(S/E) From the front door of the Snake Pass Inn, cross the A57 main road quickly but carefully. Turn right and walk along the verge until you reach coniferous woodland on your left.
(1) Shortly afterwards, go down some steps on your left and over a stile into the wood. Follow the path downhill past the Snake Woodland sign. At the bottom of the valley turn right, following the forest fence on your right.
At the footbridge over Lady Clough, don’t cross, instead using the gate on the right to return to the forest. Swing left and follow the stream for 500 metres upstream until you reach a forestry road and bridge.
(2) Cross the bridge and follow the track beyond uphill. Ignore a track that heads uphill to the right, keeping along the main track as it levels off and views of Kinder Scout appear.
(3) As soon as the track leaves the woodland for the open moor, take a steep and indistinct path off to the left that leads through bracken down to the River Ashop. Turn left and follow the path downstream, with the river on your right and the forest edge on your left. (4) When you reach the footbridge over Lady Clough again, cross and turn right. Return the way you came: look out on your left for the path you descended earlier, follow it up through the conifers to the road, (1) then turn right to return to the Snake Pass Inn. (S/E)
Waypoints
S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,102 ft - Snake Pass Inn
1 : mi 0.18 - alt. 1,145 ft - Coniferous woodland - Stream
2 : mi 0.65 - alt. 1,148 ft - Bridge
3 : mi 1.26 - alt. 1,270 ft - Open moor - River Ashop
4 : mi 1.71 - alt. 1,099 ft - Footbridge
S/E : mi 2.04 - alt. 1,106 ft - Snake Pass Inn
Notes
No major difficulties en route, but maybe muddy or rocky in places.
The dams of Howden and Derwent Reser- voirs were used by the Dambuster squadron to practise their raids. Visitor centre and cycle hire at Fairholmes, trout fishing at Ladybower Reservoir (day tickets available). Satnav (Fairholmes): S33 0AQ (8 miles)
Chatsworth House
One of England’s finest stately homes, with fabulous interiors and priceless antiques. Formal gardens, follies and grottoes and a vast woodland and riverside estate. Satnav: DE45 1PP (20 miles)
Eyam village
Historic Derbyshire village that underwent self-imposed quarantine during the plague of 1665–67. See the villagers’ graves, visit Eyam Hall (NT) and Museum, and find the Anglo-Saxon cross in the churchyard. Satnav: S32 5QW (16 miles)
Castleton and the caverns
Pretty Derbyshire village with a Norman castle and four show caves, including the “Devil’s Arse” (the largest cave entrance in Britain) and Speedwell Cavern (where you can take an underground boat trip). Satnav: S33 8WS (14 miles)
Mam Tor and Winnats Pass
Iron Age hillfort and limestone gorge near Castleton. Below Mam Tor are the remains of the main road closed and abandoned in the late 1970s after repeated landslides. Satnav: S33 8WA (14 miles)
Padley Gorge
Pretty gritstone valley with good walks and a historic chapel where the Catholic Padley Martyrs were taken prisoner in 1588 prior to their executions a few days later. Satnav (Grindleford station): S32 2HY (15 miles)
To open this route on your smartphone, you must have the Visorando app installed. If not, got to the Apple Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android) to download the app.