Bakewell, Ashford in the Water, Little Longstone, Bubnell, and Baslow

I caught the first bus from Sheffield to Bakewell and got there before nine o'clock. I didn't spend long in the town, I just headed up the hill for the footpath that's hidden away at the back of the church.

I was travelling westwards, walking across grassy fields, followed by a minor road and then using the causeway that goes alongside the eastbound side of the A6 road until I reached Ashford in the Water.

I now turned to the north and made my way to Little Longstone and then up onto Longstone Moor. For about an hour, between ten o'clock and eleven o'clock I was harassed to the point of almost getting angry - my mobile phone rang four times, two of my friends called [which is okay I suppose] but having to arrange a time and date for the property management company to come and assess my house [yet again] and then to receive another related call wanting details about my financial circumstances is a bit too much. I don't have a smartphone and so I can't store and access my personal information and so everything I agreed to had to be provisional...and then there was the wind, noisily buffeting me about even when I found a bit of shelter, still making it difficult for me to make myself understood or to hear what the other person was saying. 

I gave a bit of thought as to where I wanted to finish the walk; Baslow, or  Hathersage. Since choosing the latter would entail crossing quite a bit of high moorland I opted for Baslow over to the east. 

I set off along the old quarry road and soon noticed that on top of many of the fenceposts there was at least one flat bottomed stone balanced on top. I've seen this before, but never so many along one route previously; I wonder why someone did this? I've always assumed it must be a bored child - it will take a lot of time though...and a lot of unnecessary bending down as well.

I'm so pleased that the photos have turned out as well as they have today because at times I was struggling to stand upright and stay still when holding the camera.

Today's route:

Bentley Bridge, Lumsdale, Matlock Green, Old Matlock, Starkholmes, and Cromford

I started my walk today from Bentley Bridge, two miles north of Matlock. I walked straight down the lane to Lumsdale Falls and took plenty of photographs of the waterfalls and the ruins. There was a lot of water and so the falls were spectacular...and very noisy.

At the bottom of the valley I walked along the main road heading towards Matlock and then climbed up the hill to the parish church.

I continued up the hill until I reached a footpath going up to High Tor; I had a bit of fun going down into the deep crevice near the summit. I didn't go right down into the narrow, deep, dark and inaccessible  parts though.

I took the first path going down to Starkholmes and walked through the village, heading south, until I reached the path that would take me to High Peak Junction.

I walked along the canal towpath, heading back northwards to Cromford Wharf where I had a cream tea in the cafe - my choice of scone was cherry and walnut.

It was then a short walk into Cromford followed b two bus rides and a journey on the train to get me home to Doncaster.

I really enjoyed today, perfect weather for walking and for taking photographs...and everything went according to plan on public transport. Actually that final statement isn't true - one of the buses was late...but it worked to my advantage.

The 218 bus coming back from Bakewell now goes a different route as it approaches Sheffield City Centre - it's slightly longer but probably a good few minutes quicker since it doesn't have to keep stopping to pick up local passengers.


Today's route:

  

Hope, Pindale, Perryfoot, and Castleton

I arrived at Doncaster Railway Station much earlier than expected this morning and so I made a change of plan. As soon as I got on the train to Sheffield, before it filled up with passengers getting on at the local stations, I used the space available to struggle with my map and get it folded to the correct configuration for where I would now be walking. I didn't want to be hanging around at Sheffield Interchange; I caught the 07:59 bus and got off at Hope - it was a lovely start to the day and I wasn't going to waste any of it...the weather, as forecast, got worse in the afternoon. 

I headed south, straight past the cement works, to Pindale.

At the top of Pindale I continued walking along the road and some stretches of footpath until I reached Perryfoot; I didn't take the direct route, I missed my turn off because I was looking in the other direction and taking photographs.

I then headed north and climbed up onto Rushup Edge and then continued to Castleton via the Blue John Mine and the Treak Cliff Cavern, two of the show caves.

The No Car Cafe at Rushup Hall only opens at weekends and bank holidays.

I had intended to finish the walk at Castleton but when the bus arrived from Sheffield the driver  wouldn't let us on; he put up 'This Bus Is Not in Service' on the destination blind and just drove off. The were eight of us waiting for that bus; I told everyone that there wouldn't be another bus from Castleton for two hours...but there'd be one going from Hope Valley College, just a mile or so down the road, departing as soon as all the schoolchildren have boarded. I was the only one there who decided to walk; it wouldn't be a gamble on my part since the bus service terminates and Castleton and so I'd see it going in the other direction coming from Sheffield and would have plenty of time to reach a bus stop. There wasn't another bus going to Castleton, but I arrived at Hope with a few minutes to spare - I was the only adult on the bus until it reached Hathersage but I didn't care - I'd made a good decision. This particular bus only goes as far as Whirlow, but there were plenty of buses from there going to the city centre.

Today's route: