Yahoo News The gorgeous Peak District hike named among best walk to do this summer
A walking route in the Peak District has been named among the best hikes to do this summer. The six-mile hike includes pretty villages, tumbling streams and panoramic views from its highest point.
The route starts at the village of Edale and ends at Castleton. Along the way it takes you up Mam Tor, a 517m high hill where you can look out across the countryside.
The walk was recommended by outdoor experts at Blacks and is a personal favourite of Ethan Ball from the firm’s head office. He said: “My favourite Peak District summer hike is a 6-mile route that has everything from wide open fields to rocky scrambles, stony cliff tops and cave-littered dales. It’s got a segment of steep elevation to its highest point at the top of Mam Tor (517m). This hike has something for everyone, is full of points of interest and can be easily tweaked to be made easier or more difficult.”
The route begins in Edale - not far from the train station - crossing Grinds Brook and taking you through flat fields, passing underneath the railway bridge. Passing farms and crossing the River Noe, it leads you to the base of the north side of Mam Tor.
From here it’s a bit of a scramble up Hollins Cross, but once you’re made it you can walk across the Great Ridge of Mam Tor, taking in the views for miles around. You then follow the path along to the trig point at Mam Tor.
Descend down large flagstone steps past the remains of an iron age tomb and you’ll meet a small road called Sparrowspit. Crossing this you’ll reach a gate that marks the start of a path taking you on a detour to the edge of the cliffs which overlook Winnats Pass.
Following the path around to face north, you’ll notice grassy banks rising on either side and the ground becoming stonier as you reach Cave Dale, known as ‘the Secret Valley’. It's lined with rocky slopes either side and small caves; around halfway through look up to see the ruins of Peveril Castle on a rocky edge. The path then leads into the village of Castleton, where you can round off your walk with a visit to one of its many pubs.
Outdoors experts at Blacks also recommend the following walking routes to do this summer:
Seahouses to Bamburgh, Northumberland
Loughrigg Loop, Lake District
Clay Bank To Carlton Bank, Yorkshire
Pen-Y-Ghent, Yorkshire
Pembrokeshire Coast Path, Wales
Harting Downds to Amberly, West Sussex
