A Circular Walk From Bakewell

My plan this morning was to catch the TransPeak bus at Bakewell and travel to Taddington...but it didn't show up - so after waiting at the bus stop until twenty minutes after it was due to depart I gave up and walked to Ashford in the Water.

Earlier I took some photographs of the Christmas decorations at Bakewell.

There are usually a couple of alpacas in this field.

I went inside the church at Ashford in the Water.

I climbed up the hill and then walked along the road and across the fields to Magpie Mine; the sun briefly punched a hole in the clouds and so I took some photographs.

I always enjoy taking pictures at Magpie Mine.

I left the ruins heading south and east and made my way down into Lathkill Dale via Mill Farm.

I didn't use this footpath, and anyhow it's now over two months since the closure date, but I've never come across this reason for an emergency closure -  'to protect public safety due to management of livestock.' What on Earth has the farmer been keeping in these fields, and what was he doing with them that's so dangerous?

A decent sized chunk of the dictionary is included in the locations on this sign; ash, bake, flag, ford, and well.

There was a section of the footpath closed in Lathkill Dale but there was a well used unofficial diversion in place...which I used.

As I was approaching Bakewell at the end of the walk, an unaccompanied dog ran by me carrying a large frisbee in its mouth.  Quite a few seconds later, just as I was beginning to wonder how the dog could manage to throw, and then catch, the frisbee all on its own its owner appeared, somewhat out of breath.

As I waited for the bus at Bakewell we were entertained by a group of carol singers just across the road - they were dressed as characters from The Nativity...the bus was fifteen minutes late.


UPDATE: I've been informed by a local resident that the alpacas are in fact llamas. I always thought llamas were much larger...so now I don't know how to tell the two species apart.

Blackwell, Chelmorton, Flagg, Sheldon, Ashford-in-the-Water, and Bakewell

I got off the bus at the crossroads and walked down the lane to Blackwell and then continued along a short section of the Pennine Bridleway, soon leaving it though to head for the A6 road. I had difficulty finding the actual spot where the footpath intersects with the road; not the only problem I'd have with access to footpaths today. I quickly and carefully walked along the grass verge at the side of the carriageway for a couple of hundred yards before turning right and heading down the road which leads to Chelmorton...eventually. The route that I intended to walk, although not in a straight line - and with a deliberate detour so as to not be walking quite so much on the road, looks still to be about a mile shorter than that used by road vehicles.

According to the Ordnance Survey map there's a footpath that goes straight through the farmyard at Calton Farm, you'd never know when you get there though, there's no signpost and no obvious route for a footpath. There were three or four men working in the farmyard; and I was ready. I held my map in my hand, correctly orientated, and confidently strode forward: not a word from them, I think they were just contractors who had nothing to do with the farm. After I'd passed a few buildings I spotted a fingerpost sign and followed it, soon to be confronted with a deliberately blocked gate (even though there was a yellow arrow indicating a footpath on one of the gateposts...it looked like someone had tried to remove it though.) I looked around and spotted an alternative route, using an adjacent gate which was open.

The path continued across grassy fields to Topleyhead Farm, where the footpath was much more clearly indicated. Although a bit cloudy when I first got off the bus, it was now quite warm and sunny and so I found a sheltered place facing south to eat my sandwiches: I didn't get to finish them though because a few minutes later it started drizzling. I had the remainder of my sandwiches, and my chocolate chip cookies, at Chelmorton during another sunny interval.

The next farm I passed was Chelmorton Flatt Farm, which looks as though it might by a stud farm, or stables now. I might be completely wrong with my assessment, but it does have an attractive wrought iron sign at the end of the lane.

Somewhere along this section I climbed over a decaying stile which collapsed as I put my foot on it, I kicked a couple of pieces of the shattered wood with nails attached into a ditch...the farmer or landowner can deal with the consequences. 

I walked along the road for a few yards and then took the path which loops around the base of Chelmorton Low. I had a road to cross and then, as I thought, a metal gate to open to continue on my way. Where I was walking is actually a bridleway and so I assumed it would be maintained to a higher standard than a footpath...but not deliberately blocked by a farmer. The gate was secured to the gateposts at both sides with strong string and rope. It looked like the hinges had worked lose and maybe it would have been otherwise unsafe; unfortunately it was blocking my way and there was no alternative route provided. I tried climbing over it but there was a metal grille attached which meant that I couldn't get any grip or contact with my boots, it was also wobbling, and there was rusty barbed wire everywhere. Drastic action was needed; I wrestled with the gate for a few minutes, shaking and twisting it and kicking the gateposts with my boots. Eventually there was enough room for me to squeeze myself through, stepping over and twisting like a  demented ballerina in a slow-motion action replay.

I reached the pub at the top end of the village at about 12:20; it wasn't open yet, I was too early. I think it might have opened at 12:30 though. It's a pretty pub and so I took a photograph.

I walked along Church Lane which is designated as part of the Midshires Way. There are some impressive drystone walls to be viewed from here; I've just checked online and they are examples of mediaeval strip fields.

I continued along the road and then across more grassy fields to reach Flagg; a very long linear village. I came out towards the lower end of the village, but still had about half a mile of the village remaining before I struck out across the fields, heading towards Sheldon. 

I would have liked to have visited Magpie Mine, but there wasn't enough time; I headed straight for Sheldon instead, pausing to take a photograph of the pub with a rude name.

Just beyond Sheldon I found a slightly different way to get down to Ashford-in-the-Water, and then took the familiar route along the riverbank to Bakewell. I seem to have finished several walks at Bakewell this summer. I suppose the next time I'll actually be staying a while will be when I go to the Christmas Market with my friend Justin. Because of his disability, this is the only chance he gets to see the Peak District.

