A 9 mile Peak District Walk starting from the village of Over Haddon.
Start: SK 20735 66404 – DE45 1HY
Map: Landranger 119, Explorer OL24
Difficulty: 7
Refreshments : Over Haddon and Monyash
Magpie Mine located south of Sheldon in the Peak District is one of the most famous lead mines in the district. The workings date from 1740 by 1824 a pumping engine used to keep the mine free from water helped the miners extract a record amount of lead (800 tons) from the mine, a record that stood until 1871. The Peak District Mines Historical Society took over the care of Magpie Mine in 1962, it is thanks to them that the buildings are well preserved and well worth exploring before resuming your walk.
Lathkill Dale is part of the Derbyshire Dales National Nature Reserve. The first section of our walk along Lathkill Dale is dry, the source of the River Lathkill is Lathkill Head Cave a little further down the dale. During wet winters the water comes gushing out of the cave but as in the photo on this walk the water table is lower. During these dry spells the river emerges from springs close to Sheepwash Bridge. Mining for lead ore took place in Lathkill dale and evidence of this activity still remains, look out for Mandale Mine Engine House and the remains of an old aqueduct as you continue your walk along the dale.
Magpie Mine and Lathkill Dale Photo Gallery
Magpie Mine and Lathkill Dale Walk Directions
The walk starts at Over Haddon, take the Monyash Road out of the village. At the end of the village just before the farm buildings turn right along a footpath and follow this across pasture to the B5055. The footpath continues across the road. The path skirts the slopes of Bole Hill and descends into Kirk Dale. Cross the road here and carry on along the walled path to Magpie Mine.
After exploring the mine join the path that leads west and descend to the minor road. Turn right here and after the junction turn left along a footpath which leads first through a copse and then descends over fields to a road. Turn right along the road and into Monyash. Turn left at the village green and follow the road downhill. The footpath through Lathkill Dale is on the right, follow this path keeping to the river until reaching the road bridge over the river at Conksbury. Turn left up the hill then at the sharp bend take the footpath on the left which rises gently back to Over Haddon.
Copyright © Peter Cox. All rights reserved