T’Owd Man Race –Route Description
This route description should be used in conjunction with a map - the OS White Peak Explorer 1:25,000. In fact I’d suggest marking the route onto your map or using the map with the route marked. Please note distances are approximate – because I worked them out using the old piece of string method.
Start – Right onto Gorsey Bank and continue up this as the lane becomes a track and take the right fork. Follow this rough track until it takes a right turn onto a the lane and follow this uphill until turning left in front of a small bunkhouse. There is a path between 2 dry stone walls just above this, follow this path until exiting right when it ends, then turn immediately left - traverse left (north eastwards) over 6 field boundaries (watch out for electric fences) to reach Alport Lane. Turn left onto this and then take first right (Knob Lane). After approx. 200 metres take path left (fingerpost). Follow path downhill (field boundary to your right) to cross stiles in front of building – pick up track. When track joins a lane follow that lane until you can take a left turning then take the first right down Higg Lane to Peat Pit Woods and first checkpoint/water station. 5 km
Take the eastwards path through the woods until you come to a sign/shield for Shining Cliff Woods – turn through the gate on your left and keeping the wall to your right pick up the path/track (Midshires Way) as it curves leftwards and down to a lane (High Lane) follow this right uphill and then down (New Road) – approx 200m after junction take path left (fingerpost) – path crosses 4 field boundaries - go straight on at 5 ways path junction and descend steeply to Watergate Farm. Footbridge to right of gate posts. Follow path up to a track, turn left and then on, to the right of farm buildings. Take path through Flat Woods down to road crossing – take Intake Lane (bridal way) opposite and approx 600 m after road crossing take path right through campsite (fingerpost just before battered barn) go down hill into Birch Woods, turn left and take right fork and follow track until it joins the High Peak Trail, turn right and descend this to High Peak Junction and second checkpoint/water-station. 6km
Run (run!) back up the incline, along the trail and up the second incline (which is a lot shorter) and along until you reach the third checkpoint, about 500 m after Middleton Top – 5 km.
Take path downhill and then back up after dip. Climb stile on your right and cross field diagonally leftwards to stile (not clear on OS map). Cross road to stile opposite and follow path with field boundary on your left. Follow path over several (about 8) field boundaries until heading downhill to the lane on the outskirts of Hopton. Turn right on the lane into Hopton then take the first fingerpost left. This path takes you down to a pedestrian crossing on a BUSY ROAD and onto the path round Carsington Water– turn left and follow this for approx 200m before taking path left and uphill over 3 field boundaries – steep bank – before exiting through a stile left and turn right up hill (for the last time!) up Stainsbro’ Lane and then first left (Callow Lane) and down, down hill – left at junction and approx 700 m to finish 6km