Ashopton via Cutthroat Bridge, Bamford Edge and Bamford Moor

Bamford, South Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Sunday, 30 May, 2010
Route 37

A circular walk from Ashopton, by way of Cutthroat Bridge, Bamford Edge, Bamford Moor and Jarvis Clough.

Information

Distance (km): 
12.63 km
Distance (miles): 
7.85 miles
Elevation (start point): 
223 metres
Latitude (start point): 
53.3746
Longitude (start point): 
-1.7081
OS Grid Ref (start point): 
SK 19517 86455
Nearest Post Code: 
S33 0AX
Car parking: 
Ashopton
Google Earth
Gallery

Details

Route notes 

A very grey start to the morning, though by the time I arrived at the lower reaches of Jarvis Clough, blue sky was making an appearance. Eventually and with perfect timing just as I reached the main gritstone escarpment of Bamford Edge the sun finally broke through. This change in the weather conditions provided stunning views across Win Hill, the Upper Derwent Valley and Kinder Scout.

I decided to leave the edge and return by way of Bamford Moor. As soon as I did so the weather began to change and I could feel rain in the air. The path I set out following eventually disappeared amongst the vegetation and I was left hoping the weather would not close in. I kept on heading in a north-easterly direction towards the high point of the moor. As I started to descend I could see in the distance what turned out to be a boundary post. Looking around I could just about pick out a line of similar posts. On reaching the posts I realised there was clearly defined path following the line of the posts, though as I approached the lower slopes of the moor the ground became increasingly boggy. The path now meandered away from the boundary posts as it avoided the worst of the boggy ground, eventually disappearing altogether, though by this time I had reached a line of grouse butts built alongside the upper reaches of Jarvis Clough. At this point the rain became quite heavy and the camera was packed away.

I was intrigued by the boundary posts, they appeared to be in a perfectly straight line with an equidistant spacing of approximately 100 yards. Once back home and using Google Earth my observations proved correct. The posts, most of which still remain, are in a perfectly straight line with an equidistant spacing of 100 yards.

Route summary 

This walk starts at Ashopton and follows the path to Cutthroat Bridge by way of Ladybower Inn and Ladybower Wood.

Crossing the A57 at Cutthroat Bridge the route initially follows the upper edge of the woodland bordering Ladybower Brook before descending to cross the brook at Jarvis Clough. It then follows the access land boundary ascending the lower reaches of Bamford Moor, eventually joining the path along Bamford Edge. In good visibility stunning views across the Peak District are the reward for the ascent to the edge.

Nearing the end of Bamford Edge the route turns off the main path towards Stanage Edge and heads in a north-easterly direction across Bamford Moor (in poor visibility a map and compass may be required), eventually reaching a path and a line of boundary stones. The route follows the boundary stones in a northerly direction until a wall and a line of grouse butts appear. A scramble down the steep western bank of Jarvis Clough leads to another crossing of the brook and a track along Hordron Edge that returns to Cutthroat Bridge.

Route directions 

This route uses access land which may be closed at certain periods.

From the roadside parking at Ashopton head along the A57 to the beginning of Ashopton Viaduct and take the private road on the right (SK 19493 86475). Follow the private road as it turns back on itself and heads uphill between the old mill on the left (now a land management centre) and a couple of houses on the right.

The road becomes a track and at a point where the track turns in a northerly direction steeply uphill, pass through a gate on the right (0.5km, SK 19825 86525) and follow a footpath heading in an easterly direction. After 200m the path follows a dry stone wall. The footpath passes behind Ladybower House to a gate and joins a track through Ladybower Wood. Pass behind Ladybower Inn to a junction with a track coming from the right (1.25km, SK 20515 86570).

Follow this track uphill in a north-easterly direction passing through a gate (1.40km, SK 20590 86713). At a point where the track forks to Ladybower Wood, keep to the right and continue until the track crosses a brook and passes through a gate (1.82km, SK 20895 86995). Continue in a north-easterly direction to the junction with a track coming up from Cutthroat Bridge (2.5km, SK 21340 87483). Turn sharply to the right and follow the track downhill to Cutthroat Bridge (2.65km, SK 21328 87370).

Cross the A57 to a field gate and access point. Take the track along Hordron Edge for 75m, turning right off the main track to follow a narrow strip of woodland. There is no clearly defined path so just follow the easterly edge of the woodland heading in a southerly direction parallel to the A57 road and Ladybower Brook. Emerge from the woodland and continue across open country towards the lower reaches of Jarvis Clough, eventually meeting a fence that forms the boundary of open country. Enter an area of woodland and descend the steep bank to cross the brook (3.35km, SK 21165 86748). This can be a little tricky so depending on conditions one may have to climb higher up Jarvis Clough to find a safe crossing point.

After crossing the brook scramble up the bank heading in a westerly direction with a dry stone wall on the right. Simply follow the dry stone wall and climb quite steeply towards Bamford Edge. Continue to follow the dry stone wall until reaching an abandoned shelter at the junction of two dry stone walls. Keep left of the shelter and immediately turn right. Head in a generally south-easterly direction across open country following a path that skirts around the top of a brook descending from Bamford Moor. Cross the brook (4.7km, SK 20890 85928) and head in a south-westerly direction gradually turning to the west and eventually passing over the remains of a boundary wall. The path along Bamford Edge becomes more clearly defined. Follow the path along the edge, passing Great Tor where on a clear day superb views over the Peak District are the reward for the climb to the edge.

Continue along Bamford Edge in a southerly direction until, on the left, another less prominent grit stone edge comes into view. Leave the main track at SK 21088 84585 (6.34km). Several indistinct paths lead toward a gap in the rock face at SK 21218 84622. From this point head in a northerly direction to a high point at SK 21268 84880, shown on the OS map as 'Cairns'. Now head in a more north-easterly direction and eventually in clear conditions one should be able to see a line of stone boundary posts approximately 100yds apart. A path follows these boundary stones. Turn left along this path (7.0km, SK 21493 85030) and follow the boundary stones in a northerly direction for approximately 1km. Eventually the boundary stones become less distinct, the path begins to descend more rapidly and the ground becomes boggy, necessitating some small detours.

On reaching a boundary stone at SK 21233 85991 (8.0km) a dry stone wall should be visible coming in from the right. Continue along what is now a less distinct path and gradually swing round to the east to cross a line of grouse butts. Now head in a north-westerly direction and soon Jarvis Clough should be in view. Several indistinct paths lead down the steep incline of Jarvis Clough to a crossing point at SK 21380 86408.

Cross Jarvis Clough and ascend to meet a track (8.95km, SK 21463 86435). Turn left along the track and head in a northerly direction for 1km along the edge of Hordron Clough, until once again reaching the access point at the A57 road (9.5km). Cross the road and simply follow the reverse route back to Ashopton.