While most customer enquiries ask about activities in the Lake District, it is a privilege to also be able to operate in the Peak District and share my personal love for the area with first time visitors and seasoned walkers alike.
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This particular route is not a "standard" or "classic" that you will read about in guide books or on various website. I have designed the activity to fulfil everything that I believe should make a good day out in the Peak District without being too strenuous.
There will be lots to see and discuss as we venture into the northern reaches of the White Peak - a landscape formed of ancient limestone and now covered with areas of deciduous woodland and rolling hills.
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​​The overall distance is 16 kilometres, or around 10 miles, with 550m ascent. The walk is expected to take 6 to 7 hours at a steady pace. This is a scenic and informative activity that will be guided at a gentle to moderate pace with plenty of opportunities to get up close with nature.
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Firstly, the geological history of the Peak District is entirely fascinating and can be appreciated by any visitors to the area.
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On this particular activity, we will be surrounded by ancient limestone that was formed over 300 million years ago and has been shaped by glaciation and the elements into beautiful ravines above ground and an extensive system of caves and waterways beneath.
Lead ore that was subsequently formed in the Carboniferous and Permian periods went on to affect the social and industrial history of the area much later on with extensive mining practices.
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The land surrounding Castleton has been inhabited for millennia and to this day it is possible to see the remains of Peveril Castle, built after the Norman Conquest, and 3,000 year old Iron Age hill fort.
The main factor that I wanted to fulfil in putting this walk together was to make sure that participants would have the best opportunity to enjoy the seasonal change that autumn brings.
It is a very special time of year and as we stroll beneath the canopy of indigenous broad leaf trees, the sights and scents of nature are sure to captivate the senses - leaves will be a tapestry of colour accentuated by hawthorn, rowan and other berries. There will likely be a range of fungi decorating some of the trees and the ground.
The route will also lead us across some more rugged moorland terrain, including Eldon Hill, which is a modest hill of 470m. There had to be at least one summit in the walk to keep everybody happy!
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Taking a slight diversion into the village of Peak Forest, it will be possible to use the toilet facilities and pick up hot drinks and tasty cakes at the Devonshire Arms.
​Important details about this specific activity.
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The entire route accrues just over 16km, or 10 miles, with just over 550m ascent, and is expected to take 6 to 7 hours​.
This activity is designed to be and informative outing with lots of discussion, time to take in the scenery and enjoy a refreshment stop at the Devonshire Arms in the village of Peak Forest - expect a gentle to moderate pace throughout with lots of opportunities to get up close with nature and various fauna that will be abundant in autumn.
It is necessary to have a basic level of fitness and good mobility to take part in this activity. There are rugged, rocky paths with loose stone, boggy and uneven moorland terrain and some hillside slopes with moderate gradients to climb.
If an individual is for any reason unsure of their ability, please email moorstomountains@gmail.com to discuss things further before making a booking.
If the walk leader observes a concern with fitness levels of an individual participant,
it may be necessary for that person to return the start of the activity for their own safety, where it is safe to do so.
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This activity requires sturdy waterproof footwear with solid soles and good grip.
Please refer to the Moors to Mountains Footwear, Clothing and Equipment Requirements.
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Certain breeds of dog are welcome to attend by prior arrangement only.
Children and young people over the age of 14 are welcome to attend with a parent or guardian by prior arrangement.
Please bear in mind that the activity duration is calculated based on average walking speeds over the types of terrain encountered and previous occurrences of this specific route. The activity may be completed in a quicker or longer time than expected based on individual fitness levels within the group.
It should be mentioned that weather in the Peak District can be unpredictable at all times of the year and so it isn't possible to guarantee excellent views on every walk. It may be necessary for the walk leader to change the itinerary of the route for safety or other reasons, meaning that is is not possible to included certain advertised objectives.
Unless there is a safety concern posed by the weather forecast, activities will go ahead regardless of conditions.
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Please see the Moors to Mountains Terms and Conditions before booking.
