HATHERSAGE AND NORTH LEES HALL WALK
THE WALK
Hathersage and North Lees Hall Walk is a lovely valley meander alongside the Hood Brook, before climbing gently up to North Lees Hall with good views of Stanage Edge and returning across the fields to explore Hathersage.
The Hood Brook provides one of the many connections with Robin Hood in the area. Another landmark with literary connections that is passed early in the walk is Brookfield Manor, which was Vale Hall in Charlotte Brontë’s novel Jane Eyre.
Stanage Edge looms high above, concealing a cave where Robin Hood is said to have hidden. North Lees Hall, Thornfield, in Jane Eyre, is one of the seven manors that Robert Eyre distributed among his seven sons.
On returning to Hathersage, yet another connection with Robin Hood is found in the well-tended churchyard of St Michael’s, where Little John’s grave is.
LOOK OUT FOR
Route Point 2 – During the early part of the walk, the Hood Brook is both followed and crossed. The famous outlaw Robin Hood is said to have been born at Loxley, only eight miles from Hathersage, and the brook’s name is one of several reminders of the legend. His lieutenant, Little John, is reputedly buried in Hathersage churchyard, and a cave on Stanage Edge bears his name.
Point 4 – North Lee North Lees Hall is adjacent to one of the main footpaths/bridleways from Hathersage leading north to Stanage Edge. The building now provides self-catering accommodation for holiday makers. It is a Grade II* listed building dating from 1594, although it probably replaced an earlier structure. In 1845, Charlotte Brontë visited the Hall several times while staying with her friend Ellen Nussey at the Vicarage in Hathersage. She based the Hall on Thornfield in her novel Jane Eyre.
Point 5 – St Michael’s Church stands on the hillside above the village. It contains a fine collection of 15th-century brasses of the Eyre family. The churchyard is well tended, and the Lych Gate is particularly impressive. Robin Hood’s faithful lieutenant, Little John, is reputedly buried in Hathersage churchyard, in a grave measuring 11 feet from headstone to footstone.
Point 6 – The George Hotel, a 500-year-old former coaching inn, possesses a rich local history. The connection with Charlotte Brontë, who wrote the novel Jane Eyre, is probably the most noteworthy. It is, however, its connection to Charlotte Brontë which is perhaps of greatest note. During her stay at Hathersage, she was a regular visitor to the inn. She used the name of the family who had previously owned the building as that of the heroine, and the name of the landlord, a Mr Morton, who greeted her when she first arrived, as the name for her fictitious village, in her novel.
WALK DETAILS
Length: 4 miles.
Start: Hathersage Car Park situated off B6001 Grindleford Road.
Location: The A625 Chapel-en-le-Frith to Sheffield Road goes north to south through Hathersage.
Terrain: A relatively easy walk with only slight gradients. It can be very muddy in wet weather.
Refreshments: There are several cafes, pubs, and restaurants in and around Hathersage to suit all tastes.
THE ROUTE
1. Walk to the left from the car park. As the road bends, turn into Ibbotson’s Croft to follow the footpath to the A625, cross the road, and go down Baulk Lane opposite. Follow the lane past the cricket ground, and after about three-quarters of a mile, take a footpath sign on the left leading towards Brookfield Manor, which you pass by a narrow path to the right of the buildings.
2. On reaching a road, take the path opposite, signed ‘Green’s House,’ keep close to the Hood Brook on the left, before crossing by a wooden bridge as you approach Green’s House. Angle to the right through a small area of woodland and cross two fields heading for a narrow path to the right of Green’s House to turn right down the farm track at the rear of the house.
3. On entering the next field, follow the path to the right leading down to the Hood Brook and cross by some large stepping stones. Continue in the same direction, keeping some farm buildings on your right to the far side of the field. Go over a stile and head across the following field to a gate in the top corner.
4. Do not go through the gate, but turn sharp right and walk back down a grassy track to North Lees Hall, leaving by the drive. At the bottom of the drive, turn to the left, and in about 100 yards, as the road begins to bend to the left, cross a stile on the opposite side.
5. Continue ahead with Cow Close Farm on your right. Maintain the same direction, keeping close to the hedge on your right, until a stile takes you to the opposite side of the hedge. Angle across the field to follow the path into a wire-fenced field heading towards St Michael’s Church, which is now clearly in view.
6. Cross a bridge over a stream in the right-hand corner of the field and head straight on up a slope to reach the church. Little John’s Grave is opposite the main church doorway. Leave the church by the lychgate and turn right, and follow the road around past the Scotsman’s Pack Inn, before going down the man street past the George Hotel.
7. A few yards after passing Jagger’s Lane, go down Barnfields, which is on the opposite side of the road. The path continues to the left of the building in front of you, down the side of houses and over a small footbridge into Mill Lane.
8. Go to the right down Mill Lane, usually very quiet, past Victoria Mill close by the viaduct on the right. Follow the lane around as it bends to the left, with good views towards the River Derwent, to reach the B6001. Turn left and then right along Oddfellows Road past the swimming baths back to the start of the walk.
HATHERSAGE
