Foolow, Grindlow, Great Hucklow, Bradwell, Pindale, and Castleton

Today I caught the number 257b bus to Foolow to start my walk. As I was walking along the short stretch of road to reach the footpath that goes across the fields to Grindlow several dozen cyclists passed me - they must have been part of an organised race or tour. I saw many more going through Great Hucklow and along the road that leads to Bradwell...when I arrived at Castleton there were a lot of fellrunners, some of them eagerly running and the rest just hanging around the village.

 

I continued through Grindlow and along the road to Great Hucklow and down the track to the road that goes to Bradwell.

I soon took a left fork in the road and stayed on the narrow lane that goes high up to the west of the main areas of Bradwell. 

My route to Pindale took me right next to the cement works, which are well hidden.

At Castleton I missed the bus going back to Sheffield by three minutes...they are usually late. I consoled myself with an ice cream though.

Stoney Middleton, Calver, Bubnell, and Baslow

I had planned to start my walk from Eyam today but the bus didn't go there, the bus driver told me that the road would be closed until one o'clock. So, instead, I got off at Stoney Middleton and went to the new Cupola visitor centre and cafe for a pot of tea. 

I thought this biscuit I was served with my tea was a small wooden teaspoon.

I then walked over to the Derwent Valley Heritage Way to a point south of Froggatt. I stayed on this footpath, going on the right bank of the River Derwent to Baslow and caught the bus back to Sheffield from Baslow Nether End.

There aren't many photographs today because the conditions were poor, things brightened up though as soon as I'd sat down on the bus, starting my journey back home.

Ladybower Inn, Thornhill, Brough, and Hope

I caught the first available bus going out to the Peak District from Sheffield this morning and travelled to the Ladybower Inn.  I started by walking along the road and across the viaduct.

I continued down a quite steep path, another short stretch of paved road and then I climbed up to the Thornhill Trail. Along the trail there is a series of wooden carvings of wild animals that no longer live in this part of the country.

When I reached Thornhill I searched for, and found, a short section of footpath I'd not previously used...and there was another just a bit further on at Brough. The first path leads down to the main Hope Valley road, which I needed to walk along for a few hundred yards and then take the footpath across the fields to Hope, where I had enough time to pop in to The Old Hall Tearooms for a pot of tea and a sausage roll.

Conisbrough Castle

It's been free admission at Conisbrough Castle today as part of the National Heritage Open Week scheme. It's only a twenty minute journey on the bus.

 

 

I climbed up to the top of the keep, it's a lot of steps - I certainly needed to use the handrail.

The church is just a few yards away and the bus stop directly opposite on the other side of the road.

Whirlow Bridge, Ringinglow, and Endcliffe Park

I travelled to Whirlow Bridge on the Castleton bus today and walked right up to the boundary of the Peak District at Ringinglow. I returned towards the city centre by descending Porter Clough; the top part, the first few hundred yards is quite steep in places and so I used the roads to join the route a bit lower down. There were plenty of buses at the walk's end, at the main entrance to Endcliffe Park on Ecclesall Road.

The view from the toposcope on Fulwood Road was rather misty and murky. I could clearly see Sheffield City Centre though, and a few miles beyond.

 

I bought an ice cream from Forge Dam Cafe at Fulwood, £3 for two scoops of chocolate brownie flavour.

When I was getting off the train back at Doncaster Railway Station I bumped into my friend, he'd been sitting two or three seats in front of me but I didn't know - we chatted for a few minutes on the platform before going our separate ways.