Hagg Side via Rowlee Pasture, Alport Castles and Alport Bridge

Upper Derwent Valley, Derbyshire, United Kingdom
Friday, 30 October, 2009
Route 1

A circular walk from Hagg Side, by way of Rowlee Pasture, Alport Castles, Alport Valley, Alport Bridge and Rowlee Farm.

Information

Distance (km): 
15.02 km
Distance (miles): 
9.33 miles
Elevation (start point): 
228 metres
Latitude (start point): 
53.3929
Longitude (start point): 
-1.73049
OS Grid Ref (start point): 
SK 18020 88483
Nearest Post Code: 
S33 0AQ
Car parking: 
Upper Derwent Valley: Bridge End, Ladybower
Google Earth
Gallery

Details

Route notes 

A typical late October day, grey and misty though the cloud base remained high enough for some reasonable photography. However the glorious autumnal colours saved the day, the deciduous trees being radiant against the gloomy backdrop.

Route summary 

This walk starts in the Upper Derwent Valley but soon climbs to Open Hagg leaving Ladybower Reservoir far behind.

It continues along Open Hagg where there are fine views along Woodlands Valley and over Kinder Scout. The route enters the open country of Rowlee Pasture much of which has been tamed by paving over the more water logged areas. If one leaves the path to the right and climbs a little higher there is a fine view of Harden Reservoir and the dam wall.

Returning to and continuing along the path, Alport Castles finally comes into view. Allow some time here to admire The Tower and the rocky cliff face of Alport Castles together with the magnificent views along the upper reaches of the Alport valley. On a clear day the views are simply staggering.

Drop down into the Alport valley, crossing the River Alport to the secluded Alport Farm. Follow the farm road back to the A57. Cross the A57 and the River Ashop and spend a short time on the lower flanks of Kinder Scout before once again crossing the River Ashop at Rowlee Bridge.

Pass by Rowlee Farm on a track that winds its way to Bellhagg Barn before completing the circular part of the walk.

The route now retraces the steps made earlier.

Route directions 

From the eastern edge of the car park (SK 18053 88485) follow a forest track 1km uphill to a gate and open pasture (1km, SK 17065 88518). Turn right at the gate and head 1km in a north-westerly direction along Open Hagg on a clearly define path until the path meets a track from Lockerbrook. The track forks at this point. Ignore the tracks and continue 150m in a north-westerly direction ascending a grassy bank to Woodcock Coppice and a timber ladder stile leading to open country (2.15km, SK 16268 89165). Pass over the stile and continue 250m in a northerly direction across rough pasture and to another stile (2.43km, SK 16140 89443) at Bell Hagg Tor.

The path veers left uphill past a National Trust sign for Rowlee Pasture and heads in a generally north-westerly direction across Rowlee Pasture. Much of this path is now paved so navigation and ground conditions should not be an issue. After 2km the path passes over the remains of a dry stone wall (4.50km, SK 14700 90740) and continues 500m in a northerly direction alongside a dry stone wall until it reaches the edge of Little Moor (5km, SK 14540 91170).

The Tower, created by a landslip at Allport Castles is now in view. In order to appreciate the scale of Allport Castles, continue along the edge 500m and follow a dry stone wall along Birchin Hat. The end of the wall 350m (6km, SK 14540 91170) is a convenient place to take a rest and take in the panoramic views across Westend Moor and Alport Moor and the magnificent Alport Dale.

The route now retraces its steps 850m back along Birchin Hat and Alport Castles towards Little Moor where a path descends to the right (6.85km, SK 14495 91313).

The path descends quite rapidly in a southerly direction as it winds around Little Moor following a dry stone wall down a narrow valley until after 300m reaching a style (7.15km, SK 14423 91040).

Pass over the style and head downhill in a westerly direction 1km. The vista opens up with good views back to The Tower, Alport Castles and Birchin Hat. The path now descends quite rapidly as it skirts the northern boundary of Castles Wood (at the time of writing most of the plantation had been cleared) eventually reaching a timber bridge (8km, SK 13648 910400) over the River Alport.

Cross the bridge, turn right and head along the western bank of the river for 100m. The OS map shows a path going around the northern boundary of Alport Farm but a stile over a wall allows access across a field from the eastern boundary to a point (8.20km, SK 13525 91055) near the southern boundary of the farm buildings. The path joins a road that terminates at Alport Farm.

Follow the road 1.5km and after passing a row of hawthorn trees and 125m before Hayridge Farm look for a footpath on the left (9.75km, SK 13978 89713) that descends 200m across rough pasture to a gate and then to the A57 road. Cross the road to a track.

Follow the track 100m to a ford and a footbridge. Cross the River Ashop and keep left along a track for 500m, passing close to farm buildings on the right at Upper Ashop and join the farm track (10.60km, SK 14383 89123). Turn left and follow this track 250m in a generally easterly direction.

The track becomes a metalled road and forks to the left, dropping down to Rowlee Bridge (11km, SK 14963 89080) after 250m. The road passes a barn and climbs 250m to a junction with the A57 road. Go straight across the road and continue 250m along a track towards Rowlee Farm.

Pass the farm to a field gate (11.80km, SK 15453 89400) and continue along the track 1km, at first ascending quite steeply and eventually passing Bellhagg Barn to a field gate (12.75km, SK 16150 89135) at a boundary with woodland. Continue 250m along the track to a point where the track joins another track coming from the right (13km, SK SK 16368 89035). This is where the route crossed earlier in the walk and the circle is complete.

From this point simply follow the earlier route in reverse; back along Open Hagg, down the forest track to return to the car park at Ladybower Reservoir (15.02km).