A history-packed walk through Cressbrook Dale to Wardlow Hay Cop trig and Bronze Age burial mound, and 'Gibbet Rock' Peter's Stone. Moderate

Join us this Halloween for a walk through one of the Peak District’s darker landscapes… 👻

This fascinating circular walk explores the limestone countryside around Cressbrook Dale, Wardlow and Litton, combining beautiful scenery with prehistoric burial sites, a trig point, old lead-mining remains and a particularly gruesome piece of local history.

We’ll climb onto Wardlow Hay Cop, where the trig point sits directly on top of a large Bronze Age burial mound.

From there, we’ll make our way through the surrounding limestone landscape to Peter’s Stone, the distinctive rock outcrop also known as Gibbet Rock. Here we’ll uncover the dark story of Anthony Lingard, who was hung in chains near Peter’s Stone as a warning to others.

Along the way, we’ll also discover evidence of the area's lead-mining past and explore a landscape that has been shaped by thousands of years of human activity.

We’ll walk at a relaxed, sociable pace with plenty of time to stop for views, history, nature and, obviously, a trig photo. Halloween attire is entirely optional... walking boots considerably less so. 🎃

Distance: 10.6 km / 6.6 miles

Ascent: 417 m / 1,368 ft

Level of difficulty: Moderate – this is a relatively short walk but packs in a surprising amount of ascent, including some steep climbs and descents. A reasonable level of hill fitness is required.

Who will be your guide?

I’m Emily, founder of Peak Outdoor Community, and I’m a Mountain Leader based in Glossop at the edge of the Dark Peak. I’ve always been outdoorsy since being a young girl but hiking became a real obsession in 2019 when I started to go solo. I aim to inspire other women to learn the many benefits of exploring in the outdoors and I’m passionate about sharing my love for adventure with you!

Feel free to check out the website: Peak Outdoor Community and follow us on Instagram and Facebook: @peakoutdoorcommunity

Meeting Information

Meeting Point: Upperdale Car ParkCastlegate Ln, Buxton SK17 8SZ Google Maps

We will meet at 8.30 am to leave at 8.45am.

I'm always happy to help arrange car sharing where possible. Please get in touch if you'd like adding to the group chat.

What to bring:

Hiking boots or shoes with good grip (it gets very muddy on the tops!)

Snacks/lunch to sustain you for up to 6 hours

Rucksack

Water (at least 1L)

Waterproofs

Warm layers

Sun hat/sun cream

Hat and gloves

A small first aid kit with any personal medications

Walking poles, sit mat, hot drink (optional extras)

Terrain:

A mixture of limestone dale paths, grassy field paths and rough, uneven ground, with several steep climbs and descents. Limestone and grass can become particularly slippery when wet, and there are old lead-mining workings in the area, so good walking boots with plenty of grip are strongly recommended.

Toilets:

There are no toilets on the route. If you need to go whilst we're out walking, I'll happily point out discreet 'wild wee' spots!

Safety:

The aim of every Peak Outdoor Community walk is to create a welcoming, relaxed and enjoyable experience. We walk at a comfortable pace with plenty of opportunities to stop, chat, take photographs and learn about the landscape.

As with all outdoor activities, there are inherent risks. Participants are responsible for ensuring they are fit enough for the walk and should let us know about any relevant medical conditions before attending.

All participants must complete a Medical & Disclaimer Form at least 24 hours before the event.

All walks are led by qualified Mountain Leaders with Outdoor First Aid qualifications.

Dogs:

There is a dog ban currently in place for this area of moorland so sadly, our furry friends are not welcome this time.

Refund Policy*:

Refunds are only available if Peak Outdoor Community cancels the event.

If you can no longer attend, you're welcome to transfer your ticket to someone else—please let us know beforehand.

Tickets cannot be transferred to another event unless this has been arranged.

And FINALLY:

Our walks go ahead in all seasons because some of the best adventures happen when we embrace the British weather!

In the event that the hike needs to be postponed for safety reasons (weather warnings, moor fires, etc), and you can't make the new date, you will be offered a voucher to use on a future event.

Please see our website for our full Terms & Conditions.

Description supplied by the event organiser.