Doctor’s Gate
1 September 2024
Today’s ramble follows the intriguing and spectacular Doctors Gate path from Old Glossop to the top of the Snake Pass. We then cross the moors via the Pennine Way and descend past the Kinder Reservoir into Hayfield. The route is approximately 11 miles long. There are no refreshment facilities until we reach Hayfield, so please bring along adequate food and drink for the day.
Doctor’s Gate is a late-medieval track. The route is still shown on maps as an old Roman road, but this is disputed. A more likely route for the Roman road is further south along the Ashop Valley. Doctors Gate was almost certainly financed by a Doctor Talbot, who was Vicar of Glossop from 1494 to 1535. It was an attempt to connect Glossop with the outside world towards Sheffield. The Snake Road turnpike (A57) was only completed in 1821.
Our walk begins in Old Glossop, as we begin a gradual climb past Shire Hill to Mossy Lea Farm. The valley quickly narrows as we follow Shelf Brook through beautiful moorland scenery. We pass along Crooked Clough for a short distance, before ascending out of the valley to ‘Old Woman’, where we leave the Doctors Gate path and join the Pennine Way. We shall have a break at some point along this first section.
Crossing the A57 Snake Pass road, we reach Featherbed Moss (one of many!). Passing Glead Hill, we arrive at Moss Hill where we shall have another break, with panoramic views of Kinder Scout and other surrounding hills.
We then descend along William Clough, past White Brow and the Kinder Reservoir to the delightful village of Hayfield, where pubs, tea rooms and our coach await our arrival. The scenery on this section is equally spectacular with Kinder Scout dominating the view to our left.
The coach will leave the bus station at Hayfield at 6:30pm for our scenic journey home.
Please note: Anyone contemplating an alternative walk – due to a temporary weight restriction on the A57 Snake Pass road, the coach cannot take the Ladybower route to Glossop. We shall probably be routed via Chapel-en-le-Frith.
Coach Departure
The coach picks up at the following points. Fare £12
(With the agreement of the leader other pick-up points
on the bus route may be available).
| “Staff of Life” pub, Hack Lane | Sutton-in-Ashfield | 9.15am |
| Priestic Road, opp McDonald’s | Sutton-in-Ashfield | 9.20am |
| Eastfield Side, (Blue Bell) | Sutton-in-Ashfield | 9.22am |
| Hermitage Lane stop, Sutton Road | Mansfield | 9.25am |
| ASDA bus stop. Stockwell Gate. | Mansfield | 9.30am |
