A Walk around Bonsall

In the evening at 19.00 we met a group from the Peak District Mines Historical Society in the car park next to the small park in Bonsall. Tony Wood led us on an interesting walk around the village, pointing out any interesting buildings or other points of interest and giving us interesting facts and stories.

OCC AGM and Water Icicle Close Cavern

After breakfast at the café in Monyash, Keith, Karen and I went to yet another AGM, this time the OCC one.
Afterwards the three if us spent three hours replacing the temporary red and white hazard warning tape, placed temporarily to mark a route through the new extensions, with orange plastic conservation tape and stainless steel pegs supplied by the DCA.

DCRO Rescue Practice, Grinlow Quarry

We spent the morning and part of the afternoon practising using the hydraulic equipment to move boulders and rocks and also use of the tirfor.
Afterwards was the DCRO AGM at the Store in Buxton, which went surprisingly quickly.
In the evening we met Keith and went to the OCC Photo Competition at the Miners Standard

Calver

After breakfast at the café in Outside at Calver crossroads, Karen and I followed a route through the quiet back roads of the village of Calver away from the busy roads and noisy traffic. Following a steeply rising path worn in dry clayey mud, we arrived on the path following the top of the ridge in Bramley Wood with views back to Calver and across to the gritstone edges of Curbar and Froggat Edges.
We followed the path passing rhododendron bushes, gorse bushes and patches of wood sorrel leading to another wood named Bank Wood. This eventually brought us to a minor road called School Lane which we followed down to the village of Hassop.
A short distance along the main road led to a track which we followed for about 500 metres then sat on some rocks next to the track by a gate and ate our lunch listening to a nearby woodpecker. Afterwards, we continued on our way leading through Birchill Bank Wood and across a field leading to the busy main road, the A619.
We followed the narrow verge along this busy road and thankfully left it through a stile into a field and left the roar of traffic behind as we followed the uphill field to arrive at a stile in the corner.
Again we came across the sad occurrence of a sick lamb which was laying on its side with its head back and its eyes blinking as its mother stood by. Of course there was nothing to be done, so we followed over the stile into the next field and after a third field, we arrived at the minor road, Wheatlands Lane.
We turned right along this lane for 100 metres or so before again back to a series of fields and then onto Bramley Lane by Bubnell Farm.
The long distance path, The Derwent Way, follows this lane for a while and we did the same, following the Derwent Way through fields and then by some woods with views of the River Derwent a short distance below us, passing very close to the river at a sharp bend with ewes and lambs on the opposite bank. We continued along the river bank and before long left the river and the Derwent Way to cross a few more fields then a short alleyway between hedges back into Calver.
I wore Berghaus shirt and trousers, Asolo Fugitive GTX boots and Osprey Kestrel 38 rucksack.

