Bullock Smithy - Route Information


This page provides some information on the various routes and checkpoints that the hike has used over the years. I am indebted to John Feist for describing the various changes to the route to me.

Route Length

It appears that the overall length of the hike has always been a subject for discussion, particularly following the introduction of the "New" route in 2000. I have attempted to measure the distance between checkpoints using 25,000 series maps and a map wheel. The numbers I have obtained appear in the tables below and are used in the results pages to calculate hikers' speeds.

There have been three different routes in the history of the hike. The first, used from 1976 to 1982, I have measured as 53.8 miles. The second, used from 1983 to 1999, comes to 54.1 miles while the third, used from 2000, adds up to 56.0 miles. While the absolute accuracy of a map wheel for measuring distances from a map may be slightly suspect, I believe that the relative accuracy is quite good and so, yes, the New Bullock Smithy is rather longer than the original route!

Route History

The first Bullock Smithy Hike in 1976 used the following checkpoints and these checkpoints were also used until 1978.
Original route 1976-1978
Checkpoint Name Abbr. Grid Ref. Distance
Start Hazel Grove HG SJ925862
1 Bowstones BS SJ974813 4.8
2 Chinley Churn CC SK037843 5.7
3 Edale Cross EX SK077861 3.2
4 Edale ED SK124853 3.4
5 Castleton CA SK149830 2.5
6 Peak Forest PF SK112792 3.6
7 Millers Dale MD SK142735 4.3
8 Sough Top ST SK127707 2.6
9 Hollinsclough HC SK084666 4.5
10 Axe Edge AE SK035698 4.3
11 Shining Tor ST SJ995737 4.0
12 Pym Chair PC SJ995768 2.0
13 Cock Knoll CK SJ979820 3.6
14 Hazel Grove HG SJ925862 5.3

In 1979, the Shining Tor checkpoint was replaced by a less exposed one at the Cat and Fiddle pub but the route remained the same. The distance between checkpoints then became as follows:

Checkpoint change 1979
Checkpoint Name Abbr. Grid Ref. Distance
10 Axe Edge AE SK035698
11 Cat and Fiddle CF SK001719 2.6
12 Pym Chair PC SJ995768 3.4

This route was used until 1982 when a change was made to avoid increasing quarrying works near Hind Low. The Sough Top and Hollinsclough checkpoints were replaced by one near Chelmorton and another in Earl Sterndale. This produced the following slightly longer route.

Route change 1982
Checkpoint Name Abbr. Grid Ref. Distance
7 Millers Dale MD SK142735
8 Chelmorton CM SK118692 3.8
9 Earl Sterndale ES SK091669 3.2
10 Axe Edge AE SK035698 4.7

A minor change was made in 1983 when the penultimate checkpoint at Cock Knoll was moved a short distance to one near the Moorside Hotel. This route, which is shown below, was used until 1999.

Bullock Smithy Route 1983-1999
Checkpoint Name Abbr. Grid Ref. Distance
Start Hazel Grove HG SJ925862
1 Bowstones BS SJ974813 4.8
2 Chinley Churn CC SK037843 5.7
3 Edale Cross EX SK077861 3.2
4 Edale ED SK124853 3.4
5 Castleton CA SK149830 2.5
6 Peak Forest PF SK112792 3.6
7 Millers Dale MD SK142735 4.3
8 Chelmorton CM SK118692 3.8
9 Earl Sterndale ES SK091669 3.2
10 Axe Edge AE SK035698 4.7
11 Cat and Fiddle CF SK001719 2.6
12 Pym Chair PC SJ995768 3.4
13 Moorside Hotel MH SJ983821 3.6
14 Hazel Grove HG SJ925862 5.3

The New Bullock Smithy

The 2000 hike was the 25th running of the event and the later stages were completely revised after Earl Sterndale. These changes led to the hike being renamed the "New Bullock Smithy" and this is the current route which is shown below.
The New Bullock Smithy (from 2000)
Checkpoint Name Abbr. Grid Ref. Distance
Start Hazel Grove HG SJ925862
1 Bowstones BS SJ974813 4.8
2 Chinley Churn CC SK037843 5.7
3 Edale Cross EX SK077861 3.2
4 Edale ED SK124853 3.4
5 Castleton CA SK149830 2.5
6 Peak Forest PF SK112792 3.6
7 Millers Dale MD SK142735 4.3
8 Chelmorton CM SK118692 3.8
9 Earl Sterndale ES SK091669 3.2
10 Brand Top BT SK044685 3.6
11 Cumberland Cottage CC SJ994699 4.1
12 Walker Barn WB SJ955737 3.9
13 Whiteley Green WG SJ927789 4.3
14 Hazel Grove HG SJ925862 5.6
Main Page ST - Fri Jan 2 14:43:39 GMT 2004