Unique among the National Parks, the Peak District is surrounded by heavily industrialised areas. It became the main battleground f the "access to the countryside" movement in the 1920's and 30's when the inhabitants of these towns could stretch their legs and breathe the fresh air of their nearest open countryside.

In 1951 it became Britain's first national park, opening up areas of rough moorland to the adventurous rambler and using the old railway tracks as bridleways and footpaths.

Plenty of guidebooks are available mapping out the extensive range of walks in the Peak, but below are extracts from a 1918 walking guide, set in a time when rambling was considered a gentleman's leisurely pursuit.

1918

 

1. Deepcar to Bamford

 

2. Sheffield to Hathersage (by Stanage Pole)

 

3. Sheffield to Hathersage (by Upper Burbage Bridge)

 

4. Unstone to Grindleford

 

5. Edale to Bamford

 

6. Penistone or Hazlehead to Bamford

 

7. Whiteley Wood to "the Surprise"

 

8. A Round from Hathersage

 

9. Across Derwent Edge

 

10. Edale to Bamford (by Lord's Seat and Bradwell)

 

11. Round the Dales

 

12. Round Kinderscout

Ramble 1. Deepcar to Bamford

The First Ramble in Brief

 

The walk from Deepcar to Bamford, taken loiteringly, with time allowed for observation, requires from five to six hours.

 

The route along the edge of the great open moorland that divides the upper course of the Don and the Derwent,

and is perhape the most romantic in the whole Sheffield region, if both natural beauty and historical suggestion are appreciated.

Omitting the rise at the beginning of the journey between Deepcar and Bolsterstone, and the descent at the end of the journey between Lady Bower and Bamford, the general height of the route above sea level is a thousand feet or more, with three dips to about 750 feet where deep-cut streams are crossed.

The up and down character of the walk is one of its charms, for it brings invigorating upland airs from generous sweeps of lofty moor, followed by the sylvan seclusion of rocky denes.

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 Ramble 2.

Sheffield to Hathersage (by Stanage Pole)

-map divided into three sections

 

Either Whiteley Wood or Nether Green is now the best point to make for by tram,

no matter which way you walk to Hathersage.............

The Walk In Brief

There are many ways of going to Hathersage from Sheffield, all being remunerative, but first I wish to trace what seems to me the best way for people who walk for pleasure.

 

 

 

 

I refer to the footpath along the top of Rivelin Rocks, till

the Dams are reached, followed by the ascent of Wyming Brook, with a continuance along the Roman causeway to Stanage Pole and Stanedge Edge, the descent to Stanage cottage, and after that a tracing of upland lanes so as to pass Moorseats, the scene of the latter part of Charlotte Bronte's "Jane Eyre", with a drop to Hathersage past Camp Green and the Church.

 

 

 

 

Other ways are also traced to and from Stanage Pole.

 

 

 

 

 

.........I dont think our ancient Sheffield worties took their walks far from the town. Though they loved the scenery, they chiefly loved it near home............

 

 

 

 

......Just beyond the Inn at Redmires you cross a cutting

which brings the water from Oaking Clough to the reservoirs.

A footpath which enters our road on the right, a little further on, close to the house called Ocean View, comes direct from Hollow meadows across the moors.........

 

 

 

 

......Decending from the end of Hook's Car Sitch you come on the right to a gate barring a little used lane. Going through it, and following the lane past another

gate near a barn you come first to Kimber Court, and then to Moorseats.

This interesting house, once one of the residences of the Eyres, the historical family of Hathersage is the scene where Jane Eyre, in the tale of that name, fleeing across the moors, falls fainting at the door of St. John Rivers and his sisters, who prove to be her cousins.........

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Ramble 3.

Sheffield to Hathersage (by Upper Burbage bridge).

The Walk in Brief

This is the most popular walk in the district. The walking distance is about eight miles, and the time needed about three hours. The route may be summarised as by Whiteley Woods, Forge Houses, Hongram Lane, Ringinglow, Upper Burbridge, Fiddler's Elbow, Higgar Lodge, and Hathersage Booth.

 

This is not, so far as the last part is concerned, the usual route, nor the shortest, but it is by far the best, from the point of view of scenery.

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 It must be taken this way round, as it keeps culminating in attraction, with the better view always in front. Taken the other way round it is a series of anticlimaxes. The distance is about 14 miles. The time allowed should be five hours at least.

The walk through the woodlands that climb the slopes of the valley down which the Barlow Brook

flows is pleasing........

 

....the Barleys of Barley were a notable family in olden times. Robert, of that name, was the first husband of the famous Bess of Hardwick....

 

 

...........at the end of Lees Lane, at

a height of about 550 feet above sea level, we come out upon quite a little surprise view, westward,

up the Caldwell, Coldwell, or Cordwell valley. To the right the valley is bounded by the high lands between the Peacock at Owler Bae and Holmesfield.........

.............As we descend, a hundred feet to the corner of the Sheffield turnpike, the view will open out in the direction of Baslow, down the gorge between Bakestone Edge and the rocky ridge which the Ordnance Map names as Gardrom's Edge, but which Dr Wrench - a better authority - says should be Common Edge.

 

 

But stay , and before you leave this central height and joyously meet the sweet airs of the open moor, turn back up Fox Lane, a hundred yards or so, between the plantation through which you have come (now on your left) and a dark little planting on your right.

 

 

 

 

Where the earth over the wall on your right begins to look trenched, and there is a gap in the wall, cross the gap and go straight forward into the middle of the squirrel-peopled copse and there, invisible from the road, you will find an old, old stone cross, inviting you to sit on its pedestal and think.......

 

 

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 Ramble 5. Edale to Bamford

The Walk in Brief

 

This walk is, in two respects, the best available near Sheffield.

First, it is the most easily reached walk "along the tops".

Second, it can be cut short at four points by those who do not wish to go the whole distance.

 

Hence, anybody can take it. By turning aside to Castleton it can be made a four miles' walk. By going the whole round the distance is nine or ten miles.

 

The time needed for a proper enjoyment of the walk is

at least four hours, and five hours would be better.

 

Train to Edale station.

 

It is fifty minutes' railway run from Sheffield, the last twenty - five minutes being one of the most attractive railway rides in England.

There is only one bread and cheese refreshment place on the round, namely, the Cheshire Cheese at Hope.

 

It has a clean parlour.

 

 

Take sandwiches, for the route lies high, and puts a keen edge on one's appetite.

The full round is from Edale to Mam Nick; thence to the top of Mam Tor; along the Mam Tor ridge to

Back Tor; by the back of Lose Hill and down its lateral ridge to Townhead Bridge(Hope); past the Cheshire Cheese, and then, without entering the main part of Hope Village, go over Killhill Bridge and by Twitchell Farm and the Ashopton footpath to the top of Win Hill.

 

 

Circle half round the plantation on Win Hill, keeping it to your right as you descend, and so pass by the long buttressing slope of Win Hill to Thornkill, and to Bamford station.

 

 

 

 

 

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