Manchester Weekend Walkers lead public transport walks into fantastic countryside all year round.
Train & bus-based walk
Leader: Martin, joining train at New Mills Central
Meet Point: Near the ticket barriers, or on the platform, at Piccadilly station. Alternatively, meet the group on the train, or at the Walk Start. Driving to the Walk Start is not recommended as there is no direct transport link between the start and end points.
Transport to Walk Start: 09:48 train from Manchester Piccadilly (final destination Sheffield).
Suggested Ticket: Off Peak Day Return to Hope (Derbyshire) £14.40, plus £2 bus single. Alternatively, Greater Manchester Wayfarer £16.90 if you want the option of returning on a train from any station other than New Mills Central.
Walk Start: Hope Railway Station at 10:45.
Waypoints: Lose Hill, Back Tor, Hollins Cross, Mam Tor, Rushup Edge, Lord's Seat, Chapel Gate, Brown Knoll, Pennine Bridleway.
Return Services: From Hayfield: (early services dependent on walk finishing by this time)
60 bus at 16:50, changing to train at New Mills Central at 17:35.
61 bus at 17:15, changing to train at New Mills Newtown at 17:38.
61 bus at 17:23, changing to train at Glossop at 17:52.
61 bus at 18:01, changing to train at New Mills Central at 18:34.
61 bus at 18:03, changing to train at Glossop at 18:52.
61 bus at 18:45, changing to train at New Mills Newtown at 19:08.
Extra: Toilets in Hope village shortly after walk start. No toilets en route. Optional pub visit at the end of the walk.
Here we walk along the whole of Derbyshire's Great Ridge, from Lose Hill to Mam Tor via Back Tor and Hollins Cross.
We then proceed along Rushup Edge, before heading out across the wild moors to the Brown Knoll trig point, which is the highest point of the route at 569 metres. We then end on the Pennine Bridleway.
We will be walking the steep way up to the ridge from Hope, so you will need a good level of fitness to manage the initial significant ascent. There are then further smaller sections of ascent and descent later in the walk.
There is a section on the descent from Back Tor that may not suit anyone with severe vertigo.
Almost all of this walk is very exposed and wind speeds and wind chill can be significant in these areas.
Most of the walk follows good paths, indeed much of it is paved, but the section between Brown Knoll and the Bridleway can be bogy after rain, so strong, waterproof footwear is advisable.
There is a bailout option to leave the ridge at Hollins Cross and do some easy self-navigation to reach Edale Station.
Mam Tor, Brown Knoll and Lord's Seat are among the 31 'Ethels' summits in the Peak District that are more than 500 metres above sea level. They are named after Ethel Haythornthwaite, who campaigned vigorously for the Peak District to become the UK's first National Park in 1951. MWW aims to ascend all 31 of these Ethels.
