Hathersage, Derbyshire

 The Derwent flows through what was the heart of the medieval Barnsdale Forest, whose inhabitants included Robin Hood and his trusty lieutenant, Little John. This giant of a man may have been born in Hathersage; a huge, now-empty grave in the churchyard here is certainly claimed as his – the missing skeleton belonged to a man 8 feet tall.

START
Facing the Station Café at Grindleford, turn left, cross the railway and walk the rough lane ahead, presently reaching the medieval Padley Chapel. Stay with the track; beyond houses it reaches an open area. After 150m turn left at a low waymark post. Drop to re-cross the railway and use the waymarked path through Coppice Wood to a riverside path.

Turn upstream and accompany the Derwent (the path joins a driveway) to Leadmill Bridge. Cross the road and take the stile into a field-edge path which runs through to a lane. Turn left to Hathersage.

2.5 MILES
Turn right up the main street. Beside the North Face shop, turn left on Baulk Lane. Upon reaching the cricket ground, take the gate on the right and walk up to the churchyard. Little John’s grave is beside the churchyard-side cottage wall.

Turn right from the lychgate; at the junction turn left up the Private Road to reach a cattle-grid. Fork right just before this up a sunken path, climbing to the edge of the complex at Toothill Farm.

Slip left through the gate; then right to a higher one. Turn right through the stockyard and circle the farmhouse to its right, to a gate immediately left of the renovated barn. Use the higher gate out of the farmyard and walk the rough drive to a road.

3.75 MILES
Head up to the sharp-left bend. On the right here, use the gate into a meadow at Mitchell Field Farm. Trace the path through the clough and up steps beyond a footbridge. Turn right on the drive and bend left at the house. Turn left before the buildings end on a fingerposted path that strikes up through a hay-meadow and then a rough pasture to reach a road. Go straight across and rise through the gate to a stand of trees.

Turn right on a wide path beside a wall; this peels away as the path heads towards Over Owler Tor. Go to the fenced corner below this crag and put the fence on your right. About 150m short of the road, use the gate and cut through to the road at a blind bend.

5.5 MILES
Cross carefully to join another fenceside path; keep the fence on your right to reach a gate at a wooded corner. Drop down the steep path into the magnificent Yarncliff Woods and another gate, then keep ahead on a better path.

Turn right on the main cross-path and follow this through to a rough lane. At its foot, turn left to Grindleford Station.