Walk 45: Hope Pilgrimage

Walk Details

About difficulty

• Easy: Mostly flat terrain, suitable for beginners and families.
• Moderate: Some hills and uneven ground, requires a basic level of fitness.
• Hard: Steep climbs, rough terrain, suitable for experienced walkers with good fitness.

Start Point

The Hope Pilgrimage is a linear route, starting in Edale and finishing in Eyam, so using public transport is a practical option and avoids the need to arrange transport back to your car at the end of the walk.

Edale is particularly easy to reach by train, with its own railway station located close to the start of the route. Regular services run from Sheffield and Manchester, making it possible to travel to the start by public transport from either direction. From Edale station, the route can be joined on foot, making the beginning of the pilgrimage relatively straightforward.

For the return journey, Eyam is not served by a railway station, but there are bus services connecting the village with nearby towns and transport hubs. It is worth checking the latest timetables before setting off, particularly if you are planning to travel home immediately after completing the walk.

Directions to the start point

Route Map

Weather

Guidance

In this guide, I share my experience of walking the Hope Pilgrimage with a friend, including the route, what we encountered along the way and how we approached the two-day adventure.

This is my personal account, so I recommend checking the official Hope Pilgrimage information and doing your own research before setting out, particularly regarding navigation, accommodation and current route conditions.

About the Hope Pilgrimage

The Hope Pilgrimage is a relatively modern pilgrimage route through the Peak District, created in 2020 by the team at Eyam Church. It runs from Edale to Eyam, linking a series of churches along the way and combining walking, history, nature and reflection.

While the route is undoubtedly a challenging walk through some spectacular Peak District scenery, the pilgrimage is intended to be about more than simply getting from one place to another. The churches along the way provide opportunities to pause, reflect and collect stamps and Bible verses in the official Guidebook.

The idea is to slow down and experience the journey rather than simply concentrate on reaching the destination. The route passes through villages, countryside and historic landscapes, with plenty of opportunities to stop at a church, café, pub or viewpoint along the way.

The final destination is Eyam, a village with a particularly strong connection to the idea of pilgrimage and sacrifice. During the plague of 1665–66, the people of Eyam chose to isolate themselves rather than risk spreading the disease to neighbouring communities. Today, that history forms an important part of the character of the village and gives the Hope Pilgrimage a fitting destination.

Itinerary

Day One

• Start: Edale
• End: North Lees Campsite
• Distance: 20 miles
• Accommodation: North Lees Campsite

Starting in Edale, the route climbs over Mam Tor before descending into Castleton and continuing through the villages of Bradwell and Hope, passing the cement works and Roman remains along the way. From Hope, a steep ascent of Win Hill rewards you with panoramic views across the surrounding valleys and hills, before descending to Ladybower Reservoir and continuing to Bamford. The final section climbs towards the dramatic gritstone of Stanage Edge before descending to North Lees Campsite, the end of the first day.

The first day is the longer and more strenuous of the two, with three significant ascents and plenty of miles to cover. An early start is needed if you want to complete the full route during daylight, particularly if you want to have time to stop along the way and enjoy some of the scenery. The climb over Mam Tor is a tough way to start, while Win Hill provides another substantial challenge later in the day. By the time you reach Stanage Edge, the accumulated distance and climbing are certainly beginning to make themselves felt.

Despite the effort involved, there is plenty to break up the walking and make the day enjoyable. The route passes through several villages, with opportunities to stop for food and refreshments, while the changing landscape provides plenty of interest throughout the day. The views from the higher sections, particularly around Mam Tor, Win Hill and Stanage Edge, also make the climbs worthwhile.

We stayed in a pod at North Lees Campsite, which meant we didn’t need to carry a tent and helped keep our pack sizes down. After a long day on the trail, having somewhere comfortable to sleep made a welcome difference and meant we could concentrate on enjoying the walk without carrying unnecessary camping equipment.

Day Two

• Start: North Lees Campsite
• End: Eyam
• Distance: 11 miles

Starting at North Lees Campsite, the route climbs back up to Stanage Edge before crossing the moors towards Higger Tor and Carl Wark. From here, the trail descends into Hathersage before climbing again over Eyam Moor and past Sir William Hill. The final stretch leads into Eyam, the destination of the pilgrimage and a village forever associated with the Great Plague of 1665–66.

The second day is shorter than the first, but there is still plenty to keep you occupied. After the distance and climbing of Day One, the morning climb back up to Stanage Edge is a fairly immediate reminder that there is still plenty of elevation to come. Once back on the moors, however, the open landscape and wide views make for an enjoyable section of walking, with Higger Tor and the distinctive remains of Carl Wark providing some particularly interesting landmarks.

The descent into Hathersage provides a welcome change of pace and an opportunity to stop for refreshments before tackling the next section. From there, the route heads back into the hills, crossing Eyam Moor and passing Sir William Hill. Although the day is shorter, the climbs are still enough to make you work, particularly after the miles covered on the first day.

There is also a greater sense of purpose as you get closer to Eyam. With the nine churches of the pilgrimage to visit and stamps to collect in the guidebook, each stop feels like another step towards completing the route. The landscape gradually gives way to the village of Eyam, where the pilgrimage comes to an end.

Arriving in Eyam after two days of walking provides a satisfying conclusion to the journey. It is a place with a remarkable and sombre history, and reaching the village gives the walk an added sense of significance beyond simply completing the miles. After covering around 32 miles over two days, finishing in the centre of Eyam felt like a fitting end to the Hope Pilgrimage.

Gallery / Videos

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