Yorkshire Bridge - Win Hill - Twitchill Farm - Aston - Yorkshire Bridge.
The walk (with a couple of off route diversions) was approx 7.5 miles and took us 3hours 45 mins.
Map
Some of you know that Meg my youngest daughter is continuing her travels, and this year amongst several wonderful planned trips, she is walking to Everest base camp. She has been training hard but there aren't many hills in the Lincolnshire fens, so she decided to rope muggins here into her training plans. What started off as 'dad do you fancy completing the 3 peaks challenge', was gradually negotiated back to completing a walk in the peak district. Job done I thought.
I do like to make sure I have a plan, and that I'm fully prepared, especially when heading off the beaten track. I have a fear of setting off, losing my way, meandering aimlessly as the sun sets and having to call mountain rescue out. Yes I know I'm not climbing Ben Nevis but it goes back to the old adage "to fail to plan, is to plan to fail".
When I lived in Sheffield I completed many walks in the peak district, but time has passed, and I'm out of touch with where to go. So I contacted my brother who said leave it with me and later that day I received an email with photocopies of pages from a book. I read the instructions they appeared clear; start at Ladybower go up Win Hill (good, no mention of a mountain), back down the other side, jobs a good un.
So fully kitted out, off we went, starting at Yorkshire Bridge, we walked up the incline to Ladybower Reservoir and after a short way we took a path uphill off to the left into a plantation, 'point 1' done, so far so good. However on 'point 2' things became less clear. We were looking for a turning circle and a small path off to our left, after 50 mins of walking (with some stunning views of Ladybower) we decided to re trace our steps. I know things change over time but the small path off to the left was now similar to an exit off the M1 with a sign to match. Ok, so the warning signs were there and I began to wonder if this book was a Del boy special or maybe had gone out of print some years earlier.
We took the M1 exit and continued up through the plantation, towards the top of Win Hill. Up and up and the panting got heavier the stops more frequent, (that's me not Meg), eventually we came out of the trees and we could see the top of the 'hill'. At this point, just so you get the general idea, I'll share with you a description of the ascent;
"Win Hill is commonly ascended from Yorkshire Bridge or Hope. The ascent from Yorkshire Bridge is a steep climb of 300 metres (980 ft) in 1.2 km (3⁄4 mi)"
in other words, you're walking up a bloody steep hill, I wish I'd read this before we set off! The more we walked up the further away the peak appeared to get, I think at one point Meg thought I was going to have a heart attack, (she didn't appear too concerned, but just to be on the safe side, I did ask her to make sure she had a phone signal and her battery wasn't about to go flat).
After lots of rain and snow the previous weekend the ground was very slippy underfoot, which made things more challenging, but eventually we made it to the top. It was worth the effort, with stunning views down to Ladybower and the Hope Valley.
As we headed towards Aston, as instructed, we were looking out for various sign posts none of which existed, we pretty much lost the plot and as we approached the Hamlet the instructions went in the bin. We were now 'free walking' (walking unaided and without a guide, well with a little bit of support from Google!). Just beyond Aston we took a left turn over a style and headed diagonally across the fields and re joined the path that would take us back to Yorkshire Bridge.
At this point the ground was sodden and as we made our final descent back to the road, I ended up on my arse more times than I can count, including one Bambi on ice moment that would have scored a 10 for style in any dancing competition. This obviously amused Meg who offered some sage advice "you need to take those boots back, they are useless".
The most surreal moment happened at this point. As I was sat on my backside caked in mud, we were passed by a fell runner going in the opposite direction, with just a pair of trainers on (well shorts and a t-shirt as well) who was effortlessly progressing through the mud. The sun was about to set, where was he heading? if he got stuck out there in the dark, he'd better not call on me to come and rescue him!
As we descended the final section and reached the road, I don't think I've ever been so pleased to see the car. After a strip in the middle of the road to put on some clean clothes, we headed off home. It had been a lovely day, some good walking and lovely views and great to spend some time with Meg. I think I'll leave Everest base camp to her, but I'd forgotten how beautiful the Peak District is, I will definitely return, but next time I'll buy my own book and maybe a map.
the walk is based around one from a book called Family Walks in the Dark Peak, by Norman Taylor, which is indeed out of print.
If you ascend Win Hill from the Hope/Twitchill Farm side it is a more gentle climb.
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