Hartington Circular

The area around Hartington and Biggin is rich with fascinating history and natural beauty. These locations in the Peak District offer a glimpse into centuries of rural life, industry, and geology. 

Hartington

The picturesque village of Hartington is a historic hub in the White Peak area. It was granted a market charter in 1203, establishing it as a major trading center for hundreds of years. This heritage is still visible in the impressive stone buildings that surround the large village square. Hartington was also once famous for its cheese. The Hartington Creamery, founded in the 1870s by the Duke of Devonshire, was one of only three places in England authorized to produce authentic Blue Stilton cheese. While the original creamery has since closed, a local cheese shop continues to sell a variety of delicious local cheeses. The village also has a connection to literary history through Charles Cotton, a 17th-century writer and angler who lived nearby at Beresford Hall. He collaborated with his friend Izaak Walton on the classic fishing guide and famous fisherman’s ‘bible’, The Compleat Angler, and there is a hotel in the village named in his honor.

Wolfscote Dale and Biggin Dale

Wolfscote Dale and Biggin Dale are two stunning limestone gorges and are protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The dales are known for their steep, craggy limestone sides and diverse ecosystems, which support a variety of plant species, including alpine flowers, and wildlife like herons and bats. Wolfscote Dale is a wonderful, often quieter, alternative to the more heavily-visited Dovedale. The area is also home to ancient history, with Frank 'Ith Rocks at the eastern end of Wolfscote Dale being a Neolithic burial site and the summit of Wolfscote Hill featuring a Bronze Age burial mound.

Milldale

Milldale is a small, picturesque hamlet in the Dove Valley that is known for a few key features. Its most famous landmark is Viator's Bridge, a narrow packhorse bridge mentioned in Izaak Walton’s 17th-century book, The Compleat Angler. The character "Viator" (Latin for "traveler") noted how narrow it was, and the name has been used ever since. The bridge originally had no parapets to make it easier for horses carrying large panniers to cross. The village itself gets its name from an old corn mill that used to operate there, but it was demolished in the 19th century. You can still spot the remains of the weir that powered it and an old millstone in the River Dove. The old stable for the mill has since been converted into a National Trust information barn. Milldale is a popular starting point for walkers exploring the famous Dovedale stepping stones, and the River Dove is a haven for wildlife like dippers and kingfishers, as well as a popular spot for anglers.

Shining Tor

Shining Tor holds the distinction of being the highest point in the historic county of Cheshire, standing at 559 meters (1,834 ft). The hill sits on the border of Cheshire East and Derbyshire and is a popular destination for hikers. Geologically, it's particularly interesting because its summit is believed to have been tall enough to stand above the ice sheets during the last ice age, which means it lacks the glacial deposits found in other parts of the region. On a clear day, the summit provides stunning panoramic views that stretch across the Cheshire Plain to the Clwydian Range in North Wales and even as far as Snowdonia. The hill is also a popular spot for amateur radio operators who use its high altitude for "Summits on the Air" (SOTA) activations. Hikers often start their journey to Shining Tor from the nearby Cat and Fiddle Inn, which used to be one of England's highest pubs and is now a distillery. The ridge walk from the inn over Shining Tor and Cats Tor is a well-known and rewarding route.

Biggin

The small village of Biggin is situated on a shallow plateau and has its own interesting past. First mentioned in 1223, it was originally known as "Newbeggin" and was once a grange, or monastic farm, belonging to Cistercian monks from Garendon Abbey. Today, the village is located near the Tissington Trail, a popular 13-mile walking and cycling path that follows the trackbed of a former railway line. This railway line had a fascinating role during World War II, when it was used to transport milk from the Peak District all the way to London. Biggin also has a strong tradition of dry stone walling, with several villagers having worked as skilled wallers for generations.