Miller's Dale, Chelmorton, Taddington, Sheldon, and Bakewell.

The bus was re-routed round Sheffield City Centre again today; this time the cause was hundreds of jogging women all wearing pink. I was only ten minutes late arriving at Miller's Dale though.

I walked down the lane, over the bridge and climbed up through the woods to soon reach the Monsal Trail. I turned right, headed over the viaduct and quickly arrived at the old railway station where I went to the toilet, bought a cup of tea and ate my sandwiches.

Just a few hundred yards beyond the station there are some very impressive ruins of limekilns. I climbed the path up to the top and took a photograph, and then explored the bottom, where you can actually go right inside. The pictures I took inside didn't come out very well; but the view you get from the Trail is spectacular...somehow reminiscent of something the Aztecs might have built.

The Trail then passes over a bridge which is very popular with abseilers; I don't know far down the drop is, but there were at least a couple of dozen people there in organised groups today.

I then saw a notice stating that the Monsal Trail will be closed to all users on August 1st and 2nd due to the Park & Ride scheme which will be operation for the Bakewell Show - I think they run buses along the route.

Next up was Chee Tor Tunnel, and then two much shorter tunnels, Chee Tor Number 2 Tunnel and Rusher Cutting Tunnel; both short enough so as to not require any lighting.

I got off the Monsal Trail at Blackwell Mill Cottages and walked down the track to the carpark at Topley Pike; the furthest west point of the walk, and the furthest west I've been on my walks since I started writing the blog. Through the trees to my right I could first hear, and then glimpse, one of the long quarry trains...it was rattling a lot, so I assume it was empty.

I crossed the main trunk road and then took the footpath which skirts Topley Pike Quarry. The quarry is well screened and there is some nice countryside here. Along one section the path climbs steeply out of the valley and I had to be careful because there were a lot of limestone rocks: limestone is always slippery, even when dry.

I then walked across meadows, fields and tracks until I reached Chelmorton, a village I have never visited before; and hadn't even heard of until planning the walk a few days earlier. The last few hundred yards into Chelmorton are part of the Midshires Way; a long distance footpath I didn't think I'd be walking along today. Along this section I also noticed that the word ENGLAND had been placed on the hillside. The lettering was large and had probably been formed by removing the topsoil to expose the limestone underneath. It wouldn't be that prominent from a distance though...maybe it's not finished yet.

I didn't go right into the village; I turned left and walked uphill, stopping briefly for a glass of Diet Coke/Pepsi at the pub across from the church.

The house next to the pub had what I would consider to be a linguistically interesting name.

'High Low' is a fairly common topographical name in Derbyshire though.

I then had a steady climb up a lane and then walked across open grassy fields to reach Taddington. I didn't walk along the main road, but turned right, along a minor road and then a path heading in an easterly direction towards Deep Dale.

I descended into Deep Dale and then climbed up the other side; fortunately it isn't its deepest at this point. A level path alongside grassy fields comes out just before Sheldon. I barely entered the village, taking the first path on my right; signposted towards Magpie Mine. I didn't visit the mine; I've been there before and it was getting quite late.

In the vicinity of Magpie Mine there's a dense network of criss-crossing footpaths. I managed to navigate myself across this section and ended up on a lovely stretch of unchallenging footpath across gently rolling pastoral countryside until I reached the road which goes down into Bakewell, where I arrived with enough time to visit the toilets and buy some refreshments.

In conclusion, it was a lovely day; the weather was mainly sunny, and certainly not too hot; the walk was at least twelve miles long, probably one the longest walks featured on the blog...and I certainly ventured the furthest west since I started writing about my walking in the Peak District.

Blackwell, Flagg, Sheldon, and Bakewell.

Unusually, for a day I had planned to go walking, it was raining when I woke up this morning. The weather forecast was for plenty of warm sunshine later; and I wasn't disappointed.

I got off the bus at Blackwell: the bus doesn't actually go into the hamlet, but the houses are only a field away from the bus-stop. I took the road which leads towards the settlement of Priestcliffe Ditch, following a path across the fields though before I sighted the buildings.

I soon arrived at the main Buxton road, crossed over it and continued across more fields, this time climbing rather steeply uphill though, until I joined the Limestone Way.

I quickly walked along this section of the Limestone Way, mainly along country lanes, until I reached Flagg. What a strange village Flagg is, it must be nearly a mile from one end to the other, but there are actually very few houses. Very little must ever have happened there...well that's my assumption after reading the inscription on this memorial stone...there may be other reasons I suppose.

There were a couple of other strange things I noticed in the village. At the site of the former pub called The Plough there is now a private property inexplicably called 'Plough Station' which consists of a chalet-style bungalow set back from the road and something which I would describe as an art installation; consisting of a small forest of unused flagpoles, a ship's wheel, and random pieces of old agricultural implements and machinery. A few yards further on there's a concrete dog half-buried in the grass verge.

After taking what seemed like a very long time to walk through the village I took the road which forked to the right, and then quickly located the path leading eastwards across grassy fields. I then had a very short length of road to walk along before taking the track the leads down into Deep Dale. I didn't go down into the valley, although it looked very tempting, being perfectly illuminated with the sun being at just the right angle.

I took the path to the right and soon arrived at Sheldon - there were good views of Magpie Pine all along this section. I'd barely entered the village last year on a walk which incorporated a visit to see the substantial ruins of the mine, and so today I got the chance to see all of Sheldon; the one thing I noticed was that the occupants of several farms and smallholdings were offering eggs for sale at the roadside...the eggs were stacked up in cartons and  jam jars or saucers were left to put your money in.

After passing through Sheldon the road led down into Kirk Dale and I took the footpath leading up the other side of the valley. There was a final couple of miles to be covered before reaching Bakewell, arriving in the town just by the church.