[1] To get out of the grounds of Losehill Hall in the right direction you need to exit via the gate in the visitor car park. This is a wide gate blocked by a large boulder to exclude motor traffic. It will open wide enough for pedestrians to access the footpath that forms the Northern section of Losehill Hall's boundaries.
Turn left out of the gate and as you come to the Riding House Farm gate on your right take the footpath straight ahead.
Pass through pleasant sheep meadows and negotiate stepping stones while traveling in a Westerly direction.
If you are lucky enough to have morning sunshine it will pick out a splendid view of Peveril Castle and Cave Dale across the valley to your left. The castle, started in 1080, was the meeting place for Henry II and Malcolm King of Scotland in 1157.
Eventually the path surface changes to hardcore at a cattle grid onto Robinlands Lane. Keep in the same direction ignoring the farm track to the right.
[2] Just after passing the outdoor training centre on your right the road forks and you need to turn sharp back to the right. On a good day you can see from here our intended path curving up the hill ahead to the ridge top. Follow the tarmac as it swings left, ignoring a gravel path to the right. Eventually the tarmac turns left to a farm with a sign that states 'private access'. Straight ahead is a sunken footpath going directly up the hill – this is our route.
The lower part of this path turns into a stream at the slightest provocation. In places it is possible to find footing along the outer edges and avoid the deepest water.
[3] The gate at the top of the sunken path brings you out onto moorland. Several paths meet here. Our path can clearly be seen rising to the left headed for the ridge. The path now becomes steeper and it is wise to moderate your pace and occasionally stop to view the ever-changing scene in the valley below.
[4] Once at Hollins Cross take some time, if visibility allows, to scan both valleys taking advantage of the highest point on today's journey. Edale can be seen a snitch West of North running back up a valley into the hillside opposite. Looking down on the trains that run regularly in the bottom of the Vale of Edale is akin to watching a model railway in action.
The ridge walk that crosses our path is a premier route in the Peak District so don't be surprised by the large number of people that you are likely to meet at this point. The rest of the walk should be much quieter.
Looking towards Edale take the large path downhill to the left. A few metres downhill ignore a bridle path that maintains height to the left. The route now goes right, steeply down a well-worn and sometimes tricky path. Even if dry underfoot this part of the walk needs great care; in wet conditions sticks would be advantageous. Travel directly downhill near some farm buildings and through various gates with catches (that need re-fastening each time). Go over the river and hence to the road.
(A) Down the road to the right a cotton mill was built in 1795 that became a major employer for this area for generations. Workers from Castleton walked the route we have just taken to get to work each day. The mill closed in 1940 and has been converted to holiday cottages since then.
[5] Cross the road onto a fenced-in footpath. Next follow the path diagonally left across a field and through a tunnel under the railway. Go through a hole-in-the-wall stile (see photo) then diagonally past the barn. Continue on the same heading. With the fence boundary to your left reach a gateway where our path meets the Edale to Ollerbrook Booth path. This path comes over a bridge from the left and you might like to make a 100m diversion into Edale (B) to look around and/or pick up some refreshment.
The word 'Booth" appears in many local hamlet names. A booth was a temporary hut for shepherds to stay in probably during the lambing season. As permanent accommodation replaced the booths they adopted the description into their names. Edale was known for sheep farming and its mill (powered by the River Noe) until the building of the Sheffield to Stockport line in 1894 which brought in tourism. It's also well known for being one end of the 270 mile Pennine Way - Britain's best known long-distance walk.
[6] Turn right to continue the walk. Keep to the same contour ignoring any right or left turns. If you spot any old signs to the Youth Hostel they will confirm the correct route. You pass through many sheep paddocks separated by catch gates that should be carefully refastened each time.
[7] The path comes out onto a tarmac drive at Nether Booth. Turn left over a cattle grid and follow the tarmac uphill to the YHA activities centre (C). As you approach the centre there are signs directing you to the right of the main buildings where the path reaches a small bridge down to the right over the stream. Take this bridge and follow the hill contour. Eventually this path becomes bordered on the right by the National Trust boundary wall.
Looking back from here you get excellent views of the activities centre nestling into the steep hillside. Once round the corner of the hill, in good visibility, you can see a path straight ahead traversing the shoulder of High Peak. We will descend to the road well before that point. If you look more to the right you will see where the railway passes through some trees. That is the point at which we will be re-crossing the tracks through a pedestrian tunnel.
[8] Shortly you will descend to cross a small stream. Just over the stream turn right off the path and descend to the farm buildings of Clough Farm, on the way down to the Edale Road. Straight ahead is a farm track directly to the road that is sign-posted as private. Take the public footpath to the right that also leads back down to the Edale Road. At the road we turn sharp left and follow the valley floor in a Westerly direction. There is no available footpath or verge on this section of road and it is sometimes preferable to stop and stand into the edge in the case of oncoming traffic.
[9] After a third of a mile the footpath is sign-posted through a tree-lined gateway on your left with sign 'Carr House'. The path passes to the right of two houses and then through a farm gate before going to the left of another house. Go through another gate into rough sheep pasture. Keep following the path through low-lying rough pasture. Note a destroyed bridge below on the right that shows the power of an innocuous looking stream when in full spate. (see photo) After the bridge you approach a farm. Go over the very high stile (see photo) and immediately turn right to follow the path around the farm building. Emerging over a stile, just outside the farmyard entrance, turn right and walk a short distance before turning right down the drive. Immediately after crossing the stream at the bottom of the hill take the small path to the right. This rises steeply and pops out onto the Edale Road.
[10] Across the road and to your right the path goes under the railway line. Follow the path and on the left you come to a short run of stone steps up to a stile. Over the stile bear left, our path runs roughly parallel to the railway line, slightly elevated, and curving to the right on the contour of the valley. Soon the path is taking you South away from the railway. Don't take any tempting left or right turns but maintain the same height. Soon there will be a boundary wall to your left as you walk a very pleasant wide grass trail. The hill that can be seen to your right is Lose Hill. At Oaker Farm the path changes to a tarmac road. This passes Losehill House and Underleigh after which there is a junction with a public footpath sign pointing back up Lose Hill.
[11] Turn sharp back right at the junction. Where this road bears left into a house entrance, take the footpath to the right which runs up the hill. The path here is a well-worn sunken track and care may be needed in wet weather. Follow the track upward and after passing through a gate keep to the left where the stone wall forms your left-hand boundary. (Ignore the path which fork to the right toward the top of Lose Hill.) Our path runs fairly level until we come to Losehill Farm. Just before reaching the farm there is a footpath descending to the left. Ignore it, pass through the gate in front, and to the right of you. Directly before the farm house there is a gate in the left-hand wall, go through the gate and down the hill. Follow the concrete farm track.
As you descend the farm track, you will come to a house on your right and just beyond it a signpost saying "Public Footpath to Castleton" Turn right and maintain this direction until you find the Hall car park entrance a short distance along the bridleway.