X17 Bus Service Extended To Wirksworth

Some good news for me, the X17 bus service from Sheffield is going to be extended beyond Matlock to Wirksworth starting at the end of May. This will open up new areas for me, walking towards Belper and going over to Carsington Water. It's an hourly service and the journey takes nearly two hours.

'Fifteen Experiences You Need To Tick Off Your Peak District Bucket List' - taken from the 'Experience Peak District and Derbyshire' website

1...Go paragliding at Mam Tor: I've climbed up Mam Tor plenty of times and seen the paragliders but there's no way I'm trying it myself...I haven't even flown in an aeroplane.

2...Take a dip in the Slippery Stones Plunge Pool: I don't like water so I won't be doing this. It's a lovely area to go walking though.

3...Climb on Stanage Edge: I've actually climbed up to the top of Stanage Edge, there are plenty of easy routes up - of course the experience in the article is referring to climbing using ropes, carabiners, and whatever other climbing equipment is required.

4...Watch the sunrise or sunset over Ladybower Reservoir: I use public transport to get to the Peak District, so this is going to be difficult to arrange...and anyhow I don't want to be high up on the moors when it's dark.

5...Go paddleboarding at Carsington Water: I'm not even sure what paddleboarding is but if it's on water I'm not going to be trying it.

6...Cycle up Winnats Pass: I enjoy watching the cyclist struggling going up as I'm walking down. 

7...Go abseiling at Burbage Quarry: I went abseiling once and really loved it, nearly thirty years ago on an outward bound course staying at Bollington in Cheshire - I think it might have been Burbage Quarry where we went. I've seen people abseiling from one of the railway bridges in Chee Dale; there's a dedicated area set aside.

8...Find a Highland cow on Baslow Edge: I've done this plenty of times. they are very photogenic and love to pose for the camera.

9...Swing through the trees at GoApe in Buxton: No thank you.

10..Reach the top of the Crooked Spire in Chesterfield: I'd like to do this. I've taken photographs of the outside of the church but I don't think I've been inside the building yet.

11..Go to a gig at Peak Cavern: Interestingly the cavern has now reverted to its old, pre-Victorian name of the Devil's Arse.

12..Take part in a local sporting event: several are listed in the article but I haven't been to any of them.

13..Get a bird's eye view on a helicopter flight or hot air balloon ride: unless I can use my free travel pass I won't be able to afford either of these activities. I've seen the sightseeing helicopter land at Owler Bar a couple of times.

14..Walk part of the Pennine Way: I've done the first couple of miles, starting in Edale.

15: Make your own Bakewell Pudding: I can't bake and struggle to even manage the most basic cooking tasks so I won't be doing this...and  I'm ashamed to admit that I prefer Bakewell Tarts.

Middleton-by-Wirksworth, Brassington, Carsington, Hopton, Wirksworth...and Bakewell

Unlike anywhere else I know of, some bus routes in Derbyshire are numbered using a decimal point: this morning, after getting to Bakewell I caught the 6.1 service to Middleton-by-Wirksworth. 

When I got off the bus this was what immediately greeted me.

I found the lane that leads up to the High Peak Trail and soon reached Middleton Top.

About two miles further along the trail I reached Harboro' Rocks - the spelling with the apostrophe is the official version. My experience here was spoiled by a noisy industrial plant right next to the trail and the rocks, something to do with limestone I should think; making a constant syncopated hum interspersed with loud screeches and hissing...very annoying. There are some ruins at the foot of the rocks...and a large cave higher up the hill.

I caught my first glimpse of Carsington Water as I climbed high up on the rocks [not to the top though] and would get a better view later on...none of the photographs I took was any good.

After exploring the rocks I took the footpath that leads down to Brassington; it was raining now but not so much that I'd need to wear my cagoule - it was quite cold though. I needed to walk along a couple of stretches of road before I reached the village...and I did need to stop, reach into my rucksack and pull out my cagoule a few minutes later when the weather turned quite unpleasant, and stayed that way for over an hour.

I spent longer than I should have drinking my pot of tea and eating a packet of salt and vinegar crisps in the Miners Arms pub; initially I was the only customer, but eventually the village chimney sweep, an American, came in and ordered a Guinness. He had a fascinating conversation with the barmaid; I couldn't work out if he was trying to get inside her knickers, or up her flue.

The church is just across the road from the pub.

It was a gentle walk across the fields to Carsington, where the church there was also open and  some of the photographs I took inside here turned out okay.

There was then a stretch of road to walk along, passing through Hopton and then across the meadows and down to Wirksworth. When I arrived at the bus stop and was studying the timetable a man told me that the buses weren't running to timetable - up to half an hour late. One was due imminently, it might have even already gone, so I spent the next forty five minutes standing in the same place like a statue, concentrating on the road ahead making sure that I didn't miss the bus.

I had another forty five minutes to wait at Bakewell for the Sheffield bus, but at least I was able to look round the town and take some photographs.