Taddington, Monyash, and Bakewell

The public transport links to Taddington are quite good and I got there today for 10:15. I started by walking through the village towards the church.

I then took a path that climbs up to the road heading south out of the village.

I soon reached a bridleway going towards a location called Over Wheal. I crossed over a quiet country road and proceeded south to Monyash.

In the high limestone country of the White Peak area there are a lot of dew ponds: as expected I saw several today - they're not the easiest subject to photograph though.

 

There were several alpacas in a small field right across from the village carpark at Monyash.

I left the village by taking a footpath that goes through the churchyard. 

I then joined the Limestone Way, passing One Ash Grange Farm, and Cales Dale.  At One Ash Grange Farm there's a shrine. I think the objects in the first photograph are old pigsties.

I wish I'd counted the steps up the hillside as I climbed out of Cales Dale, there are a lot of them. As I reached the carpark at Moor Lane to the west of Youlgreave the weather had started to cloud over and so I made my way back to Bakewell by the quickest route, usually taking the road - I got caught in a couple of brief showers.

Grindleford, Eyam, Housley, Wardlow, Ravensdale, Cressbrook, Monsal Head and Ashford in the Water

 I caught the bus to Grindleford today and walked along the closed road to Eyam.

I waked through the village and then took Tideswell Lane, a green lane that goes over to Housley, a tiny hamlet.

I continued across the fields to Wardlow; I spotted some alpacas in the distance, something I see on most of my visits to the Peak District now. A few minutes later my mobile phone rang, it was my landlord. He wanted me to take some photos and provide details about the large oak tree in my back garden that's causing some structural problems and needs to be removed. Therefore I needed to get home as soon as possible in order to meet an agreed five o'clock deadline, but it didn't really alter my plans...I just needed to make sure I got to Ashford in the Water in time to catch the Bakewell bus that departs just after two o'clock.

The path from Wardlow descends into Cressbrook Dale. Not long after reaching the bottom of the valley I arrived at the two rows of cottages at Ravensdale.

I walked down the road to Cressbrook and then up through the woods to Monsal Head. I was glad to see that all the annoying signs and notices that were ruining the classic view of the viaduct have been removed.

I passed four dewponds on the way to Ashford in the Water.

Whilst I was sitting in the bus shelter my phone rang again. It was an update from my landlord; he now doesn't need me to take any photos, or do anything...a tree surgeon will be coming on Wednesday to do the job. 

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.