Bamford Edge, Stanage Edge, Higger Tor, Surprise View

This walk explores the gritstone edges of Bamford Edge and Stanage Edge, including the cave known as Robin Hoods Cave, then heads over to Higger Tor and Carl Wark before visiting Surprise View. The route then returns along the Derwent Valley Heritage Way. This is a great route if you’re ticking off the Peak District Ethels – you bag 3 in this 15.5 mile walk, plus 2 trig points.

Robin Hoods Cave

The route also explores the cave most people know as Robin Hoods Cave on Stanage Edge, where Robin Hood apparently hid – it’s really called the Balcony Cave (for obvious reasons). The proper Robin Hoods Cave is a short distance away but involves more of a climb down and we didn’t attempt it on this walk. The Balcony cave is a really cool place to explore but does involve a clamber through a cave tunnel which is really wet – there are a couple of stepping stones to help keep your feet dry! Be warned though – it gets really busy. We visited on a freezing cold Friday in February and had it to ourselves for 3 minutes before a hoard of people came! It seemed like everyone on Stanage Edge wanted to escape the cold in the cave that day!

Our route starts from Heatherdene car park and heads up on a steep track through the woods. There are some arrows on signposts to help guide you up onto the Open Access Land over a stile. The views back down over Ladybower Reservoir and Win Hill are stunning.

A view of Ladybower Reservoir and Crook Hill — Stunning views (and a chance to catch your breath because it’s a steep slog up!)

We turned right and continued south along Bamford Edge until the route turned away from the edge and climbed up slightly. A short distance from here the route heads off over Moscar Moors on a well used trod before climbing up between the imposing rocks at Crow Chin.

A moorland view — Turning away from Bamford Edge, take the left hand fork onto the small ridge

A rocky cliff face on the moors — Crow Chin – I’d love to know where the name comes from!

Turning right and heading south-east, it wasn’t long before we reached the first trig point of the day – High Neb. This end of Stanage Edge is always so much quieter than the other! We walked along Stanage Edge, joining the medieval packhorse route of Long Causeway, and came to Robin Hoods Cave/Balcony Cave.

A stone with a dip for water collection and the number 12 — One of the numbered grouse water holes

A woman walking on a gritstone edge — The top of the clamber down to Robin Hoods Cave

A man in a cave — Climbing through to get to Balcony Cave

A woman in a cave — The view back through from Balcony Cave

There is a well worn path that leads down into an open area and you can see the cave balcony. The best way to get into the cave is to head to the back of the open area where there’s a cave tunnel – there is some clambering over rocks involved here, and it’s probably not good if you’re claustrophobic. Passing through the chamber with its own moat, the cave mouth opens up and there’s a natural balcony. If you want to see where the proper Robin Hoods Cave is, look out of the balcony to the right – it’s a triangular shaped opening in the rock face.

Heading back up onto Stanage Edge, we followed the Edge along to the White Path Moss/Stanage Edge trig point and down the track to Burbage Bridge car park. We followed the Fiddlers Elbow track up to Higger Tor then picked our way down through the rocks before heading over to Carl Wark, an Iron Age hillfort which has an interesting sightline to Mam Tor, 10 miles to the west.

A wooden stile on Stanage Edge — Stanage Edge

White Path Moss trig point on a rock — White Path Moss/Stanage Edge trig point

A moorland view of Higger Tor — A view over to Higger Tor with an obvious path

A view of Carl Wark, an Iron Age hillfort — Looking from Higger Tor to Carl Wark

We headed up and over Carl Wark and then down to Toads Mouth. Rather than heading out onto the road, there is a faint path which runs alongside the road on the other side of the fence, and we followed this to Surprise View. Here we had to head onto the road to cross over, and followed it a short distance down the hill before taking the footpath to the left. This winds down a track past Greenwood Farm and under the railway.

A birch tree woodland — Birch trees near Surprise View

A wooden signpost pointing to Surprise View — Surprise View – I won’t ruin the surprise by showing the view

A light sandy path on the moors — The path to Surprise View

The path joins a driveway which runs alongside the River Derwent, passing the sewage works, and joins the B6001. We turned left, crossed the road and headed over the bridge before joining a footpath through the field leading into Goose Nest Wood. Parts of the path are VERY muddy!

A muddy riverside path — Derwent Valley Heritage Way – this was VERY muddy in February

Hathersage Stepping Stones over the River Derwent — Hathersage Stepping Stones

A signpost — We turned right at this signpost to join the Thornhill Trail

The Derwent Valley Heritage Way runs alongside the River Derwent for 5 miles, crossing the Hope Road and joining the Thornhill Trail. This relatively flat, well made trail leads back to Ladybower Reservoir and it’s famous plugholes, and from here it’s a short walk back to Heatherdene and the car. You could have a stop off at the Yorkshire Bridge Inn if you fancy it.

Walk Details: