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Foolow Home > Foolow Village > Foolow Walks > Foolow – Grindlow – Great Hucklow – Abney Grange – Bretton Clough – Foolow

Foolow – Grindlow – Great Hucklow – Abney Grange – Bretton Clough – Foolow

Foolow – Grindlow – Great Hucklow – Abney Grange – Bretton Clough – Foolow
Distance: Approximately 4 ½ miles

Start the walk at the pretty little village green in Foolow where you can see the duck pond, old stone cross and bull ring. Walk towards the notice board before heading out of the village on the road leading to Windmill. After passing the last of the houses walk for about 200 yards before going over a stile on your right then cross fields and stiles in front of Roods Farm followed by a section of walled track to Grindlow.

Go past Hall Farm in Grindlow and follow the quiet country lane to Great Hucklow. Walk up the main street of this former lead mining centre which is also famed for its theatrical company of village players which was formed in 1927 by the playwright L Du Garde Peach. He directed the company until his retirement in 1972 and its popularity was widespread with concerts often sold out well in advance.

After the pub turn right. On your left in the dip is a house which was at one time the offices of the Mill Dam Mine, whilst to the other side is the old blacksmiths shop. Now follow a concessionary path behind the Activity Centre which takes you to Burrs Mount which stands at 1300 feet above sea level and was an Iron Age hill fort and bivallate but now acts as the landing strip for gliders from the nearby club.

Heading up the stony track you will pass the isolated school and site of the village pinfold where stray animals would have been held whilst the owners were established. You should finally emerge at a road on Camp Hill on the outskirts of Abney Moor. Camphill Farm over to your left is the headquarters of the Derbyshire and Lancashire Gliding Club, and it is not unusual to see gliders soaring quietly above as you walk.

Go over a stile on your right and head past the little reservoir and down to a building by the side of a stream. After further stiles and fields you will arrive on the drive to Abney Grange which once belonged to Rufford Abbey. In the early days of the Grange, the land here was open and mainly moorland, however fields of pasture were established and enclosed in the 19th century.

Just before reaching the buildings of Abney Grange you will cross over a stile on your right and head down to Bretton Clough where the unusual mounds, dips and hollows in the earth were created early in the last century by rabbits that were held captive in a huge warren encased in netting and bred for their fur which was sold to furriers in London.

In 1745 farmers from Eyam hid their cattle in Bretton Clough to save them from the plundering and foraging highlanders who accompanied Bonnie Prince Charlie on his march south from Scotland. They are also said to have hidden their clocks and valuable down the numerous local mine shafts.
Cross Bretton Brook and climb up the opposite bank until you meet the road which runs along the top of Hucklow Edge to Sir William Hill, passing the famous Barrel Inn. Cross the road and head straight down a path. To your right are the remains of Silence Mine, whilst over to the left was the Slaters Engine Mine and Bradshaw Mine. On reaching another road continue straight ahead to return to Foolow.
Foolow Village Foolow Derbyshire, S325QR, United Kingdom - Show map - Tel: 0845 166 8022 Email: info@peakdistrictonline.co.uk
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