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Meeting point and transport information.
​The activity meeting point is Tilly's of Castleton Traditional Tea Room (S33 8WH).
Participants should meet at the time advertised on the booking page. You will be contacted if there are any changes.
The main village car park is very close by across the street.
There are reliable bus services between Castleton and Edale, Hope, Sheffield, Buxton and Bakewell. Trains connect Edale and Hope to Sheffield and Manchester. I would fully encourage using public transport if possible.
Lots of various accommodation is available in the vicinity of Castleton, Hope and Edale, including camping, hostels, B&B's. It is advisable to book accommodation well in advance to avoid disappointment.
Please ask me if you need advice on where to stay or transport links.
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What to expect when booking a professionally
guided activity with Colin from Moors to Mountains.
A friendly and supportive group ethic is promoted on all activities.
It is normal for participants to feel anxious or nervous about joining a guided walk for the first time, meeting new people or just stepping out of their usual comfort zone. This is normal. Please try to remember that other people in the group will likely be feeling the same, and I can assure all participants that they will be making new friends and feeling comfortable in the surroundings in no time.
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Knowledge and enthusiasm is shared throughout the activity.
Not only am I here to keep you safe and lead the group, I like to engage all participants in interesting conversation. Whether we are visiting a site with interesting geology and natural features or perhaps somewhere of historic significance, I like to make sure participants go away having learned something new. And as an environmentalist and lover of the outdoors, it is my mission to try and pass on my passion and knowledge to all who sign up to a Moors to Mountains activity.
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Safety, motivation and attentiveness is guaranteed.
All Moors to Mountains activities are designed for smaller parties. The number of participants that is allowed will depend on the terrain of each specific activity. Suitable group sizes allow me to give each individual client the maximum attention throughout an activity, whether this is to answer questions, provide some guidance or physical assistance.
My promise is to deliver a high level of care and individual attentiveness to each member of the group.
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It is not a race, everybody is here to enjoy the activity!
The benefit of booking onto my activities for small groups for many participants is that the reasonable pricing makes joining a qualified, knowledgeable and experienced Mountain Leader to be more affordable. However, participants in each group are likely to be of mixed abilities. All participants will move together as a group and support each other throughout the activity. If you are a very fit and fast hill walker and would like to experience more of a physical challenge, I am available for private bookings that may be more enjoyable for you than my usual group activities that are at a moderate or even gentle pace.
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I am qualified, insured and experienced in the mountains and hills of the UK.
As your guide, I am a qualified and insured Mountain Leader registered with the British Mountaineering Council and Mountain Training Association. I will only ever operate in areas where I have experience of the terrain and local knowledge. I have also volunteered with my community walking group for since 2011, where I have organised and led innumerable walks and expeditions across the whole of northern England, many areas of Scotland and Eryri/Snowdonia in North Wales. I also have a lot of personal experience in walking, wild camping and completing solo expeditions in these areas.
In that time, I have been lucky enough to spend time out on the hills and mountains with many people of different backgrounds and abilities. This experience has enabled me to develop an extensive knowledge of particular outdoor areas, and a penchant for designing routes that are both scenic and interesting. There are often places of historical or geological interest along the way and I enjoy sharing my knowledge of the landscape, history, industry, wildlife and geology.
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​Once a place has been booked on any activity.
I will personally contact each participant by email with any relevant information to the specific activity. The booking system will email participants a ticket but there is no need to present this when attending an activity. Participants will be sent thorough information and a Participation Consent Form that should be completed in good time before any activity takes place. This will ask for important medical information, important contact details and also request consent for me to give first aid where necessary, take any photographs (or not) and anything else relevant.
Participants are advised to take out their own travel insurance for any booked activity, accommodation, travel costs and any other expenses involved in attending the booked activity in the event of cancellation or unforeseen personal circumstances preventing attendance.
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Thank you for reading and I hope to see you on the activity.
COLIN - MOORS TO MOUNTAINS.