Back Tor and Abbey Brook

We start by following the banks of Derwent Reservoir, around to Wellhead, before a steady ascent onto the moorland heading towards Bradfield Gate Head and Back Tor. The route is flat across the moorland to a rocky outcrop, before we descend towards Abbey Brook, which closes in to form a spectacular gorge in its upper reaches. (It was in this area, where the second mass trespass took place in Sept. 1932 – see below).

Concentration is required along a narrow path for about 1/2 mile as we descend above Abbey Brook, where there are steep slopes and interesting rock formations. The path soon widens again for the descent to the Upper Derwent Reservoir and an easy walk back to Fairholmes.

Extract from Kinder Scout & the Legend of the Mass Trespass – David Hey.
“About 200 people walked from the Middlewood tram stop on the northern outskirts of Sheffield on to the moors at Bar Dyke and along ‘The Duke of Norfolk’s road’ to the escarpment overlooking Abbey Brook, where about 100 permanent and temporary gamekeepers, armed with pick shafts, were gathered down in the valley below, expecting the ramblers to come from the opposite direction. With them were about half a dozen police who were determined to keep the occasion low-key. After a two-mile uphill walk the gamekeepers engaged in a brief scuffle with the ramblers, who having made their point, sat down and ate their sandwiches before returning to Bar Dyke. The gamekeepers were furious with the police, who declined to make any arrests, but the wisdom of this strategy ensured that the event was relatively peaceful and therefore starved of publicity”.

This walk explores the hills and moorland above the Derwent Valley. There are short sections of steep ascent along the route, with many viewpoints.

10 mile walk – Time 5 – 5.5 hours