Edensor, Alport, Youlgreave, Over Haddon, Ashford in the Water, and Bakewell

I travelled to Edensor today and walked through Chatsworth Park and over Calton Pastures towards Haddon Hall.

There are a lot of pretty and unusual cottages to photograph at Edensor, and the church seems to be always open.

I was fortunate to get a quite close-up view of the Chatsworth deer - my camera couldn't cope very well though and this was the best image of the lot.

The footpath that passes close to Haddon Hall doesn't give you a good view of the building; a much better view is obtained by climbing up the hill at the other side of the road, as I did as I walked along the footpath going to Alport.

I did manage to take a photograph of the gatehouse though as I passed by on the road.

For the first time that I can remember I walked along part of Bradford Dale from east to west and then climbed up the hill to Youlgreave. I always take a picture of this pretty bridge.

I followed the sign from the main road in the village to the Peak Feast Cafe for a pot of tea and some shortbread. There's also a charming tea garden at Over Haddon with lovely views from the terrace which I haven't managed to visit yet; I passed it today, and it is on my list.

There are no direct footpaths, or even a road from Over Haddon to Ashford in the Water so I had to go northwest across the fields and then northeast down the Kirk Dale road.

Quite often I'll finish a walk at Ashford and then catch the bus into Bakewell - I would have had over an hour to wait today and so continued the rest of the way to Bakewell, from where I caught a bus and a train back home to Doncaster.

Over Haddon, Youlgreave, Elton, Birchover, Stanton In Peak, Pilhough, and Rowsley

I got a bruise on my shin before I even started walking today, I whacked my leg against one of the tables on the train as I was sitting down - I'm used to getting bruised though, it happens on most walks.

I travelled to Over Haddon to start my walk today; it's only ten minutes on the bus from Bakewell. I took my time and looked round the village before going down the hill into Lathkill Dale and climbing out of the valley again up through the woods at the other side.

Despite the 'Welcome' sign, the church at Over Haddon was locked...or I couldn't fathom out how to get inside.

I walked across the fields to Youlgreave, approaching the village from a direction that was new to me.

I walked down into, and then up and out again, of my second dale of the day, Bradford Dale, before heading off towards Elton.

I easily got inside the church at Elton, there's nothing much to see though...and Elton's certainly not one of my favourite Derbyshire villages.

After walking through Elton I reached the narrow, overgrown road that heads to the north but soon noticed a footpath over to the right, the Portaway, which led me to another road, much wider, busier, and better surfaced than the previous one. After checking the map though, I realised I should have continued travelling northwards on the other road; I'd added about half a mile on to my route to Birchover. The sun briefly popped out as I was walking along here and so I was able to enjoy the nice views. 

I didn't stay very long in Birchover; I took the path that starts right opposite to The Druid's Inn pub and goes through the wood to the car park on the Stanton road. I walked along this road for about a mile, at least, until I reached Stanton In Peak and then continued down another road, passing through the hamlet of Pilhough and then reaching Rowsley. Buses go to Bakewell every thirty minutes from Rowsley; my timing was bad because I had twenty five minutes to wait...and then another thirty five minutes to wait in Bakewell for the bus to Sheffield.

The journey back into the city took ten minutes longer than it should have because the driver kept stopping the bus so that he could blow his nose, catch his breath, and clear his throat...he seemed to be quite ill. He was making some really loud and worrying coughing, sniffling, spluttering, and wheezing noises - so was the vehicle's engine though as well and I wasn't sure which was older and more likely to break down first, man or machine. I got back to Sheffield safely though and caught the train back home to Doncaster...but it was so slow.

Darley Dale, Darley Bridge, Birchover, Alport and Bakewell.

At the end of next month many bus services in the Peak District are likely to be cut back due to Derbyshire County Council reducing its level of subsidy. I read online that services to Matlock could be particularly adversely affected; so that's why I chose today's walk...Darley Dale is only about three miles from Matlock.  

I got off at the parade of shops at Darley Dale; which turned out to be a couple of stops short of where I needed to be. So, I just walked down the road towards Matlock, past the church and park and then turned down the road towards Darley Dale; walking over the level crossing  next to the railway station on the Peak Rail heritage line.

After crossing over a pretty stone bridge over the River Derwent at Darley Bridge I continued along a lane towards Birchover, which then petered out into a track; the section through woodland being one of the few climbs on this walk.

I soon entered open country, with expansive views to the left down into the valley, and more pastoral views over to the right. I reached a farm which had a sign prominently sited which stated something like 'Danger. Wild animals. Do not Approach. Keep to Footpath.'

I was intrigued and wondered what it might refer to; all I could see were some chickens. Then...it happened. I'd just passed some farm buildings when only a few yards away, standing leaning over a gate, right next to the footpath, was an ostrich which was taller than me. I didn't approach it to take a photograph.

The route I'd chosen skirted to the south of Birchover,  going by a detached part of the village where it looked like a few council houses had been built.

I then walked along the road to the pretty hamlet of Eagle Tor, then continued for a few hundred yards further before taking the footpath leading towards Youlgreave; sometimes spelled and pronounced 'Youlgrave' by locals.

Yet again I didn't enter the village, denying myself the opportunity of welcome refreshments. I turned right into Bradford Dale; a short, but pretty dale which leads to Alport.

From Alport I walked along the right bank of the River Lathkill, climbed up through the woods to reach Haddon Fields and followed easy-going paths right back to Bakewell; arriving in plenty of time for the bus.

The bus was only a small bus, with a seating capacity of about  thirty I suppose. It was already quite full, having travelled from Buxton, and after picking up its passengers at Bakewell it was full to capacity, with several people having to stand all the way to Sheffield. I was fortunate to get a seat, but as some people moved down the bus to get off, I pulled a couple of muscles trying to move my feet out of the way.