Three Shire Heads

The day was dry and sunny with a cool breeze but the unusual thing was the complete absence of vapour trails in the sky. Because of a huge cloud of volcanic ash drifting over parts of Northern Europe from the eruption of Mount Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland, all flights in UK and many other European Countries' airspace have been cancelled since last Monday (12th April).
Starting from the car park near Derbyshire Bridge, about 7 miles from Buxton on the way to Macclesfield, Karen and I followed a footpath onto the open moorland and then along a track which brought us to the road we had followed earlier from Buxton: the A537.
Crossing over this busy road, we walked up onto Axe Edge Moor following a section of the Dane Valley Way long distance footpath until arriving at a minor road we crossed over this, leaving the Dane Valley Way, to follow a footpath heading Southwards to arrive at a junction of two long drystone walls.
We followed along one of these walls to the South West and arrived at the top of a gully with views down to a farm below. We again rejoined the Dane Valley Way for a short distance as it skirted around the top of the gully then passed through a gateway in the wall we had been following bringing us down below some lovely farmhouses and converted barns to arrive on a bridleway track leading down to the extremely picturesque Three Shire Heads.
Three Shire Heads has two small waterfalls and a lovely old packhorse bridge. As it is at least a mile form the nearest road, it manages to avoid the inevitable crowds you would see otherwise. There were only two others there eating sandwiches when we arrived and after we had taken some photos, they left and we had the place to ourselves for a while.
We sat on some rocks and had our lunch with small groups of two or three walkers or mountain bike riders passing every now and then.
After lunch, we headed north along the path following the stream, just over the border in the neighbouring county of Cheshire. We saw a sad sight on a grassy bank: a dead very young lamb with its mother trying to get it to move by nudging it with her nose and her front leg.
Then we spotted two men higher up the grassy bank leaning over what looked like a third person who seemed to be lying down. They then tried to get the third person to stand up but obviously were having difficulty. Just then a young couple arrived from the opposite direction and they also spotted the others and we shouted up if they wanted help.
They didn't appear to hear us so the four of us, myself, Karen and the young couple walked quickly up the grassy bank to where a track was descending. The person who we had seen lying down turned out to be a 27 year old girl who had stumbled and broken her ankle.
As we were luckily very near the A54 main road, the young guy and myself lifted the girl in a sitting position between us while she had her arms around our shoulders and we headed up the remaining slope towards the road while Karen went ahead to see if she could get a mobile phone signal nearer the road (neither of us had any signal where we were) and phone for an ambulance.
She had just managed to get through on her phone when the rest of us arrived and after some confusion explaining to the person taking the call on directions to get to us, we heard a siren approaching a short while later and I flagged down the car with two Paramedics.
Meanwhile, the older of the two men had spotted a group of youths further along the road who the three of them had been going to meet: they were a Duke of Edinburgh's Award group. So he headed off to round up the group of youths while Karen and I headed on our way a short way along the A54. As we were walking up the road, an ambulance passed us on the way to attend the girl with the broken ankle.
We left the A54 to follow a wide track across moorland to eventually arrive opposite the Cat and Fiddle pub which is the second highest Inn in Britain. The pub's other claim to fame is giving its name to this section of A537 road which often appears in winter road reports when the road is closed due to snow.
We walked down the side of the A537 for a short distance before heading down a dirt track above a tea shop for a few hundred metres before dropping down a footpath leading to the edge of a coniferous wood and then after passing around the small valley of Stake Clough, brought us into the wood.
The path eventually brought us to the narrow minor road leading next to the River Goyt and then along this road back to where we had started.
I wore Berghaus trousers, Asolo Fugitive GTX boots and Osprey Kestrel 38 rucksack. It was so warm I only wore a Berghaus shirt carrying everything else in my rucksack.

A Walk from Over Haddon

After leaving the car in the surprisingly large car park in the village of Over Haddon, Karen and I followed a short section of steep road leading down to the river Lathkill. It was another dry Spring day but cooler than yesterday. Crossing over by a stepping stone bridge, we followed a track gradually leading upwards on the opposite bank until we arrived at a very large field with sign indicating the the Public Right of Way leading through the farmyard below.
We crossed the field and passed through the farmyard at Meadow Place Grange, then across several more fields, one in particular having many skylarks both flying and singing and also landing and taking off.
We reached the minor road known as Back Lane which we followed for 600 metres until we arrived at a small car park near Long Rake mine and then followed the well-signposted Limestone Way across more fields approaching Lathkill Dale which appeared in view as we reached limestone slabs which formed steps leading steeply down into Cales Dale, a minor tributary of Lathkill Dale.
We followed down Cales Dale for a short distance and stopped by the small entrance to Cales Dale Cave which had no water resurging and ate our lunch. After lunch, we followed down the rest of Cales Dale and at Lathkill Dale crossed a foot bridge to the opposite side of the River Lathkill and then turned right and followed the flowing river downstream.
On reaching the well-known landmark of the Tufa Dam, we stopped to take photos and I disturbed a large bird which took off and landed again a short distance away before again taking off and flying downstream. Checking with the RSPB web site when we got hone we discovered that the bird had been a Sparrowhawk.
We had a look at two old Chert mines which had grilled entrances and were next door to each other a short distance up the side of the dale.
We passed the ruins of Mandale Mine Engine House and Bateman's House. This unusual building was originally built in 1830 by the Lathkill Dale Mining Company to cover a 12m deep shaft housing a novel design of water-powered pump to drain their lead mines. It later also served the dual as the family home for the company's agent James Bateman.
We continued on along the side of the river until we reached the stepping stone bridge which we had crossed earlier. This left the short but steep walk back up to Over Haddon and back to the car.
I wore Keela stretch trousers, Asolo Fugitive GTX boots and Osprey Kestrel 38 rucksack. It was so warm I only wore a Berghaus shirt carrying everything else in my rucksack.

