ELTON WALK
THE WALK
A medieval hermit’s cave, an unusual rock formation known as Robin Hood’s Stride and a stone circle wait on this popular walk from the old lead mining village of Elton.
When you walk down Dudwood Lane, it is worth recollecting that this route was probably used by travellers long before the Romans arrived. It follows the line of the ancient Portway, which ran the length of the county.
As you begin to climb, the curious mass of rocks with twin pinnacles known as Robin Hood’s Stride is on your left. It is often referred to as Mock Beggar’s Hall, because the outline of the rocks at a distance resembles a large house with twin turrets. On the right are Cratcliffe Rocks with a small cave carved into the rocks, where a hermit used to live.
A short distance further on, facing Harthill Moor Farm across the moor, are four great standing stones, all that is left of a larger circle. The others have disappeared for use as gateposts and in stone wall construction.
The walk continues through woods and farmland and, as you return, provides good views of the exposed position in which Elton is situated.
LOOK OUT FOR
Route Point 2 Robin Hood’s Stride (also known as Mock Beggar’s Hall) is a rock formation on the Limestone Way that, from a distance, looks like a castle. The name Robin Hood’s Stride comes from the 14th-century legend that Robin Hood jumped between the chimneys of the rock formation.
Point 3 At Cratcliffe Tor, there is a rock shelter known as the Hermit’s Cave. Inside, it has a crucifix carved into the rock and a small niche for a lamp or candle, and it probably dates from around 1300. In those days, ‘Hermits’ were appointed by Bishops to safeguard and offer hospitality to travellers. The earliest record is that of a steward at Haddon Hall recording a payment of four pence to the hermit at Cratcliffe for guiding people to Haddon.
Point 4 Nine Stone Close stone circle is on the edge of Harthill Moor. It is a small stone circle that includes the four remaining upright stones. The other stones were removed in the 18th and 19th centuries. One of the stones lies 80 yards to the south, where, in the late 18th century, it was removed and used as a gatepost in a field wall.
Point 8 The well that gives the street its name stands outside Hawthorn Cottage. Heavily polluted, at one time it was the only source of drinking water for the village, until it was declared unfit and replaced by piped water. Well Street Farm has had a varied life. At one time, it was an inn before it acted as a Quaker Meeting House for many years.
WALK DETAILS
Length: 4 miles.
Start: Elton Church.
Location: Off B5056 Ashbourne to Bakewell Road.
Terrain: Fairly gentle gradients. Possible muddy patches.
Refreshments: The Duke of York at Elton, a very traditional pub, only opens mid-evening but is well worth a visit. The Miners Standard on the B5056 near Winster is a 17th-century oak-beamed pub full of interest and character.
THE ROUTE
1. Walk from the church along the main street towards the B5056 past the Recreation Ground and turn left at a stile just beyond the edge of the village, to cross the corner of a field and a farm access road. Continue to angle to the left as you cross the next field, to reach a stile into Dudwood Lane.
2. Walk down to the bottom of the lane, and cross over the stile opposite and walk up the drive towards Cratcliffe Cottage, bearing left by a wall after going through an open gateway. Go through the cutting between Robin Hood’s Stride and an area of woodland on the right.
3. To make a detour to visit the Hermit’s Cave, turn right at the footpath sign and then return to the same point to continue the walk.
4. Just before reaching a five-bar gate, take the stile on the left and then, within a few yards, go over another stile on the right. Four remaining Standing Stones (Nine Stone Close) are a short distance away to the right. Cross two small fields diagonally to the left to reach a quiet country lane opposite Harthill Moor Farm.
5. Turn right along the lane. Castle Ring is a short detour away. As the road begins to drop more steeply, take the footpath on the left into a wood. Leave the wood across a corner of a field to a gate stile on the right, turn sharp left and follow a cow track until it begins to bear left, where you keep straight on to a wall stile in front of you.
6. Continue climbing uphill to walk alongside Tomlinson Wood until you reach a finger post sign directing you to the right over a stile and straight up a long field to get to the access road to Cliff Farm.
7. Cross the stile opposite on the far side of the access road and angle slightly to the left to a stile, and follow a clear path down the hill to reach a road. Go straight across the road to a squeezer stile to follow a footpath sign marked ‘Elton’. Aim a little to the right at first along a clear path that straightens out on its way to the bottom of the valley.
8. The path then climbs up the other side of the valley with a thorn hedge on the left, before turning left at the top of the field, and going through a stile and turning right along Well Street back to Elton Church.
ELTON
