Win Hill & Hope Cross

Win Hill occupies a strategic position and as such offers great views over the heart of the Peak District.

Technical sheet

293210
A Bamford walk posted on 04/07/16 by Walking Britain. Last update : 20/08/16
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.73 km
  • ◔
    Calculated time: 4h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 369 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 369 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 439 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 172 m
Woods on the right as you come down from the ridge
Going up the initial climb in the forest

Description

(S/E)The start is in Yorkshire Bridge with ample parking on the A6013 about a mile north of Bamford near the Ladybower Dam (Grid ref. SK201854). Descend to and cross the Yorkshire Bridge. Go right through a gate to join a road to Ladybower Dam. After a short way you will see some steps on the left. These lead up to a dismantled railway. Go straight across to join a thin path which leads to Win Hill Plantation.

(1)This is the hard bit with some particularly steep and muddy parts on a relatively thin path but once you reach a stile and signpost the main ascent is over. A sign points to Win Hill so go straight ahead slowly ascending to another stile. Go over the stile and make the final, short scramble to the Trig Point on the summit.

(2)The views are stunning from its 462 metre summit. The rocks on the top make a perfect place for your well deserved lunch! Scramble down off the summit and join a path heading roughly west which follows a ridge for just over a mile to a wall where the path splits. Continue by the wall, which is adjacent to the pine woods, to arrive at a fork. Go left to pass through a gate. Hope Cross is only a short distance away.

(3)The views from this ancient markerpost are good, especially down the Vale of Edale. From here walk up to the signpost prominent from Hope Cross (Grid ref. 161874). Then go right to bend down to the shores of Ladybower Reservoir. From here turn right and follow the track keeping the reservoir on your left. This leads you all the way back to Yorkshire Bridge past Ladybower Dam.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 210 m - Start: car park in Yorkshire Bridge
  2. 1 : km 0.92 - alt. 183 m - Win Hill Plantation
  3. 2 : km 2.11 - alt. 439 m - Summit of Win Hill
  4. 3 : km 5.81 - alt. 323 m - Hope Cross
  5. S/E : km 12.73 - alt. 210 m - Finish: car park in Yorkshire Bridge

Useful Information

I have done this walk many times as I consider Win Hill to be the finest top in the Peak District, especially when ascened via Parkin Clough. This is one of our favourite afternoon walks, especially in winter when the summit is usually deserted!

Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

Reviews and comments

3.7 / 5
Based on 2 reviews

Clarity of route description
3 / 5
Clarity of route map
3 / 5
Walk interest
5 / 5
Sarita J
Sarita J
• Last modified:

Many thanks for the photos and detailed feedback! If you could please suggest exact wording to improve the description and where to insert it in the text, it would be really helpful so we can update the walk description for future walkers. Many thanks

brendonwp
brendonwp

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : 17/09/18
Clarity of route description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Walk interest : ★★★★★ Very good

This is a great walk with a variety of scenery. The ascent at the beginning takes you up through a forest with small trees and dappled shade. Then out onto the exposed ridge with great views. The walk through the forest has a dark avenue of fir trees, then a tall green forest with thick moss covering everything including some ruins that were barely visible. Ladybower Reservoir was very low when we were there but it would be scenic at other times of the year.

I found the directions fine. The only place where I went wrong was thinking I had passed the crossroads pillar and turning left too early where there was a path but no sign for walkers. The path petered out after a while requiring some backtracking up the steep hill.

It is impossible to miss the cross if you just keep walking until you meet a stone wall across the path on the ridge. The cross is tall and near the path. The directions here are a bit vague, but you just go through the stile on the right and follow the marked path (yellow trail marker) bending left and down. There is a small glade with a fireplace after a while where you can go straight down, but we kept left where the moss was fantastical.

A highly recommended trail!

Sarita J
Sarita J
• Last modified:

Thank you for your feedback. If you have any suggestions on how the walk description can be improved please let us know!

rewayne
rewayne

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of walk : 01/06/18
Clarity of route description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Clarity of route map : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Walk interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The description was vague to say the least. Good job i am a good navigator ( micro navigation competent) as my mates would still be walking today! Joking aside the walk itself is excellent but the description leaves a helliluva lot to be desired.

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