From Hope College turn R 500 yds to Woodroffe Arms. Turn R into Pindale Road, go over bridge and 200yds uphill turn R over stile by two large trees. Follow gravel f/p 0.5mile. Cross railway (Hope cement works to your left). Follow f/p s/o (hummock to left) and after 3rd stile keep to left of field then bear right to fence by river then s/o over stile on track 0.25 mile to road. Turn L into Castleton. Past Peveril Store (toilets opposite). Follow road 90° L then s/o up Back Street. Keep green to R and then turn R 30yds after tea rooms between Dale & Cavedale Cottages and enter Cave Dale.
After 600yds notice old mine on R and look back to see Peveril Castle. At top of Cave Dale push through 2 iron gates. After 50yds bear L up broad grassy track and pass through gate and then over broad slabby stile. Turn R 150yds on track to first control point and punch card in box 1 - fence/wall corner. GR 134814. (3.25 miles).
Turn R on track for 1 mile - Mam Tor in the distance. Pass Rowter Farm to road - turn R for a few yds then cross road carefully and s/o into field. Follow grassy track 0.3 mile to next road to (marshalled) control point 2 by the road side. GR 126832. (4.25 miles). (Water, orange available here).
Cross road then up f/p to Mam Nick then R up paved f/p to summit of Mam Tor (1696') then continue down paved f/p then ridge path 0.75mile to Hollins Cross and control point 3 punch on cane identifiable by red/white tape - north side of cairn. GR 136845. (5.5 miles). ** DO NOT be tempted to punch box 8 here - cards will be scrutinised at Edale!!
If you wish to abandon the 20 mile route here and complete the 8 mile route instead then read/follow the route description below from control point 8*.
Take track in NW direction. At fork (100yds) keep s/o track signed "Barber Booth". At 4th gate turn R down lane for 0.5 mile. Turn R at junction for 120yds then L and nip into car park after 30yds for (marshalled) control point 4 - car situated close to toilet block. GR 124853. (7 miles). (Water, orange available here).
THE CUT OFF TIME HERE IS 11.30am AFTER WHICH TIME YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PROCEED ON THE NEXT SECTION.
Continue up through Edale village, pass Nags Head p/house and s/o along gravel lane. Approx 150 yds after Nags Head turn R down f/p "Grindsbrook". Cross footbridge then L along paved footpath to trees. Cross footbridge and continue along main footpath following the course of the river. The path eventually crosses to the left bank, follow upstream as far as steep tributary stream on L and follow steeply up to plateau edge and path to control point 5 - punch by large cairn on cane identifiable by red/white tape. (9 miles). GR106872.
Follow f/p along edge firstly to the north (approx 400 yds) then cross stream and double back as path follows the moor edge SSE. Keep on f/p as it passes Upper Tor, Nether Tor and s/o at fork contouring above Ringing Roger. s/o over stile/gate, past cairn and another stile. Keep along moor edge and do not stray down ollerbrook Clough! At fork bear L on main path to follow edge again; at next fork keep on main f/p (bearing slightly to L). Cross stream shortly before old wall. 75yds after wall end and at 2'6" stone bear slightly right and onto downhill f/p. s/o at gate. Bear left at 2 trees "Footpath". Go R at track through gate 400 yds to control point 6 punch on fence with red/white tape. GR 159876. (13.25 miles).
Turn R "Edale" s/o at gate and down to ford in Jaggers Clough. Up hairpin and then s/o at gate. At bridleway sign "Nether Booth" bear R up f/p alongside wall. Follow path in and out of clough then round to Edale YHA, Rowland Cote (marshalled) control point 7 - go in front of main building and go across to "self caterers kitchen" . GR140866. (15.25 miles). (Hot & cold drinks, biscuits available here).
CUT OFF TIME HERE IS 4.00pm AFTER WHICH TIME YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PROCEED ON THE NEXT SECTION.
Follow YHA drive down to road, turn R and follow road carefully for 0.5 mile. Turn L along lane up to Back Tor Farm. s/o at gate then up track. Follow bridleway signs and ascend to Hollins Cross and control point 8 punch on cane on north side of cairn. GR 136845. (1 7 miles).
Turn left (NE) along main ridge path. Go L over stile in dip before steep path over Back Tor to the summit of Lose Hill (1563') and control point 9 punch on NW side of cairn on cane identifiable by red/white tape. GR 153854. (18.25 miles). A marvellous view from here and nearly all ofthe 20 mile route visible!!
Continue on main paved f/p SSE down to stile. After 50yds go over stile to R of cairn and L down field. Pass copse to Losehill Farm. s/o through gate, farm to right, then second f/p on right signed Hope. Down field, aim for barn, pass and keep wall to left then L over stile and down field to stile (tall free). 2 more stiles then s/o through kissing gate. Go through wooden gate then metal gate, follow f/p over stile then s/o through yard and s/o through low squeezer stile. Cross railway bridge (no bunching please!), go through 4 small gates. Turn R, f/p "Castleton Road", gate, 2 stiles then bear L onto track 250yds to main road. Turn R and cross carefully to finish at the College.