Ladybower Challenge Walk

Start to Checkpoint 1 — Upper Burbage Bridge (SK262830)

On leaving the school the choice is whether to get the first couple of miles behind you quickly by road walking or to get straight into attractive countryside.

For the road choice turn right out of school then left at the tee junction. Straight over at the crossroads then left at the next tee junction. Follow the road out of the village to the A625. On meeting the A625 cross straight over and take the rather boggy path over the moor to Burbage Edge, crossing the Houndkirk Road on the way. Follow Burbage Edge (NW) to the checkpoint.
For the country route turn left out of school and, just before the houses on the right, take the path into a field. Walk down the field towards the river and over a footbridge. Turn right and follow the path to a road, turn right along the road then left after the bridge down a farm track (Avenue Farm). The track gives way through a gate to a path through a field along the river then forks right up the hill to meet another track. Turn left down the track (to Blackamoor) and follow it through the woods keeping alongside the stream. There are two alternate routes:

Take the right hand fork, where a stream joins (to Devils Elbow) and walk uphill through the woods to the A625, turn right and join the road route above.
or Follow the path all the way to the A625 via Blacka Moor. At the A625 cross a stile near the entrance to the lay-by and cross the open moor alongside the wall (right of access OK) until meeting the Hounkirk Road. Follow this until it meets the path to Burbage Edge as above.

There are no facilities at this checkpoint

Burbage Bridge to Checkpoint 2 — Strines Road (SK225877)

Follow the road for around 100 yards until it bends left. Here leave the road and take the path straight on to Stanage Edge. Follow the edge all the way to the A57. Around half way along there is a choice of keeping on the edge top or walking below. The top route is a little steeper but the views are better.

On reaching the A57 turn left, watch the traffic as you cross over to the checkpoint at the turn off for Strines about 500 yards along on the right.

Strines Road to Checkpoint 3 — Ladybower (SK173892)

After the checkpoint take the path on the left, past the farm, following it to the left along the stream. Cross a track and head straight on up the hill onto the moor (alongside several grouse butts). On reaching the top of the hill follow the Derwent Edge path to the right for a short way then turn left and go over the crest for fantastic views (hope it's not misty) of Ladybower. Follow the path down-hill alongside a wood and past a barn down to the track at the lakeside. Follow the track and road past the dam and just past the main car park and visitors centre to the checkpoint at Derwent Overview (a lay-by on the left just after the main car park exit).

Fairholmes car park has toilets, snack bar and lots of ducks and visitors so we are not allowed to have the checkpoint there. Best make use of the facilities before checking in, as this will avoid too much backtracking.

Ladybower to Checkpoint 4 — Old Hall Inn, Hope (SK173835)

From the checkpoint go back a few yards towards the main car park and take footpath on left through the woods, over a footbridge and up to an unmade forest road. From the road take the concessionary footpath on the left, through the woods towards Lockerbrook Farm. Join-the track to the-north of the-farm and turn left, following it past the farm and down to Hagg Farm and the A57.

Cross the A5 7 (with care) and go straight down to the bridge-over the-river Ashop. Cross the bridge and take the track up through the woods. Turn left after a few yards and stagger up the hill until you reach open countryside. Turn left onto the old roman road for a breezy walk down to Hope. There are several path or track options as you descend but I find keeping to-the-Roman road means that the-walking is fairly easy on tiring legs. On reaching the Edale Road there is the temptation of the Cheshire Cheese but after that at the main road turn left to the checkpoint just after the Old Hall Inn.

Hope has shops, toilets, pubs and cafes.

Hope to Finish — Grindleford Cafe (SK251787)

Some people took to the road from Hope down towards Hathersage but found the traffic and fumes too much. It can save-time-but not to be recommended unless you like that sort of thing.

A more pleasant route is to cross the road from the checkpoint and go back a few yards to the church. Take the road at the side of the church as far as the left turn to Bradwell. Just up the Bradwell Road is a path on the-left which takes you through the fields, parallel to the river as far as Brough. At the road in Brough either take the next road on the right then follow the-track as the road turns sharp right or go down to the bridge and take the path just before the bridge. Both routes meet up and follow Townfield Lane.

From the end of Townfield Lane follow the road down to the river and take the path before the bridge alongside the river all the way to Leadmill Bridge.

At Leadmill Bridge cross the river and take the track on the right along the other side of the river. Eventually you need to be the other side of the railway. The easiest way is to keep on the path until entering a-wooded area. Once into the woods a path forks off on the left up the bank to a bridge over the railway. Once over the bridge-follow the path to meet up with a track. Turn right and follow this down to the bottom to meet up with the track to Grindleford Station. Turn left, -go past Padley chapel and along to the railway bridge and finally the famous Grindleford-Cafe.

Toilets, refreshments and beer are all available at the cafe. From there transport will be available for the short drive back to the School. Alternatively feel free to walk the further five miles but only if you will arrive before 8.30pm.

Best of luck and hope you enjoy it.