Uppshe four

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I walked this in early January from Derwent to Sheffield. At 30km, this is the longest of the UPPSHE routes so far. You'll need to be reasonably fit. It took me 7 hours with just a couple of short breaks. Allow enough time to get to the edge of Sheffield, which for me took 5 hours, so you aren't caught in the dark. Thankfully, the weather was cold, clear and still but we'd had a lot of rain in previous weeks. This route includes many footpaths which aren't bridleways so bikes can't be used. Dogs may not be allowed on Stanage Edge at times because of nesting birds near the path.

You'll need a pair of boots. Some parts are rocky and it's far from home so protect your ankles. It was ankle-deep in mud in several places. Despite that, I did manage to get home with dry socks. The first two thirds of the route are in the Peak District national park. The weather there can be be brutal, with Stanage Edge particularly being very exposed. For this time of year, wind, rain and cold weather clothes should be carried. Being winter, the sun was low and in my eyes for in the first half - sunglasses might help.

The route starts along a decent road down the Derwent Valley next to Ladybower Reservoir on the "Lost Villages Trail". At the valley's entrance, it climbs along a forest track to the hills above. This is the steepest bit but not too long, comparatively. This track can be very muddy and waterlogged, at one point turning to a stream. At the top, it's across grassy, heather moors to a swampy track approaching Moscar Cross before going down to the path along Stanage edge which is mostly rocky. The path turns wet, grassy and muddy again, except for the paved sections, as you skirt Redmires Reservoirs but improves once you leave it, passing beside and through woodlands on the outskirts of Sheffield. Once you reach St. Anthony Road in Crookes, it's streets all the way to the end. There are some stiles, gates and easy stepping stones along the way.

Navigation is mostly uncomplicated.
Don't go to the A57 at the bottom of Ladybower reservoir but take the left fork after the gate to start climbing the hill. Further on you need to almost turn back on yourself to enter the wood. After that, if in any doubt, go uphill. Once at Winstone Lee Tor, you go NE and can take a quick detour to clamber on Hurkling Stones but you won't turn onto the eastward path until your reach a crossroads a bit further on.
Pay attention to where you leave Stanage Edge and take the path to Stanage Pole and Redmires. It's the first left fork a few hundred metres after the Long Causeway road from below joins your route.
The route after turning off The Conduit towards the Sportsman pub just passes between some football fields with no path once you've turned.
At the end of the path that passes beside the golf course, pay attention to the zig-zags. Just before the path rejoins the road, theres an almost 180 degree turn that goes a little way downhill in almost the reverse direction and a minute or so later, you zig (or zag) again to go down to Manchester road.

There are a few places of interest if you have time, as well as fantastic views all along the route.
From the start point, you can walk 5 minutes up the road to see a small statue to the Dambusters and also a memorial behind a locked gate. Sadly the museum is no longer open.
The route takes you right past Moscar Cross. Brontë fans will be pleased to note that this is supposedly Whitcross, the place where Jane Eyre was chucked off the coach when she fled Thornfield Hall.
If you're prepared to carry on a bit further along Stanage Edge, beyond the Stanage Pole turnoff, there is Robin Hood's Cave, though it's unlikely Robin ever used it. You have to know where to look because there are no signs. There are a few web pages around that will help. Stanage Edge is also the place Keira Knightly stood on the cliff top for a famous scene in Pride And Prejudice.
At the end of Conduit Road in Sheffield, is Weston Park museum, which is free, although it's worth a trip in itself. Blake Street - England's 3rd steepest street - is about half a km away on the same side of the hill as Conduit.

The main hazards of this route are, as mentioned, the weather but that's unavoidable for any route out of this start point. Stay away from the edge in strong winds. The path is immediately next to the water at some points along Redmires reservoir but you'd have to be exceptionally clumsy to fall in. There are places on the footpath in Blackbrook Wood, beside the golf course, where you get close to sheer drops - just be careful. And on this portion, the steep bank down to the stream is treacherous in the wet, although you'd likely just give your back end a bump.
There are temporary path closures on the Stanage Pole to Redmires section until the end of March 2024 for tree felling.

One diversion from the plotted route is necessary. Between the allotments and the riding school is a road called Clough Fields. The end part of that is not accessible to the public. I talked to the owner a while ago and he said he'd have to pay an inordinate amount of insurance to allow people to walk along the last few metres of that road which, understandably, he had no desire to do. Therefore, go down Clough Fields but take the public footpath on the left about half way along - you can see it on a map - and follow that path to join another path that climbs up from Back Lane. Follow the joined path up into the stable yard, to resume the route.

Places for food, drink and a rest are non-existent for more than half the route. At the start there are toilets, information and a food and drink kiosk that proudly claims to be open every day except Christmas Day from 0800 while 1800. After that, the first possible place is the Blue Moo Cafe (a kiosk) at Wyming Brook Farm on the far side of Redmires Reservoirs which is open 1000-1530 on weekends, according to its Facebook Page.
Not much further is the Sportsman pub at Lodge Moor although it has been closed for some weeks and I don't know if it has reopened.
When you get down to Manchester Road, there is a garden centre on the right which has a cafe and toilets.
At Crookes, you are in the main street and there are pubs, fast food outlets and cafes aplenty. Likewise when you get to Glossop Road/West Street near the end of the route.

To get to Fairholmes on public transport, there is a Hulleys' 257 bus from Sheffield. On Monday-Saturdays, only 1 bus goes from Sheffield in the morning and only 1 bus goes back again in the evening. There are more numerous Sunday services. Check Hulleys' web site. I have no information about other public transport links there. Bamford station is nearest railway station but it's a way to go.
If you're finding the 30km a bit of a trial, you can cut the journey short at a few places. From the old Lodge Moor hospital there is the 51 to Sheffield, from Crookes shops there is the 52, and from Glossop Road onwards there are a number of services, although you're near the end by then.

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