“There is a quiet clarity that only comes when you climb high enough to look the heavy clouds in the eye.”
There is a specific kind of magic to the Peak District when the cloud sits heavy and the contrast gets dialed up. Yesterday, I packed up the gear and headed out to tackle the Win Hill and Thornhill Circular—a classic 10.5km loop that offers a brutal early incline but drops some of the absolute best cinematic payoffs in the entire Dark Peak.
Whether you’re grinding up through the dense, dark pine plantations or standing on the rocky spine of the summit looking down at the massive Y-shape of Ladybower Reservoir, this route is an absolute masterclass in changing landscapes.
Here is how the day broke down, the exact GPX route to download, and the shots captured along the way.
The Gates and The Plughole
The walk kicks off with an easy, level warm-up across the massive stone expanse of the Ladybower Reservoir Dam. If you get lucky with the water levels after a heavy downpour, you get to witness the incredible engineering of the bellmouth spillways—famously known as the Ladybower plug holes.
Looking over the stone wall into that swirling vortex feels completely surreal, like a gateway into another world entirely.
Once you cross the dam and pass through the heavy black iron gates, the trail immediately shifts character, trading the open concrete structures for quiet, lakeside singletrack flanked by early summer growth.
Into the Green Vault
Leaving the water behind, the route cuts sharply left into the trees, beginning a long, steady pull up the hillside. This section of the walk is a total contrast to the bleak moors above—you are completely encased in a vibrant, dripping canopy of vibrant green ferns and ancient moss-covered stone walls.
The path here is a rugged mix of loose gritstone and exposed roots, requiring some careful foot placement if it’s been raining.
As you climb higher, the light shifts dramatically. The deciduous trees give way to rows of towering, skeletal conifers that block out the sky entirely. Standing at the base of these giants and looking straight up reveals an incredibly moody, dark lattice of branches slicing through the white cloud.
Breaking Out onto the Ridge
Just as your lungs and calves start to complain about the incline, the pine forest suddenly breaks apart. You pass through a metal kissing gate and step straight out onto the raw, exposed moorland.
The contrast is instant. The air thins out, the wind hits you, and the views open up across Thornhill Carrs and the sprawling Hope Valley below. From here, you follow the line of an old drystone wall that guides you directly toward the sharp, volcanic-looking peak of Win Hill.
The Summit Payoff (462m)
Reaching the white trig point at the top of Win Hill Pike feels like standing on the edge of the world. Because of its isolated position, it gives you an unobstructed, 360-degree panoramic view of the entire Dark Peak.
To one side, you can trace the spine of the Great Ridge from Lose Hill all the way to Mam Tor. To the other, the brilliant blue-grey ribbon of Ladybower Reservoir snakes through the vibrant green valleys below. A lone, twisted hawthorn tree stands near the high track, perfectly capturing the rugged resilience of this landscape.
From the summit, it’s a steep, quad-burning rocky descent back down through the eastern side of Winhill Plantation, eventually dropping you back onto the level reservoir track for a gentle stroll back to the start.
Behind the Images
- Location: Ladybower Reservoir, Winhill Plantation, and Win Hill summit.
- Conditions: Heavy, sweeping cloud layers creating a high-contrast sky with deep, moody lighting over the dark pine canopies.
- Focus: Contrasting the smooth, mechanical scale of the engineering at the reservoir with the organic, dense textures of the mossy pine forests and raw gritstone ridge lines.
- Note: The panorama shot capturing the Ladybower bellmouth spillway was framed to emphasize the sheer scale of the swirling vortex against the looming, brooding hillsides in the background.
Walk Summary — Win Hill & Thornhill Circular
- Distance: 10.4 km / 6.4 miles
- Elevation Gain: ~380m
- Duration: 3.5 – 4 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate (One steep, sustained technical climb through the plantation)
- Start Point: Heatherdene Car Park / Ladybower Dam
- Route Type: Circular
- Route Type: Circular
Join the Conversation!
Leave a Comment Below!
Have you tackled the climb up Win Hill before, or managed to see the plug holes in full flow? Let me know your favorite spots along this route in the comments section below! 👇
Always a brilliant read, just like stepping into another world. Another place on the list of places I need to see. Keep them coming 👍
Thanks Rob I appreciate you’re support