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The Heart of a Peak District Community
Corbar Woodlands and Lightwood Hill
 From Buxton (Fairfield) looking towards Corbar Hill For those among you who don't mind
participating in a moderate walk followed by a rather strenuous climb,
the views overlooking the landscape surrounding the town from the
summit of this hilltop is quite breathtaking. For the best experience,
be sure to choose a bright dry sunny day, since the woods and hillside
can be very slippery in places when they are wet. |
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Shortly you will reach the remains of some earth and timber steps to aid the climb. Continue your ascent until you reach the top. Where a wall bars your way forward, turn left. After walking along a path through the woods for about 200 metres, with the wall on your right, you will eventually reach a stile with way markings on it. Taking great care, climb over this stile and walk uphill keeping another rather broken down stone wall on your left. Ahead of you and on the skyline is the summit which bears a large wooden Cross. Before you reach the rock formation below the cross and your destination, you will find the way forward blocked by yet another difficult stile. |
| After crossing this, either
walk directly ahead and make your way up through the gap in the rock
formation, which is quite easy in dry weather, or alternatively, bear
to your right and walk around the base of the rocky outcrop by
following the ill defined grassy pathway, until it curves up and around
to your left. You'll now be able to reach the summit of Corbar Hill and the cross without further exhaustive climbing. Here, you now stand at a height of 437 m above sea level, and on most days, you will have only the sheep, wild flowers and perhaps a skylark or two for company. |
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I think that you will
agree, the views all around here are quite stunning, and you may even
glimpse Mam Tor standing out far away on the north eastern skyline. Out
towards the south east, again on the skyline, you'll see a very long
mound shaped hill known as Chelmorton low. And over to the south west, the very high ground there is Axe edge, where you should be able to see the traffic wending its way between Buxton and and the Staffordshire town of Leek. Facing around towards the north west, you'll be able to glimpse the Long Hill road that runs into Whaley Bridge. It's also the route to take to reach the Goyt valley. Looking north and into the valley that is close to the patchwork of woodland, you will see the waters of Lightwood reservoir. Facing about and way below you, the whole of the town is spread out to look at. You should be quite easily able to pick out a few of the well-known historic buildings that make Buxton the famous spa town it is. For the very best viewing, don't forget to take a pair of binoculars with you, and also a camera, if you have one. |
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When you return, you may either retrace your steps, or explore the woods in following any of its many tracks. Early in Spring, the visitor may delight in seeing the magnificent display of Bluebells that carpet the open woodland on the western side of this hill. Amongst the scrub, here and there you will find the remains of extensive gritstone quarrying. This is where much of the material for the Royal Devonshire Hospital originated. As with much of the woodland that surrounds Buxton, it is diligently managed by wardens for the Buxton Civic Association. Please take care not to leave litter, nor damage any of the stone walls, and do not pick any of the wild flowers. Please, leave the countryside for others to enjoy. |
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2 - Lightwood HillThere is another walk quite near to Corbar, but around to the north east. Taking the same steps from the Quadrant, proceed along Devonshire road, turn right at Marleborough road and upon reaching Corbar road, turn right, and continue walking until you reach the far end and junction with Lightwood road.Take the turning to the left at the post box, and then walk past the housing high up on your left with open views across the valley to your right. Once past the last house, the road becomes rather stoney and poor. Continue onwards and upwards until the woodland is reached. |
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Here the road becomes more
of a track way. On your left, is Lightwood itself. Proceed through the
swinging gateway and walk on up hill, passing the Severn Trent water
company's building on your right. The railings at the crest of the hill surround the reservoir. Once this is reached, to your left, there is a wooden bridge across the stream. Cross over this to follow the way marked path up through the woods until it bears right. |
| Take this pathway to the summit for fine views across the town to the south west, or north west for the open moorland. Here the visitor will find Heather and Bracken, plus a host of other fine wild flowers and plants. Scots Pine, Beech and Sycamore are trees that are typical of the Grit-stone to the west of Buxton. You may even be fortunate to hear and see Curlew and Grouse. There are frogs in and around the steam that runs down towards the reservoir, and field voles too. It's very peaceful at this location, so sit down on the grass and stay a while, enjoy the beauty and sounds of nature. Unfortunately, there are no rights of way across the moorland to the north and west. |
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You may return the way you came, or take
the steeper decent towards the upper end of Lightwood reservoir, and
continue back along the track until the road is reached once more. You may return to the town by continuing to walk along Lightwood road until you reach the broad crossroads. Turn right at Lansdowne road, make your way to the end of this and turn left at Lascelles road, continue and turn right at the junction on Palace road. At the end of this, you meet with the bypass, bear right and cross over at the traffic lights, this brings you back to the Quadrant once more. |