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.