Bakewell

An early start and after breakfast it was straight to the town of Bakewell. Originally we had planned to visit a couple of shops but they didn't open until around 11:00. So we bought a couple of sandwiches for lunch in a bakery which was open and returned to the car in the large car park to get our boots and rucksacks.

Bakewell

 

We walked up a road leading from the car park and bridge over the River Wye then near the old railway station on what was once a railway line and is now a cycle trail called the Monsal Trail, we followed an old bridleway which crossed a golf course. Where the crossing started there was a large metal gong and a sign saying to strike the gong to alert golfers of our presence because the bridleway was sunken beneath the surrounding land and we would be out of view.

Llamas

Ewe and Lambs 

The bridleway continued up through woods then onto a footpath which crossed a large field down to a pond where a heron was stood watching the water. Passing through into a very large field we continued on the footpath which lead us past a couple of fenced of mounds which were tumuli.
We reached a bridleway which crossed our route at right-angles and we turned right along the bridleway which wound its way through woods. We stooped at a convenient spot and sat on some logs with views across to the village of Youlgreave and ate the sandwiches we had bought earlier.

Pheasants

After lunch we continued along the bridleway through the woods then around a hairpin bend onto a track which passed under a bridge carrying the Monsal Trail. Here there were some steps up the bank leading to the level of the trail which actually starts at this point.
We followed the Monsal Trail until at a second bridge we left through a gate which led down a track to bring us back to a minor road which after a short distance had a path leading to the car park near the Agricultural Market.
After dropping our stuff off at the car, we went shopping in Bakewell, had a second ice cream and headed for home.
I was wearing Asolo Fugitive boots, Keela trousers, Paramo Summit Hoodie jacket and Osprey Kestrel 38 rucksack.