Bullock Smithy - Route Information
This page provides some information on the various routes and checkpoints that the hike has used over the years. I am indebted to John Feist for describing the various changes to the route to me.

TODO - Update for 2022 route change...

Route Length
It appears that the overall length of the hike has always been a subject for discussion, particularly following the introduction of the "New" route in 2000. I have attempted to measure the distance between checkpoints originally using 25,000 series maps and a map wheel and more recently with online maps. The numbers I have obtained appear in the tables below and are used in the results pages to calculate hikers' speeds.

There have been three different routes in the history of the hike. The first, used from 1976 to 1982, I have measured as 53.8 miles. The second, used from 1983 to 1999, comes to 54.1 miles while the third, used from 2000, adds up to 56.0 miles. While the absolute accuracy of measuring distances from a map may be slightly suspect, I believe that the relative accuracy is quite good and so, yes, the New Bullock Smithy is rather longer than the original route!

Route History
The first Bullock Smithy Hike in 1976 used the following checkpoints and these checkpoints were also used until 1978.
Original route 1976-1978
CheckpointNameAbbr.Grid Ref.Distance
StartHazel GroveHGSJ925862
1BowstonesBSSJ9748134.8
2Chinley ChurnCCSK0378435.7
3Edale CrossEXSK0778613.2
4EdaleEDSK1248533.4
5CastletonCASK1498302.5
6Peak ForestPFSK1127923.6
7Millers DaleMDSK1427354.3
8Sough TopSTSK1277072.6
9HollinscloughHCSK0846664.5
10Axe EdgeAESK0356984.3
11Shining TorSTSJ9957374.0
12Pym ChairPCSJ9957682.0
13Cock KnollCKSJ9798203.6
FinishHazel GroveHGSJ9258625.3

In 1979, the Shining Tor checkpoint was replaced by a less exposed one at the Cat and Fiddle pub but the route remained the same. The distance between checkpoints then became as follows:

Checkpoint change 1979
CheckpointNameAbbr.Grid Ref.Distance
10Axe EdgeAESK035698
11Cat and FiddleCFSK0017192.6
12Pym ChairPCSJ9957683.4

This route was used until 1982 when a change was made to avoid increasing quarrying works near Hind Low. The Sough Top and Hollinsclough checkpoints were replaced by one near Chelmorton and another in Earl Sterndale. This produced the following slightly longer route.

Route change 1982
CheckpointNameAbbr.Grid Ref.Distance
7Millers DaleMDSK142735
8ChelmortonCMSK1186923.8
9Earl SterndaleESSK0916693.2
10Axe EdgeAESK0356984.7

A minor change was made in 1983 when the penultimate checkpoint at Cock Knoll was moved a short distance to one near the Moorside Hotel. This route, which is shown below, was used until 1999.

Bullock Smithy Route 1983-1999
CheckpointNameAbbr.Grid Ref.Distance
StartHazel GroveHGSJ925862
1BowstonesBSSJ9748134.8
2Chinley ChurnCCSK0378435.7
3Edale CrossEXSK0778613.2
4EdaleEDSK1248533.4
5CastletonCASK1498302.5
6Peak ForestPFSK1127923.6
7Millers DaleMDSK1427354.3
8ChelmortonCMSK1186923.8
9Earl SterndaleESSK0916693.2
10Axe EdgeAESK0356984.7
11Cat and FiddleCFSK0017192.6
12Pym ChairPCSJ9957683.4
13Moorside HotelMHSJ9838213.6
FinishHazel GroveHGSJ9258625.3
The New Bullock Smithy
The 2000 hike was the 25th running of the event and the later stages were completely revised after Earl Sterndale. These changes led to the hike being renamed the "New Bullock Smithy" and this is the current route which is shown below.
The New Bullock Smithy (from 2000)
CheckpointNameAbbr.Grid Ref.Distance
StartHazel GroveHGSJ925862
1BowstonesBSSJ9748134.8
2Chinley ChurnCCSK0378435.7
3Edale CrossEXSK0778613.2
4EdaleEDSK1248533.4
5CastletonCASK1498302.5
6Peak ForestPFSK1127923.6
7Millers DaleMDSK1427354.3
8ChelmortonCMSK1186923.8
9Earl SterndaleESSK0916693.2
10Brand TopBTSK0446853.6
11Cumberland CottageCCSJ9946994.1
12Walker BarnWBSJ9557373.9
13Whiteley GreenWGSJ9277894.3
FinishHazel GroveHGSJ9258625.6
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ST - Sat, 3 Jan 2015