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Barbra’s Peak Odyssey
  • Barbra Depledge
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  • Barbra Depledge

Barbra’s Peak Odyssey

Although not a designated route, this is a multi day walk I am undertaking as a pilgrimage - an opportunity to spend time alone with God in the way I find most helpful - walking in lovely countryside! Read more
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    🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Derbyshire Dales, England
  • Barbra DepledgeBarbra’s Peak OdysseyTraveler
    Confluence of Rivers Derwent and AmberOne of these young bullocks came to say hello and his mates joined inIf these cows are reliable weather forecasters, it isn't looking goodWyver Pool - sadly the hide was lockedOne of the Strutt mills with weir and sluice gates that powered itThis cobbled street held mill workers' cottages complete with Topshop for home workingSlightly more hidden away, houses for the supervisors

    Day 4 - part 2

    Yesterday in England ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    At Ambergate the canal turned east for 13 miles to reach a canal junction at Langley Mill. Soon after Ambergate, it ceases to be in water. Ambitious plans to restore the canal possibly underestimate the implications of several sections of the route having been lost under new roads.
    Soon after leaving the canal, I had a navigational meltdown. I don't mean that I freaked out. I mean that I hadn't a clue which way to go and couldn't make any sense of map, compass or app and there's not a waymark in sight!!!! I don't get significantly worried at these times. With the Lord's help. I always sort myself out and get where I want to be sooner or later. I'm just aware I'm a useless navigator! Once out of the woods (in both senses) it was a lovely walk through a nature reserve and finally into Belper - a place packed with mill heritage mainly associated with the wealthy Strutt family. I've never visited the town properly. I saw some bits but hope to see more when I return to do the final section of the walk down to Derby.
    I'm not sure if the OS app recorded all my walk. I'm hopeless at remembering to resume it when I pause and the length of time after which it needs manually resuming seems random. I like many aspects of the app but it's better if you've pre-loaded a route which I can't do although my eldest granddaughter has patiently taught me more than once! I can't see the line it draws showing where you've come at all or the icon showing where you are if the sun's shining!!!!!.......which it has quite a bit today. It went from cold to very hot back to very cold while I was out but saved the mizzle til I was almost in Belper!
    Once again I had a lovely ride back on the bus to Matlock retracing in the valley my outward direction along this classic transport corridor - with train, canal, road and river running along together - only the river messing it up by meandering back and forth necessitating all the others crossing and recrossing its several times!!    Read more

  • Barbra DepledgeBarbra’s Peak OdysseyTraveler
    Stunning views from High Tor. Here the sadly abandoned Riber Castle
    Looking down to the valley bottomAcross the other side of the valley is the Heights of Abraham reachable by cable car in summerMatlock Bath - motorcyclists love and were already rolling in at 8amLots of quirky shops - some in former banks, churches(!). .An aquarium and - more quirkiness - a hologram museumThe river here hosts canoe slaloms and winter illuminationsand swans(!)Giant carp in a pond outside the...Mining Museum. Not for me - I'm fine with heights but not underground!Masson Mills. A shopping centre here helped fund the heritage but didn't survive the pandemicWay too many people and not enough loos!Phew! Peace!Canada goslings are incredibly sweet. It's the wildfowl hooligans they grow into that's not so good1Obviously there are stegosaurus round hereThis is the wharf where goods were transferred from the canal onto the High Peak rail wagonsLeawood Pumphouse to pump water up from the River Derwent to the canal - still operating on open dayThe aqueduct to carry the canal over the River DerwentAqueduct Cottage - lovingly restored by volunteers and open as a museumThe Nightingale Arm of the museum. Florence's family had a sawmill hereCrich Tower visible far aboveEven the invasive and feral rhodendrons can be very pretty

