Get Lost Mountaineering

Mam Tor Ridge, Winnats Pass and Limestone Way from Castleton

Start/Finish

Castleton village. Free parking is available on the E side of the village. Otherwise the best pay car park is the Visitor Centre on the W side of the village where there are information and toilet facilties.

Distance/Time

11 km     About 4 - 5 hours

Peaks

Lose Hill, 476 m, SK 153 853.

Back Tor, c 430 m, SK 148 851.

Mam Tor, 517 m, SK 127 836.     OS Outdoor Leisure 1: Dark Peak

Introduction

This is a short but very fine ridge walk in the Dark Peak which, in good weather has good views of Win Hill, Edale and Kinder as well as the local area around Castleton. The return route from Mam Tor is partly above Winnats Pass which is very steep sided. Because of its frequent land slips, Mam Tor is often referred to as “The Shivering Mountain”. Route finding should not be a problem even in bad weather but high winds can be very unnerving, especially on Mam Tor.

Route

(1) Walk out of the back of the Visitor Centre car park following the stream along a path which becomes a minor road. At the first junction go left which is Hollowford Road. Follow this, ignoring the path which soon forks off left, until a fork is reached at the Training and Conference Centre. Go right here, heading roughly NE on a stony track. When the track swings left, almost due N, go straight on across a grassy field. There is a sign post but it is not very obvious. On the far side of the field, a small stream is crossed and one soon emerges on a lane. Follow this for about 150 m until a sign post indicates a path on the left going NNW. Follow the path, on the left, W, of a stream. The path can be boggy in places. After about 600 m, the path makes a right turn and heads roughly E, initially below a wall. After about 450 m, a path goes left, N, to avoid Losehill Farm. This climbs to soon reach a good grassy track. Turn left, uphill and NNW, on to the track and follow it up the SE flank of Lose Hill. Higher up, it merges with another track coming from Townhead Bridge in lower Edale. The higher part of the track/path is slabbed. Within 500 m, reach the summit of Lose Hill which is a splendid viewpoint. There is a small grassy hollow on the E side of the summit which can give shelter from strong westerly winds.

(2) Descend, roughly SW, on the obvious path which soon follows a wall. A shallow dip is reached followed by a short ascent to reach the top of Back Tor which is slightly to the N of the path.

(3) Retrace to the path and follow it down into a deeper hollow. Note that to the right of the path, Back Tor has a cliff which is well worth looking back to. Continue along the crest, on the obvious path. Pass over a minor top before descending into a shallow dip known as Hollin's Cross which is another good viewpoint. Continue along the crest, gradually ascending until the trig point which marks the summit of Mam Tor is reached. This is the highest point of the walk and the best viewpoint. The path is slabbed on the summit of Mam Tor.

(4) From the trig point, descend SE, almost at right angles to the slabbed path on an obvious grassy path which soon becomes a ridge down the south side of the “corrie” on Mam Tor. The path can be greasy and slippery but there are no technical difficulties. Continue down to reach a small wood just before the old landslipped road. Go left here and walk around the wood to reach the old road. Turn right and follow the road uphill for about 200 m to reach the Blue John Show Cave. Walk to the cave shop/cafe then go right to a gate and follow a grassy path, mainly S, towards Winnats Head Farm. At the farm, go left until a pedestrian gate is reached on to the Winnats Pass road. Cross diagonally and follow a faint path which slants up on to the S side of Winnats Pass. Follow the path, with a wall on the right, until a stile is reached. Cross the wall here and continue, on a faint path, which heads ESE and gradually diverges right from the wall. Some broken walls are easily crossed. Reach a ruin with a single tree which is at SK 140 821. Just to the S of this is a good path heading ENE which soon meets one heading NE, down the broad ridge towards Peveril Castle (in a small wood so may not be obvious). Once past some minor tops on the right, drift right – there is a faint track – to reach a wall above the steep sided Cave Dale. Follow the wall S to reach the Limestone Way by a wood. Walk down the loose and stony path which offers excellent views of Peveril Castle. Exit the Limestone Way through a gate at the bottom and follow the road N to the church near the centre of the village.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 8^th February, 2015.