Dragons Back | Sun 18 Feb 2024 - 09:00AM

To celebrate our first Sunday walk in the Chinese Year of the Dragon (龍年快乐) our walks today will be taking place on and around the Dragon’s Back in the Peak District. The Dragon’s Back is the colloquial name given to Chrome and Parkhouse Hills, the sharp limestone ‘miniature mountains’ rising from the pastures of the Upper Dove Valley. You can decide whether these iconic peaks were formed from a prehistoric coral reef or are actually in fact turf-covered spine of a sleeping dragon! We are offering up to 4 walks today, ranging in length and difficulty, which are described below. Walk 2 is ideal for those new to hiking or enjoy a social, slow-paced walk with plenty of photo opportunities (and a bit longer in the pub). Walk 3a and 3b are more challenging, covering more distance and ascent. They require a faster walking pace with fewer stops. Walk 4 is a very fast-paced walk, for strong, experienced hikers only. This walk is only available to members who have competently completed a Sunday or Weekend Away walk in the past.

What to bring

Walking Boots - NOT TRAINERS
Suitable trousers for walking - NOT JEANS
2L of Water (3L on long or hot days)
Backpack (20-30 litres is ideal)
Waterproof Coat
Lunch and snacks
Warm Layers - Especially during our colder months. (Don’t forget those hats and gloves)

More information can be found on the gear page

Cost

Members: £13

Non-members: £18

Where to meet us

For the Sunday hikes we provide transport for you to and from the location of the hike. Please see below the timings and location of the bus stops. ARRIVE 5 MINUTES BEFORE TIMINGS

09:00 - Speaks.Month.Jabs | Tesco Extra taxi rank in Beeston
09:04 - Hosts.Overnight.Logic | Broadgate Park
09:07 - Warns.Stir.Secure | Lenton Grove (Humanities)
09:09 - Number.Villa.Files | David Ross Sports Village
09:11 - Pulled.Caves.Port | Lincoln Hall
09:16 - Apply.Extra.Rewarding | Marchwood Close (For Jubilee and Wollaton)
09:18 - Mole.Retain.Also | Raleigh Park
09:21 - Client.Gravy.Belt | Willoughby Avenue (For Lenton)
09:26 - Spray.Unable.Rental | University East Entrance Bus Stop (Dunkirk)
09:28 - Focus.Giving.Ranked | East Drive Bus Stop

Walk 2

Hollins Hill

Walk 2 begins at a lay-by on the A53 (SK 035 697). Cross the A53 and bear left, following the road for 1.75km to reach Brand Side. Continue straight for 250m along the track. Bear left and follow the footpath for 500m to reach Brand End Farm. Continue straight and follow the footpath for 250m, crossing a stream. Turn right and follow the footpath for 750m to reach Booth Farm. Cross the lane and enter the field, bearing right and following an unmarked path for 500m as it steeply ascends to reach the summit of Hollins Hill (SK 060 679). Follow the unmarked path along the ridge of Hollins Hill for 1.25km, handrailing with a wall on the right. Turn left and follow the bridleway for 500m, crossing a footbridge over the River Dove. Turn left and follow the road for 250m into Hollinsclough. At the junction, turn left and follow the road for 500m. At the Hollinsclough Honesty Shop (SK 068 666), bear left and follow the byway for 1.25km. Cross the road and continue straight along the footpath for 750m. Cross the B5053 and continue straight along the footpath for another 750m to reach Earl Sterndale. Turn right and follow the road for 750m. Bear left and follow the lane marked ‘unsuitable for motor vehicles’ for 250m. Turn right and follow the road for 500m. At the fork, bear left and follow the road for 750m. Bear left and follow the bridleway for 750m. Turn right and follow the High Peak Trail for 750m. At the footbridge, turn left and follow the footpath for 250m across a field. Cross the A515 and finish the walk at The Duke of York, Pomeroy (SK 119 674).

