Win Hill
| Win Hill | |||
| Derbyshire | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| Range: | Peak District | ||
| Summit: | 1,519 feet SK186850 53°21’42"N, 1°43’19"W | ||
Win Hill stands to the north-west of Bamford in the Derbyshire Peak District. Reaching 1,516 feet above sea level at its summit, in height it loses to neighbouring Lose Hill (1,562 feet) by just 46 feet.
The hill is almost surrounded by the River Derwent to the east, the River Noe to the south west and Ladybower Reservoir to the north, but a ridge running north-west links it to the county's highest fell, Kinder Scout. The Roman road from Glossop over the Snake Pass crosses the ridge to the north and descends to Hope and the old Roman base of Brough in the Hope Valley. The Hope Cross, a marker post dating from 1737, stands at the highest point of the road.
On top of Win Hill lies Win Hill Pike, locally known as the Pimple, which it topped with an Ordnance Survey trig point. Sometimes misnamed the Old Witches Knoll, Win Hill Pike is often used for a Duke of Edinburgh Award station.
Ascent
Win Hill is commonly climbed from Yorkshire Bridge or Hope. The ascent from Yorkshire Bridge is a steep climb of a thousand feet in three quarters of a mile by Parkin Clough, first through woods then over the moor to the top. Routes from Hope are gentler, either by way of Twitchill Farm or the villages of Aston and Thornhill. Depending on direction of travel, Win Hill is either the first or last hill on the Derwent Watershed and Edale Horseshoe challenge walks.
With around 472 feet of relative height, Win Hill is only a few feet short of qualifying as a 'Marilyn'.
Name
The hill's counterpart, Lose Hill, stands to the west. In recent times, the two hills' names have prompted a fanciful tale concerning the outcome of an imagined battle, but there is no historical basis for the tale, and no evidence of any battle's ever being fought here.
Win Hill was originally recorded as Wythinehull, meaning "Withy Hill" or "Willow Hill". Fragments of willow can still be found in the otherwise largely coniferous plantation on the approach from Yorkshire Bridge.[1]
References
- ↑ High Peak Walks, Mark Richards, Cicerone Press