University Of Nottingham Rambling Society

LANGSETT including Margery Hill

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20TH FEBRUARY 2005

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GOOD MORNING ONCE AGAIN to all you Ramsoc faithful who get out of bed early on a Sunday, week after week to enjoy the way of life that is the Ramsoc Walk. Where would we be without you? It’s Dark Peak time again this week, but we are heading off to a much less known location, in the (better known) county of Yorkshire. Langsett is a small village on the eastern fringe of the Peak, lying roughly between Bradfield Moor and Black Hill. The walking shares many characteristics with these two locations, but in this case is more remote – hence the appearance of two Grade 3 walks today. What is the walking like? Well it can be divided into two types: there are the low lying, easier routes on more gentle terrain, in the valleys further East, with small hills to climb and reservoirs to walk around. Walks 1 and 3 are in this sort of area. The other kind of walking is Dark Peak Special: high, windswept, remote moorland across heather, sticky peat bogs (full of “good mud”) and isolated gritstone outcrops. With the odd bit of pathless walking. This terrain is to be found on walks 4,5 and 6, and walking boots will be essential on these. Walk 2 is more of a mixture (and very flat). Photo: Margery Hill – the highest point in South Yorkshire à

Walk One

Langsett and Midhope Reservoirs

Grade 1
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Walk Two

Winscar Reservoir

Grade 2 /

Walk Three

The Height

Grade 1 /

Walk Four

Langsett Moors
Grade 2 /

Walk Five

Margery Hill
Grade 3 /

Walk Six

The Wilderness…
Grade 3
Drop off: LANGSETT (211004)
Crookland Wood (197007)
North America (yes really) (202997)
Upper Midhope (214995)
Hagg Bridge (224998)
Edge Cliff (228991)
Midhopestones (237995)
Dismantled Railway (236998)
LANGSETT (211004) / Drop off : FIDDLER’S GREEN (155001)
Lady Cross (148997)
Salter’s Brook Moss (141003)
Pillar (above Woodhead Tunnel) (138012)
Winscar Reservoir (152022)
Dunford Bridge (157024)
Soughley Spring (188026)
Crookland Wood (197007)
LANGSETT (211004) / Drop off: LANGSETT (211004)
corner of Underbank Reservoir (253994)
Langley Brook (247988)
The Height (249972)
Salt Springs Farm (246973)
road bend (239974)
path (233986)
Edge Cliff (228991)
Hagg Bridge (224998)
Cliff Wood (217002)
LANGSETT (211004) / Drop off: LANGSETT (211004)
Crookland Wood (197007)
Ford (183008)
Upper Hordron (177996)
Wicken Hill (169996)
Fiddler’s Green (155001)
Milton Lodge (183012)
Crookland Wood (again) (197007)
LANGSETT (211004) / Drop off: LANGSETT (211004)
Crookland Wood (197007)
Mickleden Edge (191984)
Margery Hill (189956)
541m trig point (177969)
footbridge in Hordron Clough (174993)
Ford (183008)
LANGSETT (211004) / Drop off: A628 (113999)
Ford (117994)
Ford (125980)
Swain’s Head (133982)
Humber Knolls (149971)
path junction (170953)
Cut Gate End (184959)
Margery Hill (189956)
Mickleden Edge (191984)
Crookland Wood (197007)
LANGSETT (211004)
7 miles, 11.5km, 280m ascent / 8 miles, 13km, 150m ascent / 9 miles, 14.5km, 280m ascent / 9 miles, 14km, 280m ascent / 10 ½ miles, 16.5km, 470m asc. / 11 ½ miles, 18.5km, 550m asc.
Today’s easiest walk begins with a circuit of Langsett Reservoir where the wild moorland meets woodland and more gentle farmland. The rest of the walk undulates gradually to the village of Midhopestones (pub here) and returns to Langsett along the route of an old railway / There is very little ascent on this walk, as it begins 447m up on the highest point of the A628 which links Barnsley and Manchester. Some pathless moorland is crossed to Winscar Reservoir, then the moors are abandoned as you head gently downhill into the woods. / Another easy grade 1 walk, this time visiting a small(ish) hill above the town of Stocksbridge. The Height overlooks the town, and the valley of Ewden Beck, which also boasts a couple of reservoirs. Midhope reservoir is passed on the return to Langsett. / Each end of this walk is a scenic path through the woodalnd above Langsett Reservoir. In between, the walk heads off onto the open moorland beyond and soon abandons the path, visiting the steep-sided Hordron Clough, and Wicken Hill, before finding easy tracks to finish. / Margery Hill lies above the Derwent Valley beyond Howden Reservoir, and is the highest point in South Yorkshire. This walk approaches it along a bridleway from the North then follows the ridge before abandoning paths, descending to Hordron Clough and Langsett / This will be a tough route – one for the adventurous rambler. Beginning by ascending Far Black Clough on Bleaklow, the walk crosses over into the remote, pathless upper reaches of the Derwent Valley, near the source, approaching Margery Hill from the valley bottom.

All walks pick up at LANGSETT (211004) at 4:30pm. See you in the pub!

In case of emergency or severe delay the coach driver may be contacted on the RAMSOC phone 07854062431