A Walk to Castleton

A quiet place to start a walk on a lovely warm Spring day. Karen and I parked in Old Dam Lane in Peak Forest and set off on a farm track past Conies Farm leading into a field with Conies Dale in the distance.
We soon reached an area of old lead mining activity with several shafts mostly covered with concrete railway sleepers except for on large shaft which had a grill covering it.
After crossing several fields, we headed towards Oxlow House farm to join the B6061 at Rowter Farm Lane. We then followed the road to the top of Winnats Pass as far as Winnats Head Farm where we passed through a gate into pasture land above the Pass.
We sat on a rock with views down into Winnats Pass and had some drinks from our flasks.

 Winnats Pass

Afterwards, we continued onwards through the fields joining the old section of the main A625 road at the Blue John Cavern showcave building. The A625 used to be the main route into Castleton from this direction but periodically it was damaged by landslides from the nearby hill, Mam Tor. In the end, the battle with the landslides was lost and in 1979 the road was closed. The route into and out of Castleton from this direction is now via Winnats Pass.

 Mam Tor - "The Shivering Mountain"

Paragliders flying over Mam Tor

The old main road

We walked down the remains of the old road which resembles an area which has been shaken by a severe earthquake and after reaching more solid ground and road we stopped on a grassy area outside Odin Cave with the large ravine leading to the nearby Odin Mine and had lunch.
When lunch was finished, we followed along the road, passing below Treak Cliff Cavern showcave and then crossed via a footpath in a field across to Speedwell Cavern showcave at the foot of Winnats Pass.
Crossing the road, we passed through a gate and followed a path through more pasture land leading after a while into the village of Castleton.
In the village centre, near the Youth Hostel, we bought ice creams at a shop and ate then outside. Moving on, we turned through the short and narrow ravine leading to Cave Dale which has no road but does have a Public Bridleway leading up beneath the rear of Peveril Castle perched above the huge entrance to Peak Cavern.

 Cave Dale with Peveril Castle looking down

Cave Dale leads gradually upwards eventually reaching more open ground high above Castleton. On the way we met Anne Soulsby walking down Cave Dale dressed in caving gear after a trip down and up Titan.
At a junction of paths and tracks, we passed through a gate into a large field with skylarks singing and continued onwards onto Bradwell Moor. We intended to follow a path heading rightwards but became focussed on a large area of old mine disturbance and missed the path and only realised our mistake on reaching a minor road. Luckily we had only gone a couple of hundred metres when we realised and headed back from where we had come.
As luck will have it, our turning was through a small gate in a drystone wall right by the area of mine disturbance we had been looking at!
Anyway we passed through the gate and walked along what looked like a rake (a mining term for a vertical vein of lead ore) through some fields and as we entered another field with loads of sheep we spotted a ewe nearby with two newborn lambs.

 Mother Ewe and newborn Lambs

After a short distance we were back on a tarmaced lane leading back to where we had started at Old Dam.
I wore Keela stretch trousers, Asolo Fugitive GTX boots and Osprey Kestrel 38 rucksack. It was so warm I only wore a Berghaus shirt carrying everything else in my rucksack.

