton is a very good centre for exploring. Dominating the car park is the Keep of Peveril castle. There are several show caves and other attractions. All are within easy walking distance of the centre of Castleton. More details can be found on the Castleton page.

Go back to the entrance of the car park and turn right. There are no real signs to help you out of it.

As the centre of Castleton is left, Winnats Pass, the gorge immediately in front, can be seen. This is where the route goes next. Winnats Pass gets its name from Wind Gates and is a spectacular limestone gorge.

In 200 hundred metres at the "Road Ahead Closed" sign, turn left towards Speedwell Cavern, Blue John Cavern and Chestnut Centre.

View from CarAs you progress along the walled road to the bottom of Winnats Pass the best views are straight ahead. At this point it does not seem possible that a road can go up there.

As Speedwell cavern is passed the road climbs steeply. The gradient is 1:5 for 1 kilometre (0.6 miles).

Kilometre 147 (Mile 92) Winnats Pass

Winnats is a good place to look for Blue John. This mineral can be found on the ground.

The road flattens out and Mam Tor can be seen on the right. Go over a cattle grid and pass the farm house on the right. If conditions permit, stop. Looking almost directly to the right is Mam Tor and trailing away from it is a magnificent view of the ridge from Mam Tor to Hollins Cross and all the way via Back Tor to Loose Hill.

300 metres later the gorge has now turned into open countryside; turn right signposted to Chapel-en-le-Frith, Blue John Cavern and the Chestnut centre.

View from CarThe hill directly ahead is Mam Tor (the shivering mountain). There is an easy walk to the top of Mam Tor in a little while.

Follow the road down and in 300 metres the road almost does a U turn to the left, signposted to Chestnuts Centre.

A WalkThere is a car park 500 metres (0.3 miles) on the right which gives easy access to Mam Tor. From this car park to the top of Mam Tor only requires walking up hill 100 metres (300 feet).

Continue along this road (the A625) for 5 kilometres (2.1 miles).

Kilometre 155 (Mile 99) Chestnut Centre

The Chestnut Centre (formally Chestnuts Centre) is on the right just as we leave the National Park when the road is going downhill quite steeply.

The Chestnut Centre is an enjoyable day out, strolling through 50 acres of unspoilt Derbyshire countryside. Encountering four species of otters, over 10 species of deer, foxes, Scottish wildcats, pinemarten and others. The Nature Trail is a natural environment for wildflowers throughout the changing seasons.

Admission to the Chestnut Centre in 2005, which is a conservation park, otter haven, and owl sanctuary, is £5.95 and £3.75 for children (over 4 years). It is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m with last admissions at 4pm during British Summer Time and 1 hour before sunset at other times. Admission to the tea room and gift shop is free. Contact details in 2005 are Chestnut Centre, Castleton Rd, Chapel-en-le-Frith, High Peak, Derbyshire SK23 0QS Tel: 01298 814099

1.1 kilometres (0.7 miles) after the Chestnuts Centre turn left onto the A6 towards Buxton. The junction is very distinct due to the flyover carrying the A6 over the road below.

2.6 kilometres (1.6 miles) later, the village of Dove Holes is reached. This area shows one of the major industries of the Peak District - quarrying. As the Queen's public house (on the left) is passed major limestone workings can be seen from time to time on the left for about 6 kilometres (4 miles). Some of these quarries have been recycled into landfill sites.

The long hill on the right is Black Edge.

Continue along the A6 into Buxton.


Next Section
Popular Derbyshire Guide Pages
JavaScript is required view this information and it would appear that your browser does not have JavaScript or JavaScript has been disabled.

Search:
Keywords:
In Association with Amazon.co.uk
Legal
This information is provided to the best of our knowledge. We have collected and collated it in good faith but we are not responsible for its accuracy and anyone intending to make use of this information is advised to check it out.

Well that's the legal stuff sorted.

Should you decline to comply with this warning, a leather winged demon of the night will soar from the deep malevolent caverns of the white peak into the shadowy moonlit sky and, with a thirst for blood on its salivating fangs, search the very threads of time for the throbbing of your heartbeat. Just thought you'd want to know that.

Last Updated : Friday, 01-Feb-2019
© copyright 1991, 2019 HCI Data Ltd. and HCI Data Ltd.

Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!