Saturday 31 May 2014

Walks in the Peak District 1

WALKING FROM HOPE TO EDALE
VIA MAM TOR
by Barry Van-Asten


We were camping at the Field Head Camp site in Edale near to its lovely parish church dedicated to the Holy and Undivided Trinity, built in 1885. Following a day of persistent rain we decide to take a walk from the village of Hope, crossing Mam Tor and back to Edale.



Hope parish church of St Peter, Derbyshire.
 
This wonderful church in the village of Hope opposite the Old Hall Hotel, has the remains of two ancient crosses in its churchyard. One is the sandstone shaft of a Saxon Cross and the other is the 'Eccles Cross'.
 
 
 
 
 
 
walking towards the village of Castleton
 
 
 
 
 
sheep were friendly!
 
 
 
 
a glimpse of sun towards Castleton
 
 
 
 
I counted 42 dead moles nailed to a tree just
before the village of Castleton, near the farm!
 
 
 
 
 
The walk towards Mam Tor
 
 
This part of the walk became very dramatic with the hills and the remains of the lead mine approaching. 
 
 

 
the remains of the disused Odin lead mine
 
 
 
 
caverns near Odin's Mine
 
 
Just beyond this point the old abandoned road which was closed in 1979 due to landslides is reached and great chunks of tarmac seem to undulate and drift into the landscape.
 
 
 

 
the ridge to the top of Mam Tor
 
 
 
The views across to Kinder and down into the Edale valley were stunning and worth every bit of the climb to the ridge!
 

 
 
 
towards the top of Mam Tor
 
 
Mam Tor which means 'Mother Hill' is 1,696 feet (517 metres) high and on its summit is the Trig Point which also marks the location of an Bronze-Age/Iron-Age Hill Fort. Near to the trig is also a Bronze-Age burial mound.
 
 
 
 
MamTor Trig Point
 
 
From the top of Mam Tor it was a simple walk down the bridle way and to the village of Edale. However, there is a distinctive winding road near the bottom which is all too easy for cars to park and 'walkers' to 'rush-up' and reach the trig in 20-30 minutes! We took over seven hours completing the walk (the scenic and harder route) and felt better for the experience!

 
 
 
 
 


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