Walk 3a

The Dragon’s Back (Shorter)

Walk 3a begins at a lay-by on the A53 (SK 035 697). Cross the A53 and bear left, following the road for 500m. Turn left and follow the bridleway for 1.25km, passing Fairthorn. Turn right and briefly follow the road. Turn right and follow the footpath for 2km, passing Thirkelow to reach Booth Farm. Turn left and briefly follow the lane, bear right and follow the footpath for 500m. Turn right and follow the permissive footpath for 1.25km to reach the summit of Chrome Hill (SK 070 673). Continue straight and descend the permissive footpath for 750m. Turn right and follow the road for 250m. Turn left and follow the footpath for 750m. Cross the B5053 and continue straight along the footpath for another 750m to reach Earl Sterndale. Turn right and follow the road for 750m. Bear left and follow the lane marked ‘unsuitable for motor vehicles’ for 250m. Turn right and follow the road for 500m. At the fork, bear left and follow the road for 750m. Bear left and follow the bridleway for 750m. Turn right and follow the High Peak Trail for 750m. At the footbridge, turn left and follow the footpath for 250m across a field. Cross the A515 and finish the walk at The Duke of York, Pomeroy (SK 119 674).

Walk 3b

The Dragon’s Back (Longer)

Walk 3b begins at a bus stop on the A53 by Flash Bar Stores (SK 031 679). Cross the A53 and bear left, briefly following the road. At the fork, bear left again and follow the road for 1km. Bear right and follow the track for 750m to reach Brand Side. Continue straight for 250m along the track. Bear right and continue to follow the track for 500m towards Howe Greene. Bear left and follow the footpath for 1km, handrailing with the River Dove on the right, to reach Tenterhill. Turn left and follow the track for 1km, passing Leycote, to reach Booth Farm. Briefly follow the lane, bear right and follow the footpath for 500m. Turn right and follow the permissive footpath for 1.25km to reach the summit of Chrome Hill (SK 070 673). Continue straight and descend the permissive footpath for 750m. Turn right and follow the road for 250m. Turn left and follow the footpath for 750m. Cross the B5053 and continue straight along the footpath for another 750m to reach Earl Sterndale. Turn right and follow the road for 750m. Bear left and follow the lane marked ‘unsuitable for motor vehicles’ for 250m. Turn right and follow the road for 500m. At the fork, bear left and follow the road for 750m. Bear left and follow the bridleway for 750m. Turn right and follow the High Peak Trail for 750m. At the footbridge, turn left and follow the footpath for 250m across a field. Cross the A515 and finish the walk at The Duke of York, Pomeroy (SK 119 674).

Walk 4

Axe Edge and The Dragon’s Back

Walk 4 begins at a bus stop on the A53 by Flash Bar Stores (SK 031 679). Bear left and follow the road for 500m to reach Oxenstitch. Turn right and follow the road for 250m to reach Hilltop. Turn left and follow the lane for 500m to reach Axe Edge End. Continue straight and follow the path for 750m to reach the summit of Axe Edge (SK 032 693). Continue straight and descend the path for 750m to reach Cistern’s Clough. Turn right and follow the footpath for 500m. Cross the A53 and bear left, following the road for 500m. Turn left and follow the bridleway for 1.25km, passing Fairthorn. Turn right and briefly follow the road. Turn right and follow the footpath for 2km, passing Thirkelow to reach Booth Farm. Turn left and briefly follow the lane, bear right and follow the footpath for 500m. Turn right and follow the permissive footpath for 1.25km to reach the summit of Chrome Hill (SK 070 673). Continue straight and descend the permissive footpath for 750m. Turn right and follow the road for 250m. Turn left and follow the footpath for 750m. Cross the B5053 and continue straight along the footpath for another 750m to reach Earl Sterndale. Turn right and follow the road for 750m. Bear left and follow the lane marked ‘unsuitable for motor vehicles’ for 250m. Turn right and follow the road for 500m. At the fork, bear left and follow the road for 750m. Bear left and follow the bridleway for 750m. Turn right and follow the High Peak Trail for 750m. At the footbridge, turn left and follow the footpath for 250m across a field. Cross the A515 and finish the walk at The Duke of York, Pomeroy (SK 119 674).