{"id":1007876,"date":"2023-10-05T20:43:05","date_gmt":"2023-10-05T19:43:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1007876"},"modified":"2023-10-05T20:43:08","modified_gmt":"2023-10-05T19:43:08","slug":"youlgreave-and-elton","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1007876","title":{"rendered":"Youlgreave and Elton"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Introduction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With leaves and beginning to fall, I thought I’d take a hike out in the heart of the White Peak to enjoy the last of the greenery!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rain was forecast for post-lunchtime, so I was out early. It was a cloudy morning, 16deg C as I set off from the village of Youlgreave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a touch over an hour to drive from Cheadle Hulme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk is 7.5 miles and took 3.5 hours, there being 1100feet of ascent to negotiate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There were plenty of sheep and a few cattle pasture fields on the walk, but plenty of empty fields and tracks too, so rather mixed for dog walking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I walked in a clockwise direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk is on OS Explorer Map OL24.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I parked in the Coldwell End car park, where there is a recently built toilet block, use postcode DE45 1UY.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Youlgreave To Harthill Moor<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Youlgreave is a pleasant village that still has 3 pubs and 2 shops. I walked down the road from the car park to the planned start point. From here, I took the narrow lane downhill past more toilets (!), and the River Bradford came into view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As I reached the river, I spied some people going for a swim. Impressed!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I reached the road where I was to leave the river, but I’d be back on the upstream section later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Setting out over the fields, I enjoyed the views ahead, and back to Youlgreave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This part of the walk follows The Limestone Way, which runs through the woods, rather than up around the ancient monument of Castle Ring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After the wood, a short road section led me up to Harthill Moor, and the rocks of “Robin Hood’s Stride”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Robin Hood’s Stride<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is an elevated rocky outcrop. The path goes round the rocks, but I choose to spend some time climbing up to the top of the rocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The map indicates a stone circle nearby. Aah, here it is!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A little further on is another rocky outcrop with another ancient monument, “Hermit’s Cave” . I didn’t investigate, so have saved this for another day,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Elton, And Anthony Hill<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After dropping down to the valley, my route then rose again, up Dudwood Lane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Halfway up the hill, my route left the road and Limestone Way to cross the fields towards Elton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I skirted through the edge of the village, and took in the views to my next staging post, Anthony Hill, on the right of the this photo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At the hill, there was evidence of historic quarrying activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After rounding the hill, the path follows the contours of the ridge, with spectacular views across the valley. And the sun even managed to put in an appearance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Farming Country<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The route passes several farms in this fertile landscape – Rock Farm, Gratton Grange Farm and Lowfields Farm, with a variety of animal life on show! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Llamas and oversize chickens<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cows on the ridge of a distant hill<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Lazy horses in another sunny moment<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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River Bradford<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon enough, I reached a pond which feeds the head of the river.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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There are simple footbridges to cross.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The river flows through a deep gorge, and it has been made into a series of pools with fast flowing river between them, similar to its near neighbour the River Lathkill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The landscape would have been highly industrial in the distant past, but is delightfully tranquil now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It is popular with the aquatic birds too, the water being crystal clear for food spotting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Eventually, I left the river by this bridge, and steeled myself for the climb up the path out of the valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Any walk in the dales and over the hills of this part of the Peak District is beautiful. I’ll never tire of walking here…. well at least mentally I won’t, though the routes are quite physical, always involving plenty of uphills and downhills!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Finally….<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Leisureland is the new album from Wreckless Eric. I love this, it’s called Southern Rock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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