Buxton (well nearly) to Hartington 15km 5 July 2023
This is the first walk we’re going to take. I plan to walk from Harpur Hill, a suburb just south of Buxton, to the pretty village of Hartington. I’ll be staying at the Charles Cotton Hotel in Hartington tonight.
The walk will take us along the valley of the River Dove which forms the Western border of much of Derbyshire, separating it from Staffordshire, over the water. The walk is over limestone and fairly gentle. We’ll pass Pilsbury Castle, an earthwork, from when this was bandit country before arriving in Hartington, a pretty market town and one of only three places in the UK where stilton cheese can be legally made.
Harpur Hill is on the bus. So if you’re coming from Buxton pick up the 185 from the Market Place and get off as St James Church ( SK063712). It can be done the other way round by taking the 442 from Ashbourne which also calls at Hartington and St James’s Harpur Hill.
Make your way over the road to the Parks Inn SK0630710 and the pathway to the old High Peak railway. There’s a climb to the track bed. This is a bridleway. Make sure you look back for the views of Buxton. The Town Hall, Palace Hotel, Dome and Silverlands Stadium (home of the mighty Bucks) should be visible.
Head south over the well preserved track bed to a set of gates. Go through both sets of gates and take the path off to the right hand side and head up the slope. We get to the top and its a double bonus. The highest point of the trip and also the first view of Derbyshire’s sleeping dragons! Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill. The tips of the Dragons’ backs are just visible in the distance.
Carry on along the shallow, gently sloping valley. Cross the road and taking a style more or less opposite head over the field towards the far corner of the woodland. Then cross the wall at the style and carry on to Greensides — a farmstead that can be rented from the National Trust.
Enter Dowel Dale, a very small, very narrow dale with a very minor road running its length. Continue down the dale passing Dowall Hall on the left hand side and you’re walking between the two ends of Parkhouse Hill on the left and Chrome Hill on the right.
Continue along the road, jiggling left then right as our route crosses the B5053 and follows along the contour below the tops of Hitter Hill and Aderley Clff. Eventually, the road becomes a path and we arrive in Crowdecote. The pub here is open on several day in the week and at week ends. Worth stopping for a little refreshment.
After the pub we continue towards Pilsbury castle over open farmland. There is a noticeable climb up the left hand side of the slope to the side of the remains of the motte.
Continue on the side of the hill, towards the very minor, gated road which takes us into Hartington past Bank Top Farm. The road is very close to the river Dove and gives plenty of opportunities to spot bird and other types of wild life.
Finally after 15k from St James we’re in Hartington. Two pubs in the village, the Bar of the Charles Cotton Hotel, and the Devonshire Arms are in the village centre. Both locations offer accommodation as does Hartington Youth Hostel.
This is the link to a map of the route.