Lose Hill, Win Hill and the Great Ridge to Mam Tor

After a really enjoyable day in the Yorkshire Dales at the start of the month, I arranged to meet Shaun for a 12 mile walk in Derbyshire. He was keen to keep his walking regular as he was in training for the coast to coast walk of 192 miles. 

Although I’ve walked many parts of the Dark Peaks, I’ve never been to Win Hill.

So this was a first for me. 

We’d be starting from Hope and heading to Lose Hill first, then across the Hope Valley before climbing Lose Hill, walking the Great Ridge past Hollins Cross to Mam Tor, then descending towards Winnats Pass before walking through Castleton and following a path through farmland back to Hope.

I arrived in the village of Hope about 9:30am with a new addition to my kit. An Osprey 33L rucksack, lighter than my old one, more comfortable and more expensive at £89. 

Shaun was in the Courtyard Cafe having ordered a full English breakfast, so I met him there and had a brew before we set off.

Walking out of the village north along Edale Road, Shaun tells me we are to rendezvous with a forum member called Mad map Kedge, aka Kerry around lunchtime as she was unable to make the start.

We crossed under the mainline railway-line linking Sheffield with Manchester and headed up the steep lane to Twitchill Farm, before finally reaching grass.

From the farm its a pretty stiff climb up the hillside and up to the 462m peak of Win Hill. From here excellent views down below us to Ladybower Reservoir to the north and Stanage Edge to the east could be seen, but it was a little hazy today.

Shaun views the peak 'Lose Hill' in the distance from the lower slopes of Win Hill

 Approaching Win Hill

Shaun poses by Win Hill Trig point 463m

Shaun and I were soon heading for our next waypoint which would be Lose Hill across the valley. We could have just retraced our steps back into Hope village but a well planned walk requires a new scene at every turn, so we walked along Hope Brink and should have turned west before meeting the old Roman Road. But we had continued to chat away and completely missed our turning point. Fortunately it wasn’t long before the mistake was realised. However, access to Lose Hill from the east is limited so when we did head down towards the valley floor we were way too far north, without an alternative route, finding ourselves at Edale End and Upper Fulwood Farm.
Some road walking was now required and Shaun called Kerry to explain we were erm.......temporarily misplaced and would be late meeting her. 

Kerry was okay about it as she was being entertained by watching a wedding party at the nearby Losehill House Hotel & Spa from a distance.

Having gone under that mainline railway line again, we picked up a path by Norman Farm and this followed the River Noe.

Working our way across the valley

It was almost 2pm before we finally met up with Kerry, we then had our introductions before the three of us continued up the ridge to Lose Hill.

Shaun and Kerry on the ascent to Win Hill

The three of us at Lose Hill trig point at 476m

Although this was March, it was a mild day although a little hazy, but the ridge we were about to walk looked fantastic in the sunshine. A nice steady pace with plenty of stops for a bit of artistic photography.

As Shaun is an ex professional photographer he got a little creative while we walked the ridge.

Mam Tor trig point at 517m

Leaving the modest summit of Mam Tor, the ridge continues on along Rushup Edge

Sharing some Polo mints as we crossed Windy Knoll

Looking down on Winnats Pass

From Winnats Pass we dropped into the village of Castleton and made our way over farmland along Peakshole Water back into 'Hope' and finished the 12 mile walk with a pint and a bite to eat in 'The Old Hall Hotel'