ROBIN HOOD’S STRIDE AND NINE LADIES STONE CIRCLE
Mystery and myth await on this 7 mile adventure to some of Derbyshire’s best landmarks…
Start: The Druid Inn, Birchover, DE4 2BL
Distance: 6.81 miles
Elevation: 925 feet
Duration: 2.5 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Navigation: Follow the route here
As witchy walks go, this 7 mile route in The Peak District is up there.
Where else can you enjoy a pint at a pub named The Druid Inn shortly after visiting a Bronze Age stone circle?
This easy-going walk has slowly become one of our all-weather favourites — atmospheric in winter, magical in spring, and a great place to pause in summer.
Birchover Village
The charming village of Birchover is nestled in the heart of the Peak District National Park, between the towns of Matlock and Bakewell in the county of Derbyshire. Birchover is one of the oldest recorded villages in the Peak District, having been referenced in the Domesday Book of 1086. As Peak District villages go, Birchover doesn’t garner quite the tourism and accolade as places like Castleton or Edale… making it perfect for those seeking a place to pause in the Peaks.
Birchover lies to the southeast of the Peak District National Park. Its location and proximity to Bakewell make it an easy place to stop at if you’re considering a visit to the very popular Bakewell area, for attractions such as Chatsworth House. The region around Birchover houses many interesting geological features such as Hermits Cave and Robin Hood’s Stride. They are easily explored and enjoyed on this Birchover and Stanton Moor circular walk.
Robin Hood’s Stride
From the small lay-by parking area, our Birchover walk starts with a short climb up to Robin Hoods Stride and Hermits Cave. This forms a quick out and back. You can choose to visit at the start or end of your walk. But for us, we like to save the best ‘til last… and we’re suckers for a good old stone circle.
Cross the road and head uphill through open fields and charming woodlands. At the top, you'll find Robin Hood's Stride. The impressive pile of gritstone boulders, aka Mock Beggar’s Mansion, is an invitation for a bit of adventurous scrambling. Alternatively, soaking in the views from the base is just as rewarding.
From Robin Hood's Stride, gaze out at Bradley Rocks. Film buffs might recognise both locations, as they were featured in The Princess Bride.
Once you've taken in the charm of Robin Hood's Stride, it's time to explore Hermits Cave.
Hermits Cave
A short distance to the west of Robin Hoods Stride is Hermits Cave. Located at Cratcliffe Tor is a shallow shelter carved into the side of the rockface. This is Hermits Cave. Inside the hollow on the side of the hillside is a stone bench that looks like a bed and a carving of a crucifix. The carving in Hermits Cave is thought to date back to the 13th or 14th century.
Nine Ladies Stone Circle
The name Nine Ladies comes from the folk tradition of nine women dancing on the Sabbath being turned to stone. The stones are set on the inner edge of a slight bank, and form a ring about 40 feet around. Each stone is about 3 feet high and made from local millstone grit, a coarse sandstone. The circle is part of a complex of prehistoric circles and standing stones on Stanton Moor.
Dating back to the Bronze Age, around 4,000 years ago, the circle was most probably constructed by the people who lived on and farmed in this area at the time, as a site where they could celebrate and commemorate the most important moments of life and death in their community.
The vast open moorland of Stanton Moor is so significant in terms of its ancient archeology that the entire moor is protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The area was a valuable resource for farming, wood and stone for our ancient ancestors.
There are more than seventy burial barrows on the moor and four stone circles, of which the Nine Ladies Stone Circle is one.
Slightly smaller than the Nine Ladies Stone Circle, with only six standing stones, is Doll Tor, also dating from the Bronze Age.
As well as the more ancient markers of past civilisation here, there is also still evidence of 17th and 18th Century packhorse routes, hollowed-out tracks in the heather made by the hooves of horses transporting goods from Cheshire and Sheffield.
Public Transport
Take the train from Manchester Piccadilly to Buxton > 1 hour. From Buxton, take the Transpeak bus towards Derby and alight at Picory Corner. From here, you’ll pick up the 172 bus towards Matlock, alighting at The Green in Birchover village.
Pitstops
The Druid Inn, with its rustic charm and selection of local ales, provides the perfect setting to relax at the start or end of your walk.
For those seeking a touch of elegance, The Flying Childers, named after the famous racehorse, offers a refined dining experience. Indulge in a hearty meal paired with a fine selection of drinks to round off your adventure.
Extend your adventure
Other attractions nearby: check out Chatsworth House and Haddon Hall for more historical attractions.
More stone circles: closeby to the Nine Ladies Stone Circle is Arbor Low Stone Circle, another prehistoric stone monument.
More caves in the Peaks: if you want more caverns like the Hermits Cave, check out nearby Thor’s Cave.
Fancy’s giving this one a go? Follow the route here
