Walking Time – 5h 30min – 6h
Distance – 12.5mi
Total ascent – 2054ft
There are a couple of small car parks at Youlgrave, they can get busy so go early, both are honesty payments, they suggest £3 for all day parking.
This walk I really love, it takes you alongside the River Bradford, then drops down into Long Dale then into Gratton Dale and up into Elton.
From here there is a fair climb up to Birchover, I have camped at Birchovers Barn Farm many times so know the pubs in Birchover well.
Had my first pint outside a pub in over 6 months and the sun was shining and it was made even better accompanied by some chips!
Could of stayed for longer but one pint was enough, back on our feet and out of Birchover headed over to visit the Nine Ladies on Stanton Moor. Nine Ladies is a small early Bronze Age stone circle traditionally believed to depict nine ladies turned to stone as a penalty for dancing on Sunday. It is part of a complex of prehistoric circles and standing stones on Stanton Moor.
It isn’t so much to look at but still worth a visit.
Also passing the cork stone where they have carved out foot holds and have metal rungs so anyone who feels like a climb can have a go.
Leaving Stanton Moor, its all downhill to Stanton in Peak, a lovely little village, passing Stanton Hall dropping down and crossing the road across fields up then down which drops into Elton, from here it is back alongside the River Bradford, there is a section that swimming and paddling is allowed so it would have been rude not to get our feet wet.. it was freezing but felt good after the walk.
Walking alonside the river for a short while then back up the hill and ending back in Youlgrave.
There are pubs in Youlgrave, Elton and Birchover, Stanton in Peak and as always check before you choose your day as some are closed on certain days.
