Peak District Old Stones Way

Peak District Old Stones Way: Carl Wark to Minninglow Hill – 38 Miles – 3-4 days

High on the Pennine moorlands south west of Sheffield, the rock fortress of Carl Wark stands proud, near Higger Tor, where you can see the destination of Minninglow hill, 25 miles south, resting place of prehistoric chieftains in their chambered cairns. This route takes in the old stones of the Nine Ladies, and Stanton Moor’s sacred groves that come alive on Midsummer Night with local festivities and Arbor Low, the Neolithic ‘clock’ whose massive recumbent stones are aligned to midwinter sunrise and midsummer sunset. All of these major prehistoric sites have a direct sightline to Minninglow – place and orientate yourself in the land with this visual technology, which our ancestors must have also done.

Low-cost hostels along route – Youlgreave YHA, Hathersage YHA, St Michael’s, Hathersage, Eyam YHA and others nearby.

Arbor Low is an optional destination if short of time.

An easier route from the start to Baslow (rather than the climb to Froggatt Edge) is along the River via Grindleford and Calver Slough. See the blue line on the Google Map.

Accommodation (in order of distance from Carl Wark)

First night – Baslow, Beeley or Rowsley.
Second Night – Youlgreave or Over Haddon.
Third Night (recommended) – Arbor Low or Biggin.

Distances

Carl Wark – 0 miles
Yarncliff Wood – 3.5 miles
Baslow (River or High Edge routes) – 5 miles
Beeley – 5 miles
Rowsley – 1.5 miles
Birchover – 4 miles
Youlgreave – 3 miles
Over Haddon – 3 miles
Arbor Low – 4.5 miles
Biggin – 4 miles
Minninglow – 4.5 miles
(Brassington – 3 miles)

Transport

Start: Take a train to Grindleford (2.25 miles) or Sheffield (8.5 miles), and take a taxi to the start or National Trust Longshaw, roughly a mile’s walk from Carl Wark…

End: From Minninglow walk 3 miles down the path to Brassington village and refresh yourselves at the Ye Old Gate Inne, or 4 miles back to Biggin to stay at Biggin Hall Hotel. Take a taxi from there to Matlock (£25) or Derby (£45) Train Stations, or back to Longshaw Car Park.

This route was devised by Nicholas Pitts-Tucker, and developed in collaboration with Guy Hayward of the BPT.