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Hope, Navio, Brough & The River Noe
Walk Information
Walk Area:
Distance:
Start Point:
Map Ref:
Post Code
Hope
2.75 miles (4.4Km)
Hope Car Park
SK 171 835
S33 6RD
OS Map:
General Information
Parking:
Pay And Display
Tea Shops:
Three
Duration:
1 Hour 50 Min
Explorer OL1
Dark Peak Area
1:25000
Altitude Data
Start:
538 ft (165m)
Minimum
505 ft (154m)
Maximum
636 ft (194 m)
Altitude Profile
A short walk taking in wonderful views of the Hope Valley, the
site of a Roman Fort or signal station. The return leg comprised
of a section of road walking followed by a stroll along the banks
of the River Noe. These is also a deceptive and awkward stile to
deal with at the Mill on the Noe. Overall this walk is a really
pleasant way to spend a couple of hours in the Derbyshire
countryside.
Getting There:
St Peters, Hope, Derbyshire
The village of Hope lies in the Hope Valley on the A6187
between Castleton and Hathersage. From Bakewell take the
A619 north then follow the signs for Hathersage, once in
Hathersage Hope is clearly signposted (turn left at the
Hathersage finger post). Parking is available in a small pay-anddisplay car park opposite the Woodbine Cafe and the village
grocery store. Hope is also accessible by rail with services from
both Manchester and Chesterfield. Bus services are available
from places such as Bakewell, Buxton, Chapel-en-le-frith,
Chesterfield and Sheffield in addition to the local towns of
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Hope, Navio, Brough & The River Noe
Castleton and Hathersage. For details of all bus services to and from Hope (including current
timetable information) please visit the Derby Bus Info web site.
I have listed this walk as having three tea shops. The first is the Woodbine Café opposite the car
park, this is the one I usually visit. The second is the Blue Apple Tea Room a little way down the
Edale Road opposite the church, I really must pay this one a visit. The third is the Old Hall Tea
Room Café next to the Old Hall Hotel.
The Walk:
Leave the car park and turn right onto
Castleton Road, walk a short distance
towards the church and turn first right
into Pindale Road. Follow Pindale Road
and cross Peakshole Water then up the
hill to the point where the road splits. At
the junction take the left turn into Eccles
Lane walk a short distance to a footpath
sign from 1909 beside a bench
Bench & Sign Post
announcing "Public Footpath to Brough via the Roman Station Anavio".
Enter the field to the left of the sign and follow the flat track as it passes around the hill then
through a gate into a second field, here the track heads slightly right towards a plantation of
woodland ahead, down and to the left the confluence of Peakshole Water and the River Noe can be
seen. Once the plantation is reached stay on the track keeping the woodland edge to the right.
Continue along the track through several more fields keeping the woodlands edge to the right as you
go. Eventually the track becomes a path and leads down to a wooden stile and footbridge over a
dried up stream. Beyond the footbridge is a large patch of mud that is virtually unavoidable, should
you slip and grab at the fence beware as it has barbed wire entangled into it! Once across the mud
bath the Roman Fort/Station of Navio lies clearly ahead.
Looking across the field ahead the remains of the Roman Fort may not be immediately obvious,
there is just a slight rise in the ground, once on this rise however is becomes obvious that is is a flat
and level platform almost square in shape with its axis towards the River Noe. In the centre of the
platform is a depression with a large broken slab which appears to have marking engraved into it's
pieces. On the far side (the south western face there is a raised wooden viewing platform. Even
standing on this platform to an untrained eye it is difficult to envisage this place as it once must
have been.
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Hope, Navio, Brough & The River Noe
NAVIO
Navio as it currently appears on maps, or Anavio as it appears in documents and on footpath signs
from the early 1900's was a Roman Fort or possibly a Signal Station. Square in shape it's north
western face overlooks a bend in the River Noe and has good views of the Hope Valley. It was
situated on the Roman Road between the Garrison at Glossop and Cavalry Headquarters in
Chesterfield. Although not much to look at today, it was once a pretty busy place. In the centre of
Navio is a broken slab of what appears to be local stone, a little research yielded the following
information.
In a document entitled "JULIUS VERUS, A ROMAN GOVERNOR OF BRITAIN." by F.
HAVERFIELD, HON. F.S.A.Scor. dated April 11th 1904 the following passage is to be found: "in
the Roman fort of Brough (Anavio) in Derbyshire, between Buxton and Sheffield. This slab,
though much broken, seems to have been erected in honour of the Emperor Pius by the First
Cohort of Aquitani, under Julius V[erus], and under the direct orders of Capitonius Fuscus (or
other similar names), praefect of the cohort."
Leaving Navio behind walk down the slope from the viewing platform, heading towards the bottom
right corner of the field ahead. The exit from this field is via a stock gate with another of those
wonderful old footpath signs from the "Peak and Northern Footpath Society"' this one holds other
important information for our route "The Footpath To Hope Station Commences 300 Yards Lower
Down The Road" there is even a little arrow to point us in the right direction. From the sigh turn left
and walk down the lane and cross the river near the old mill, no an agricultural supply depot. Just
beyond the bridge there is a large five bar gate with a smaller gate next to it, plus a stone step stile,
this is the path we are looking for, cross the stile (or use the gate) and enter into the field.
The River Noe
Cross the field diagonally right, aim for a point just to the right of
the clump of trees in the middle of the field, this is in reality a bend
in the river. Beyond this clump of trees maintain the same line until
the path reaches the road. The path exits the field onto the A6187,
take care as there is no footpath on the other side of the stile, just a
narrow grass verge. Cross the road taking care as this is the main
road between Hathersage and Castleton and can become quite busy.
Once across the road head left back towards the village of Hope.
Continue down the road for around half a mile, crossing the road
again when the footpath switches sides. As you re enter the village
look across the road for a footpath in the bridge wall, this is once
again marked with one of those green and white footpath markers,
this time dated 2000. Cross the road once more and pass through
the stile, take care as there are five concrete steps on the other side
down into the water meadow. The path now follows the banks of
the River Noe upstream for around a quarter of a mile to a metal
kissing gate. Along this stretch of river Dippers seem to abound so
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Hope, Navio, Brough & The River Noe
keep an eye open for the white breasted black birds standing on rocks in the river, when in flight
Dippers are quite fast and have a quite shrill call. Beyond the gate follow the path keeping the river
and mill slough to your left until you reach a wooden step stile and stone squeeze stile. Pass over
and through these stiles then follow the path ahead towards The Old Mill. When you get to the Mill
the path appears to cross a low wall, beware as there is a big drop on the other side, pass over the
wall and descend using the stone steps build into the wall.
Once safely down the steps, walk in front of the Mill and take the vehicle track beside the river.
Walk to the end of the track then turn left and cross the river via Killhill Bridge, do not take the path
on the right immediately after the bridge, instead walk up the slope to the road junction. The route
now continues across the road up some steps and through a squeeze stile. Just beyond this is a stone
step stile over a wall, once over this stile keep the hedge to the left and continue forward. At the end
of the hedge turn left and once again with the hedge to your left walk down to the the metal gate
between the houses and the school. The spring bolt on this gate is a bit stiff, but it will open if you
pull hard enough! Cross the road and walk down the road directly opposite, where this road turns
right the footpath continues to the left of the house ahead. Walk down the path and through a kissing
gate, then across a paddock to a second kissing gate. On the two occasions I have used this path I
have been harassed by a flock of hens looking to be fed. Go through the second gate then down the
steps and out into Hope. The car park and the end of the walks should be on the other side of the
road and slightly to the right.
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