TODO - Update for 2022 route change...
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!
Original route 1976-1978 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Checkpoint | Name | Abbr. | Grid Ref. | Distance |
Start | Hazel Grove | HG | SJ925862 | |
1 | Bowstones | BS | SJ974813 | 4.8 |
2 | Chinley Churn | CC | SK037843 | 5.7 |
3 | Edale Cross | EX | SK077861 | 3.2 |
4 | Edale | ED | SK124853 | 3.4 |
5 | Castleton | CA | SK149830 | 2.5 |
6 | Peak Forest | PF | SK112792 | 3.6 |
7 | Millers Dale | MD | SK142735 | 4.3 |
8 | Sough Top | ST | SK127707 | 2.6 |
9 | Hollinsclough | HC | SK084666 | 4.5 |
10 | Axe Edge | AE | SK035698 | 4.3 |
11 | Shining Tor | ST | SJ995737 | 4.0 |
12 | Pym Chair | PC | SJ995768 | 2.0 |
13 | Cock Knoll | CK | SJ979820 | 3.6 |
Finish | Hazel Grove | HG | SJ925862 | 5.3 |
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 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Checkpoint | Name | Abbr. | Grid Ref. | Distance |
10 | Axe Edge | AE | SK035698 | |
11 | Cat and Fiddle | CF | SK001719 | 2.6 |
12 | Pym Chair | PC | SJ995768 | 3.4 |
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 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Checkpoint | Name | Abbr. | Grid Ref. | Distance |
7 | Millers Dale | MD | SK142735 | |
8 | Chelmorton | CM | SK118692 | 3.8 |
9 | Earl Sterndale | ES | SK091669 | 3.2 |
10 | Axe Edge | AE | SK035698 | 4.7 |
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 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Checkpoint | Name | Abbr. | Grid Ref. | Distance |
Start | Hazel Grove | HG | SJ925862 | |
1 | Bowstones | BS | SJ974813 | 4.8 |
2 | Chinley Churn | CC | SK037843 | 5.7 |
3 | Edale Cross | EX | SK077861 | 3.2 |
4 | Edale | ED | SK124853 | 3.4 |
5 | Castleton | CA | SK149830 | 2.5 |
6 | Peak Forest | PF | SK112792 | 3.6 |
7 | Millers Dale | MD | SK142735 | 4.3 |
8 | Chelmorton | CM | SK118692 | 3.8 |
9 | Earl Sterndale | ES | SK091669 | 3.2 |
10 | Axe Edge | AE | SK035698 | 4.7 |
11 | Cat and Fiddle | CF | SK001719 | 2.6 |
12 | Pym Chair | PC | SJ995768 | 3.4 |
13 | Moorside Hotel | MH | SJ983821 | 3.6 |
Finish | Hazel Grove | HG | SJ925862 | 5.3 |
The New Bullock Smithy (from 2000) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Checkpoint | Name | Abbr. | Grid Ref. | Distance |
Start | Hazel Grove | HG | SJ925862 | |
1 | Bowstones | BS | SJ974813 | 4.8 |
2 | Chinley Churn | CC | SK037843 | 5.7 |
3 | Edale Cross | EX | SK077861 | 3.2 |
4 | Edale | ED | SK124853 | 3.4 |
5 | Castleton | CA | SK149830 | 2.5 |
6 | Peak Forest | PF | SK112792 | 3.6 |
7 | Millers Dale | MD | SK142735 | 4.3 |
8 | Chelmorton | CM | SK118692 | 3.8 |
9 | Earl Sterndale | ES | SK091669 | 3.2 |
10 | Brand Top | BT | SK044685 | 3.6 |
11 | Cumberland Cottage | CC | SJ994699 | 4.1 |
12 | Walker Barn | WB | SJ955737 | 3.9 |
13 | Whiteley Green | WG | SJ927789 | 4.3 |
Finish | Hazel Grove | HG | SJ925862 | 5.6 |