Ladybower, Hope Cross & Win Hill

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Route: Heatherdene, Ladybower dam, The Springs, Wiseman Hey Clough Plantation, Woodlands Valley, Hope Cross, Roman Road, Hope Brink, Thornhill Brink, Winhill Pike, Parkin Clough, Yorkshire Bridge, Heatherdene

Date: 18/08/2018
From: Heatherdene

Parking: Heatherdene
Start Point: Ladybower dam
Region: Peak District - Dark Peak

Route length: 7.9 miles (12.7 km)
Time taken: 02:50
Average speed: 2.8 mph
Ascent: 611m
Descent: 622m

Summits: Win Hill (462m)

Other points of interest: Ladybower, Hope Cross, Parkin Clough

I was in search of an easy day of hiking after wind and rain dashed any hopes of a decent weekend in the Lake District. After scouring the map searching for somewhere new I cast my eyes upon the Peak District - close to home but still offering the chance of new adventures. Despite an uninspiring forecast, I decided that Win Hill was deserving of my attention.

I parked up at Heatherdene which charges a respectable £3 for the entire day. Leaving the car park, I made my way along the road to the dam at the bottom end of Ladybower Reservoir, peering over the wall to have a look at the immense overflow that acts as a plug hole, although this one is on a much larger scale. A bridleway leads across the top of the dam holding back the water.

Ladybower and Crook Hill

The Ladybower dam

The earth dam and outlet structure

Ladybower was built between 1935 and 1943 by the Derwent Valley Water Board to supplement the other two reservoirs in supplying the water needs of the East Midlands.

Ladybower

Despite the construction of the Howden and Derwent reservoirs, demand continued to grow and the decision was taken to build one very large reservoir, to be called Ladybower. This entailed the flooding of the villages of Ashopton and Derwent and caused considerable unrest. However, the project went ahead and the villagers were moved to houses built especially for them at Yorkshire Bridge.

The packhorse bridge that stood near to the gates of Derwent Hall, which had a Preservation Order on it, was moved stone by stone and rebuilt at Slippery Stones at the head of the Howden Reservoir. All the graves in the churchyard were excavated and the bodies reburied in the nearby Bamford churchyard.
A few properties built on slightly higher land, including the Shooting Lodge and former Roman Catholic School, survived. But the majority were demolished and flooded, leaving the church spire eerily poking out above the waters. The flooding was completed in 1945, and the opening ceremony was carried out on Tuesday, September 25th 1945 by King George VI. Two years later the church spire was destroyed.

One of the two over overflows

Ladybower dam

A number of surfaced tracks follow the curves of Ladybower and make for some speedy walking. After crossing the dam, I followed the undulating track north as it heads along the southwestern side of the reservoir, eventually reaching the point where the River Ashop flows in. Here a path cuts up through the trees, passing a series of derelict buildings and makes for Hope Cross.

The path at The Springs

Crook Hill

Ladybower western arm

The River Ashop

Trees close to Hagglee

Woods near Hagglee

The path up through the trees

Approaching the Hope Cross through the dark woods

Hope cross lies at the crossroads of an important ancient packhorse route through the Peak District. It stands some 2m high with a square capstone bearing the names of Edale, Glossop, Hope and Sheffield on its face. The date 1737 is carved on the shaft below the Hope face and this is the date this medieval stoop was either restored or replaced. The view from the monument along Edale is quite amazing.

Hope Cross

Hope Cross

Panorama from Hope Cross

An ancient Roman Road runs along the spine of Win Hill, part of a route from Glossop over the Snake Pass to the old Roman outpost of Brough in the Hope Valley. Being an old road, the gradient is very easy as it gently climbs up to Win Hills summit - Win Hill Pike.

Cowms Moor

The Great Ridge

The Roman road leading towards Win Hill

Kinder Scout

Following the spine of the ridge

Lose Hill and Edale

Win Hill over Thornhill Brink

Lose Hill and the Hope Valley

Mam Tor

Winnats Pass

Win Hill Pike

Thanks to its prominent peak and position at the end of the Hope Valley, the views from Win Hill are quite something, extending along the southern side of Kinder Scout, along Stanage Edge and right around the Hope Valley. Given the fine weather and weekend in the midst of the summer holidays, there were a fair few folk around enjoying the views.

Win Hill's summit

Panorama from Win Hill

Stanage Edge and Bamford Edge

Ladybower

Crook Hill

Leaving the summit behind, a path begins a swift descent back down towards Yorkshire Bridge, following the line of Parkin Clough. To say this route was steep is an understatement though the path is impressive as it clings to the side of the ravine. I'm glad I was coming down rather than heading up.

The path into the woods at Parkin Clough

Parkin Clough

Crossing Yorkshire Bridge I followed the path to the eastern side of the River Derwent which climbs slowly beneath the earth dam of Ladybower. There's an information board here that explains the inner workings of the dam.

The River Derwent

Diagram of the Ladybower dam

The dam itself

The overflow once again

No trip to the Hope Valley is complete without a quick trip to the excellent cafe at Outside - the perfect end to a very good day out on the hills.