A moderate route in Peak District. Check the GPS track on Outdooractive for full details of the route, waypoints, and terrain.
Starting Point: Fair-sized layby 200m past Cutthroat Bridge on A57 (SK 216 874)
Terrain: A57 verge, gate, clear path around to left steadily along Hurkling Stones, good path over crossroads, along Derwent Edge, path to left towards Lost Lad cairn, downhill, path splits (left paths), Derwent Valley & Reservoir Walk, road winding around reservoir, gate to left, path leading fairly steeply up around Grindle Clough, path splits to left, back over past Hurkling Stones, straight over crossroads, downhill through grouse butts, gate, clear path, stream crossing, retrace to car
This is an outstanding figure-of-eight walk along Derwent Edge in the Peak District, a little bit more than a circular but starting and finishing at the same place. From the fair-sized layby past Cutthroat Bridge, the route heads back along the A57 verge before crossing to follow the clear path left and steadily along Hurkling Stones to Lead Hill - a great place to take in the first real views across to Ladybower. Heading north, the good path climbs over Hurkling Stones, crosses the crossroads past Wheel Stones, and continues over White Tor and the distinctive Salt Cellar along Derwent Edge with views across to the Kinder Plateau and Mam Tor. At Back Tor, the path turns left towards the Lost Lad cairn, named after the tragic legend of Abraham Lowe, a 13-year-old shepherd boy from the lost village of Derwent who froze to death during a blizzard while searching for sheep and was found in spring having carved "Lost Lad" into a rock. The descent involves taking left paths at two splits before following the Derwent Valley & Reservoir Walk down to Briery Side and the road, turning left as it winds around the reservoir. Leaving through a gate left, the path climbs fairly steeply up around Grindle Clough before turning right and splitting left to head back up over past Hurkling Stones, straight over the crossroads, and downhill through grouse butts. After turning right through the gate, crossing the stream, and returning to Cutthroat Bridge, retracing completes the figure-of-eight. Views aplenty all the way along the ridge make this a memorable Peak District adventure combining tragic local history with spectacular scenery.