Walk from Wincle Along the River Dane

Today we were leaving Derbyshire and walking partly in Cheshire and partly in Staffordshire. After parking in the village of Wincle, we followed the road downhill past the pub and then along a track which followed past the River Dane.

Weir on River Dane

 Another view of the Weir

We passed a small fish farm where you could try catching trout for a small sum and then followed a large open pasture along one side of the river.
Soon we were on a track next to what looked a very much like and old canal which was very silted up and passed a lovely old stone built bridge connecting the fields on the far side with the canal-side track and a bit further on, another bridge with a narrow tarmaced lane.

 Lovely Old Canal Bridge

Frog Spawn in Old Canal

Close-up of Frog Spawn

We sat on the bridge parapet for a quick break and a hot drink. There were a couple of signposts giving the direction for the Gritstone Way, a long distance footpath. This showed the Gritstone Way coming from the continuation of the canal on the other side of the bridge then following down the tarmaced lane to cross the River Dane below at Barleigh Ford Bridge. The map confirmed that this was indeed the route we intended to follow but it had no sign of the tarmaced lane which was puzzling.
We dropped down to Barleigh Bridge and could see the tarmaced lane continuing across the other side but curving off to the right, not in the direction we wanted. We returned the short distance to the other bridged and studied the map again. Everything fitted perfectly except for the tarmaced lane not being shown on the map and that lane looked like it had been around for decades at least.
Anyway, we retraced our steps to Barleigh Bridge and crossed over the river and then crossed over a stile into a field and a quick check with the compass confirmed the direction was correct.
We continued onwards with the route marked by short posts every now and then until we reached a junction with the Gritstone Way heading off at right angles to our left and the path we wanted continuing straight on, on the other side of a stile.

 Old Ruined Barn

This was obviously an ancient path as it was sunken quite a lot lower than the surrounding land. We reached the top of an uphill section and took advantage of an old log to sit on and eat lunch.
After lunch, we continued on across several more fields and were soon back on the road in Wincle near where we had parked.
I wore Keela stretch trousers, Paramo Third Element jacket, Contour Navigator boots and Osprey Kestrel 38 rucksack.

A Walk Along Cracken Edge from Chinley

Although the weather forecast for today was for dry weather, there was light rain as we left Winster and drove to near Chapel-en-le-Frith and parked in Chinley. There was a heavy shower with very small hailstones just as we parked so we waited for the rain to stop.
Luckily it was only a short shower and for the next couple of hours there were a few more very light showers and then the weather improved.
We set off a short distance up the road and the crossed the Manchester to Sheffield railway line which runs through Chinley, via a pedestrian bridge. This led to an uphill path through a recreation area with picnic tables and then through a small gate onto a minor road.
Turning left along the road, we turned right and followed a narrow lane with grass growing in the middle with walls either side which increasingly gained height and offered more and more views of the surrounding countryside.

 Ancient sunken track

Soon we reached rougher, open ground beneath the old gritstone quarries of Cracken Edge. We followed what looked like an old path which served the quarries which was flat and ran along the side of Cracken Edge.

Approaching Cracken Edge

Quarry Winding Gear on Cracken Edge

Old Quarry Workings on Cracken Edge

View From Cracken Edge

At the end of the Edge, we followed a muddy section past an old farm building then down a muddy track until we met the busy A624 main road. We crossed to the other side and then after a very short distance followed a lane which brought us to a gate and more open countryside. We followed the obvious track skirting below the hill of Mount Famine to reach South Head. Soon we were on another lane which was signposted as part of the Pennine Bridleway. Reaching a junction, we continued through a gate onto a track continuing in the same direction and ignored the track which headed off at a right-angle. Not far down this track we could see we would be dropping down quite a long way and then have to climb back up again and Karen noticed that things didn't “look right”.
We checked the map and realised that we should have taken the other track, the one heading off at a right angle! Luckily we had only gone a few hundred metres, so we turned around and headed back towards the junction where we had taken the wrong turning,
We again reached a wall and a gate and as there was good shelter from the breeze and it seemed a good place to stop, we sat on some flat rocks behind the wall and ate our lunch. There were good views across to the plateau of Kinder Scout, and you could make out the waterfall, Kinder Downfall. As is often the case, much of the water from the waterfall was being blown upwards by the wind.

