Robin Hood's Stride

Robin Hood's Stride
Mock Beggar's Mansion
Rock formation
North-eastern face
North-eastern face
Robin Hood's Stride is located in Derbyshire
Robin Hood's Stride
Robin Hood's Stride
Location in Derbyshire
Coordinates: 53°09′26″N 1°39′58″W / 53.1571°N 1.6661°W / 53.1571; -1.6661
Locationnear Elton, Derbyshire
GeologyGritstone[1]
Elevation251 metres (823 ft)[1]

Robin Hood's Stride (also known as Mock Beggar's Mansion) is a rock formation on the Limestone Way in Derbyshire close to the village of Elton. The nearest town is Bakewell, to the north. The popular tourist spot can be accessed via the Limestone Way just off the B5056 between Haddon Hall and Winster, or from the unclassified road from Alport to Elton using either the Limestone Way, a concessionary footpath or Access Land. Both options have limited parking at the side of the road. It consists of gritstone boulders deeply seamed by water flows. Limited short climbing is possible; nearby Cratcliffe Tor provides more serious routes. The two "pinnacles" are Weasel pinnacle (eastern end; Diff) and Inaccessible pinnacle (west; V Diff). An ancient road, possibly prehistoric or Roman, the Derbyshire Portway (also known as Old Manchester Lane and The Chariot Way) passed close to the outcrop.[2] Nearby is Nine Stones Close, a four-stone circle,[3] and, at Cratcliffe Tor, a rock shelter known as the Hermit's Cave, containing a crucifix carving dated stylistically to the 13th or 14th century.[4][5] The name Robin Hood's stride comes from the 14th-century legend that Robin Hood jumped between the chimneys of the rock formation.[citation needed]

Robin Hood's Stride features in an episode of The Return of Sherlock Holmes and the film The Princess Bride (1987).

  1. ^ a b "Robin Hood's Stride". UKClimbing Limited. n.d. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  2. ^ Shone, Anton; Smart, Dean (30 June 2013). "The Derbyshire Portway: An archaeological assessment report" (PDF). Wirksworth Archaeological Society. Wirksworth Roman Project. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  3. ^ Historic England. "Nine Stone Close small stone circle (1008007)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  4. ^ Historic England. "Cratcliff Rocks hermitage (1008008)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  5. ^ OL24 White Peak area (Map). 1:25000. Outdoor Leisure. Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 10 August 2012.