Ladybower Inn, Fairholmes, Bamford, and Hathersage

I caught the bus from Sheffield to the Ladybower Inn and immediately crossed over the road to reach the footpath that goes behind the pub, heading up onto the moors. After a short distance I took a lower level path that I'd probably not used before and so didn't get up too high, just high enough to enjoy the views of the reservoir.

It wasn't long though until I started the real climb up through the woods at the back of the houses at Ashopton going towards  Whinstone Lee Tor  and then briefly walking along Derwent Edge.

I came back down to the track which runs alongside the eastern shore of Ladybower Reservoir and continued heading north for the Derwent Dam and Fairholmes Visitor Centre.

Although there aren't any in the photograph below, there were a lot of daffodils in bloom down in he bottom of the valley; entire fields of them in places.

My direction was still heading north as I walked along the other bank, the western bank, of Derwent Reservoir, the next reservoir up the valley. I  made my way up through the pine forest, now walking southwards towards Lockerbrook Outdoor Centre. A couple of hundred yards beyond there I turned left, and then left again, going down Hagg Side to reach the western bank of Ladybower Reservoir this time, with good views [when there were no trees in the way] of where I'd been walking a few hours earlier.

I crossed over Ashopton Viaduct and used the road to get to the Thornhill Trail, which I followed all the way to the bus stop at Bamford Station. There was forty five minutes until the next bus was due and so I walked the extra mile and a half to Hathersage.

Today's route, twelve miles:

Cutthroat Bridge, Hope, and Castleton

I arrived in Sheffield in time to catch the 07:59 bus to the start of the walk at Cutthroat Bridge: I had alternative walks planned just in case I didn't get up in time. It's a steady climb up onto Bamford Moor, from where there are lovely views looking down at Ladybower Reservoir.

The view of Ashopton Viaduct shimmering in the sunlight was magnificent from every angle; I just wanted to keep looking at it and taking photos, but I had to be careful where I was putting my feet and so had to regularly glance down every few seconds.

I got safely down to the dam wall, walked across it and then climbed over half way up Parkin Clough before branching to the left and taking the path around the eastern flank of Win Hill.

Once I'd descended into the Hope Valley I was mainly walking through pastureland; there were a lot of stiles that I had to climb over - each one seemed to be a different style. One of them in particular I found interesting, it had a small plastic or aluminium box attached to it; I'm assuming that inside this box there were some electrical components powered by a tiny solar panel. I wonder what its purpose is? My best guess is some sort of electronic counting device.

Hope church was looking its best in the winter sunshine.

The approach to Castleton from the east is lovely; I took plenty of photographs.

I had thirty minutes to wait for the bus - plenty of time to take a few more photos.

When I got on the bus I noticed that a sweeping brush was stowed on board; it would be useful in snowy conditions.

UPDATE: Someone has suggested that the small box attached to the stile is a solar light. It's so obvious that I'd never thought of that. It's very helpful by the landowner, or whoever though.

Ashopton, Snake Pass, Hope Cross, and Hope

I travelled to Ashopton and took the classic shot of Ashopton Viaduct framed in the distance before walking up to Crookhill Farm.

I continued past the farm; the next two and a half miles was my favourite part of the walk with lovely views over to Kinder Scout, the Great Ridge, and the Snake Pass.

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When I reached Rowlee Farm I came down onto the lower reaches of the Snake Pass and immediately crossed the road and headed up the hill towards Hope Cross. The path going up this way has been named 'Potato Alley' by mountainbikers who regularly use the route - it's an appropriate choice, there are thousands of loose pebbles the size and shape of potatoes which have been placed there to supposedly improve the surface, and maybe reduce erosion...however it's now much more difficult for both tyres and boots.

Hope Cross is a prominent local landmark.

I took a steep path down towards the Edale road, one I'd not used before. Just past Edale End at the bottom of the valley I used a concessionary footpath going along the bank of the River Noe, new to me as well, and then the definitive path that still keeps close to the river until it reaches the road at the Townhead Bridge area of Hope. 

Today was the first time I was there when a train going to the cement works passed over the viaduct as I approached the main part of Hope - quite a rare event I think...I didn't get a good photo though.

The bus had just left for Sheffield when I arrived down on the main road in the village and so I had nearly an hour to kill. I went to the Old Hall Tearooms  and ordered a pot of tea and a slice of coconut sponge cake. the cake was very crumbly and I couldn't manage only using the knife which had been brought to my table so I asked for a fork as well...and then still struggled. I was pleased to notice that the knife had been made in Sheffield though. I had a good chat with a couple of the customers; when I left I told them I needed to get back to Doncaster before I turned into a pumpkin.

At one of the bus stops in Sheffield city centre the driver switched off the engine, left his cab, held up a bus ticket and explained that people who pay for their fare by swiping their mobile phone need to take the ticket they are issued and securely dispose of it because criminals are boarding buses and picking up the appropriate tickets off the floor and using them to steal money from people's bank accounts.