Kinder Downfall in the Distance

After lunch were were soon back at the junction and this time we turned left along the correct route. This led us down another track past an old farm and eventually back to recross the A624 again, this time in the opposite direction. After crossing a few fields we reached another track and then passed beneath a bridge carrying the railway line we had crossed over earlier.
Soon we were back on the roads in Chinley and after a short distance back where we had left the car.

I wore Keela stretch trousers, Paramo Third Element jacket, Asolo Fugitive GTX boots and Osprey Kestrel 38 rucksack.

A Walk in Coombs Dale

Since we were planning a walk which conveniently starts in Calver near the crossroads, Karen and I first parked nearby and then had a snack in the café at Outside.
Afterwards we followed the footpath on the road heading back towards Bakewell and then at a stile and footpath sign headed into a field with a steep footpath rising uphill giving views across Calver to the gritstone edges of Curbar Edge and Froggat Edge and views in the distance to where we had been walking yesterday through Padley Gorge.

The Village of Calver

We reached a wide track and followed this until after passing old quarry and/or mining works on the left, we had a look at an earth bank which had a couple of English Heritage notices explaining that it was part of a double dyke feature which marked the ancient boundary of the Lordship of Ashford-in-the Water.

High Rake Limestone Quarry

Not much further on was the large quarry of High Rake which was fenced off. After some very noisy trail bikes shot past on the track (where they are not supposed to be as this is a 'Restricted Byway'...), we passed through a gate leading past the quarry to a wide green lane through a small gate. This centuries old grassy green lane had numerous deep ruts where trail bikes had been. We squeezed past a gatepost at a locked gate leading onto a muddy lane obviously used by quarry traffic and ignoring the continuing bridleway called “Black Harry Lane” we turned right to follow down a bridleway also used by trucks, leading down Coombs Dale.

Looking Up Coombs Dale

Looking Down Coombs Dale

A couple of large dogs appeared with one running up to us and barking. I shouted at it to go away and a couple out walking the dogs appeared who called them back and held onto them as we went past wheedling at them “Good boy! Good boy!”. It would have been nice if they had them under control in the first place seeing as they chose a public bridleway where they would probably meet others.
Part way down the track on Coombs Dale we had a look at the locked entrance to Sallet Hole Mine which has a stream of water flowing from it and down the track. There was some frog spawn in the stream as well and nearby on the opposite side a small spring was emitting water which joined the water on the track.

Entrance to Sallet Hole Mine

Another few hundred metres down the track we veered off left following a rising footpath leading up to a shallow and dry dale which joined Coombs Dale. Here we sat on a promontory with views both up Coombs Dale where we had come from and also down the Dale and across to Curbar and Froggat Edges, and had lunch.
Following a short section of muddy path, we were soon crossing fields with a curious sequence of styles which were both of the narrow “squeeze style” variety but also with the large blocks of stone forming steps to aid crossing over the wall.
Anyway, at a junction with another Public Right of Way, we followed the route leading down another field then through a small ornamental gate across the bottom of a vegetable patch and then next to a wall at the bottom of a bungalow's garden into a drive. We followed the route signposted down the drive for a short distance onto a steep road in the village of Stoney Middleton. This we followed downhill past the Primary School to an old stone cross near the “Moon” pub and then crossed the busy main road passing through the village to follow a road called “The Nook” and the quieter roads leading past the “Roman Baths” (which aren't Roman at all) and then just past the church.

