What to Expect

The Upper Derwent Valley is a beautiful place to explore and on this walk we have tremendous views over a place that also has a fascinating place in history. We'll have a mixture of high level walking along the tops with stunning vistas before dropping down to ease our legs around the ever blue Howden Dam before heading back up towards Alport Castles and Win Hill. This walk is perfect for those wanting a sense of adventure.

As with all our challenge walks you need to be prepared for a long day in the hills without any facilities. We start with a little road walking before entering open access land onto Derwent Edge. There is a gradual incline followed by a short steep ascent to get on the top. Once up its fairly steady along paved and graveled footpaths, though always uneven. We do descend two times before heading back up and one final steep descent back to the car park. There are a couple of sections of wild, bleak moorland, which can get quite boggy and a large section of graveled and tarmacked road, essentially unused. 

The Upper Derwent Valley not serviced by facilities or public transportation. Once we pass Derwent Reservoir it is a long way round before we can reach Fairholmes Car Park for facilities or public transportation. Expect a long, hard day. If you one person can not continue then we all have to stop and finish the walk together. On this walk, depending on where we are, it may be a few miles back to civilisation or just easier to finish the walk in its entirety.