Miller's Dale, Chelmorton, Flagg, Sheldon, and Bakewell

I got off the bus at Miller's Dale and walked up the hill to have a look at the new information centre and cafe at the old railway station building and then continued along the Monsal Trail, followed by the riverside footpath to the carpark at Totley Pike. Along the course of the old railway line there are some old kilns, and several tunnels and viaducts. 

[It wasn't actually a psychedelic purple haze inside the tunnel; this was the best I could manage with the editing though.]

I crossed over the road and briefly headed up Deep Dale before breaking off and going on a footpath across the fields to the northwest of Chelmorton. There was a steep rocky climb but then the rest of the way was easygoing across fields and down a farm track.

I only visited the part of the village near to the church and the pub. The church was open and so I went inside.

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Flagg is located to the southwest, and then it was an easterly bearing to walk to Sheldon through high open limestone countryside. I continued heading to the east and arrived at Bakewell pretty much at the time I expected.

'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.

Litton, Cressbrook, Litton Mill, Miller's Dale, and Topley Pike

The blisters I picked up on my walk on Saturday weren't too bad and after a couple of long soaks in a hot bath and covering them with corn plasters held in place by fabric dressing they were fine today; I only did six miles today though.

The bus arrived on time at Litton, and after taking a few photographs in the village I headed off along the footpath which goes across the fields and stays on the high ground just to the west of Cressbrook Dale.

It was sunny when the bus left Sheffield, but it wasn't now - there were a few spits of rain and a cold wind. There was plenty of sunshine to follow though.

The path reaches the edge of the woods at the top of the valley and after a few hundred yards there were some steep steps leading down into the dale; the entire hillside was covered in wild garlic...and I could certainly smell it. I'd not walked down here before, one of the few stretches of footpath in this part of the Peak District that I haven't.

On the way down I got chatting to a very nice woman who was part of a family walking group; she showed me her recently taken photograph on her tablet of a couple of 'amorous' frogs...as she described them. She was really quite excited.

I soon reached Cressbrook, entering a part of the village unfamiliar to me.

The church isn't very old, it was built in 1902.

Most of the buildings at Litton Mill have been converted into holiday cottages but I can remember visiting thirty years ago when they were derelict. there's a pleasant paved sitting area where I ate my sandwiches before climbing up onto the Monsal Trail and onwards towards Miller's Dale.

There are two groups of old limekilns at the side of the trail at Miller's Dale.

There were no abseilers on the bridge today.

When I reached Blackwell Mill Cottages I couldn't find the footpath I needed, and no-one could help me with the directions and so I just walked down the track to the main road at Topley Pike. That's twice now I've not been able to find the footpath that goes through Woo Dale to Buxton.

I had thirty minutes to wait for the bus back to Sheffield; I didn't fancy walking along the road to pick up another footpath so that I could finish my walk at Buxton as intended - there's no causeway, or even verges as I recall, and there are several dangerous blind corners. My other option was to cross the road and walk down Deep Dale, looping back to Taddington. I've been walking in Deep Dale twice in the last few weeks and both times it was muddy and waterlogged. I'm fed up with the wet conditions underfoot - so I stayed put.