The "Roman Baths" in Stoney Middleton

Here we passed through a kissing-gate into a field with a sign explaining the presence of orchids and then followed the path onwards before realising after a short way that we should have been following another footpath which had branched off left a bit further back.
Luckily we were easily able to follow the rough pasture a short distance uphill to join the higher path which led through gorse bushes which were just beginning to flower. We passed farm house and then down a short farm track to the B6001 road which we crossed and then went through a gate into a field which led down to the River Derwent below.

Walking Along the River Derwent

At the river, we turned right to follow the muddy path on the river bank passing some large wet marshy areas on the right. At a large pool adjoining another marshy area there were small signs with drawings done by kids form the local Primary School in Calver that there were Brook Lampreys, Field Mice and Great Crested Newts being protected in the area.
Crossing over the road by New Bridge we followed a short section of steep muddy path leading uphill behind a couple of riverside bungalows before we realised we should have remained on the track continuing past the front of the bungalows and next to the river. We retraced our steps as passed the weir in the river which apparently is Grade 2* Listed and undergoing renovation. The weir was to divert water into a leat which brought water to Calver Mill a short distance downstream which is now a large accommodation complex.
We continued on down the drive and then followed a signpost in a meadow directing walkers diagonally across the meadow and through a kissing gate and past a camp site onto a road passing the Mill and then to the main road through Calver village.
All that remained was to walk back along the road passing Outside and then back to the car. After dropping our rucksacks at the car and changing out of boots we returned to the café at Outside for some cake and cups of tea.
I wore Ice Peak Extreme trousers, Paramo Third Element jacket, the Asolo Fugitive GTX boots I bought yesterday and Osprey Kestrel 38 rucksack.

A Walk in Padley Gorge

I've not been to Grindleford café for quite a while. Its an old railway station and is very popular with walkers and climbers. The guy who used to run it was quite eccentric and unfortunately died a few years ago but its nice to see it's still going and hasn't changed. There are still loads of hand-written notices at various places advising on things such as not asking for mushrooms as “they never have nor ever will sell mushrooms” and by the old fire place “If you want to guard the fire join the Fire Brigade”.

Grindleford Cafe

Anyway, Karen and I parked in the road approaching the café and after a snack and cup of tea headed off across the nearby railway bridge and soon passed through a gate leading to the bottom of Padley Gorge.

This led us along a nice stream cascading down through blocks of gritstone through a wood of oaks and beech trees. After crossing over the stream on a wooden footbridge, we followed a zig-zag path on the opposite side which led up to a path heading again alongside the stream.

Eventually we reached the top of the gorge and into a wide section of moorland with views across to Higgar Tor and higher ground and also the start of some drizzle and light rain.

We headed towards Burbage bridge and then before reaching the road curved around following a path back along the road heading towards the house of Longshaw Estate belonging to the National Trust with a the optimistic owner of an Ice Cream van parked by the road hoping for customers on this cool and damp Good Friday.
We passed through a small gate in the wall, crossed the road then followed down the drive leading past the house and then along the “hah-hah” in front. This brought us to a broad path skirted by rhododendron bushes and then past a large pond. After this we followed a path through grazing land and through a small gate leading to a muddy path along the top of steep ground covered with short trees with views down to Grindleford far below.

A Bursting Bud

We stopped alongside the path sitting on some moss-covered stone blocks to have lunch then continued on along the path, dropping down on steps to reach the road leading from Grindleford to nearby Hathersage. We crossed the road then followed a path back down to where we had parked.
After getting our boots off, we drove to Hathersage to visit Outside as I was after a pair of lightweight boots to wear later in the summer. I ended up buying a pair of Asolo Fugitive GTX boots and then we had a look in the marquee in the car park where the Outside Easter Sale items were on display.
I succumbed to temptation and bought a Rab Ascent duvet reduced from £149 to £90!
I wore Paramo Cascada trousers, Paramo Third Element jacket, Contour Navigator boots and Osprey Kestrel 38 rucksack.