    Day 4 part 1

    Yesterday in England ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C

    I thought about having a slower start today with no "not 7.30 a.m. Ascension Day service" and no 7.15 bus to catch but, being me, I abandoned that idea and headed out at 7.00 a.m. , knowing it would be a shorter walk and I could come back mid afternoon and "chill" as the young people say.
    Today I was following part of the Derwent Valley Heritage Way - a long distance route running from Derby to the Derwent Reservoirs which I have been completing in bits this year.
    Over the 5 days of walking, my route, in "Strava art" terms (ask my son-in-law!!) will have formed a figure 9 - and this was the (very short) tail bit.
    So I set off from the door of the apartment and walked through the Park, admiring the startling flood level markers, and then fairly soon began ascending up to High Tor (673 ft) - a steady climb from the River Derwent (300 ft). The views across the valley were stunning. I tried to find the start of the Giddy Edge walk - a narrow ledge across the cliff face with a chain to hang on to. I had no intention of doing it - I have no fear of heights but I have terrible hand/eye/foot co-ordination and am clumsy of hand and foot to a fault - and I don't like steep drops - so it would be a disaster. I'd just like to have seen it but I couldn't find it.
    It's only when I start going down, I realise just how far I've gone up!
    It was then through Matlock Bath and riverside gardens. I went too far in the latter and ended up scrambling up a near vertical bank and scaling a wall to avoid retracing my steps - only to see some steps up to reach the road - though I was at a loss to know how they could have been reached.
    I passed Masson Mills (another of Arkwright's) - now a textile museum. I took our 3 older grandchildren on a mill tour there years ago and the guide was brilliant engaging the older two (then 5 and 7 I think) in the jobs they'd have done in the mill back in the day.
    Next I walked through Cromford Mill gardens and on to the Canal again. There is fascinating heritage every few steps in this area and though I've been many, many times, there's always more to discover.
    Arriving into Cromford Wharf car park I was alarmed to discover a huge running event mustering for departure but was relieved on quizzing some participants to discover they were taking a different route to me.
    Having a quick snack break at a picnic table on a quiet perimeter of the site, I ended up policing the segregation of an impromptu "wild wee" area ("men to the left, ladies to the right") as the queues for the toilets were several dozen deep. The things we do!!!
    Escaping the car park with relief, peace immediately descended. The Canal is a rich haven of wildlife and history. Only 5 miles are still "in water" with just the first mile navigable (a trip boat operates in summer, proceeding EXTREMELY slowly to make it worth it). It's always a wonderful walk though    Read more

  • Barbra DepledgeBarbra’s Peak OdysseyTraveler
    Not sure what happened to the accompanying map. Things " just disappear" off my laptop and phone!
    Amidst the agriculture and empty hillsides - reminders of industry - a centuries old brickworksFarmers reaping crops already - presumably for fodderThe songful yellow wagtail posed nicely for binoculars, camera and Merlin app confirmationThe Gotham curve was the steepest bend on the standard guage network when the line was open.A picnic area with fabulous viewsthe Monsal Trail features a crazy number of tunnels and viaducts butThis one has a remarkable number of big embankments. A lot of work for a small lineHidden in trees a farm building from which horses were despatched to the front in 1914-18This raised section had a sign saying Hopton Bank cutting. It looked like an embankment to me!Now that's what I call a cuttingMiddleton Top Engine House - one of the buildings associated with hauling trains up the inclinesOne of many wooded hillsides carpeted with wild garlicTrains really do still run on this (very) narrow guage railwayQuirky and leisure based now it carried 120,000 headstones to war grave sites in WW1.First sight of Black Rocks peeping out of the treesI scrambled to the top of there recently - with the help of a grandchild!Another engine house. Sadly there were accidents involving runaway trains on the inclinesOne with a train carrying explosive led to the building of this escape tunnelThese carriages contain a brilliantly curated display about the different roles within the railwayA lovely last section along the canal

    Day 3

    May 15–18 in England ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    Another great day and NO RAIN!
    The statement " there's no such thing as bad weather, just wrong clothing" is patent nonsense. Of course good protective clothing helps and makes enjoyment possible even in bad weather, but it's so much nicer when the ☀️ shines.
    Thankfully the buses all worked fine this morning. I nearly missed the second one because having waited anxiously for the second one (lots of ifs and buts in the timetable making me wonder if I'd read it right!) it turned out to be a little minibus which wasn't what I was looking out for.
    The third bus was a real country service. The driver told all us pensioners to sit down and set off and then got us to "bip" our passes once it was 9.30! He reminded me of Gary who ued to drive the bus on our estate who would drop you off outside your door if you gave him a Mars bar. This driver kindly dropped me exactly where I wanted despite not having a Mars bar in my possession!
    Within half a mile I was back on the High Peak Trail and it was downhill all the way. It was however 15.6 miles and being hard surfaced very hard on the feet.

    The trail was remarkably quiet and I went long periods without seeing a soul.
    The first part was mainly farmland, endless lovely countryside with at times some powerful agricultural aromas.
    Then the views opened out and it was just expansive loveliness. I must have walked and cycled the entire Trail a few times but I really didn't remember this section.

    In the final section the history and heritage of this exceptional railway line was centre stage.
    The line was built when it was realised that getting the Cromford Canal up and over the hills of the Peak District to connect with the Peak Forest Canal at Whaley Bridge was going to require a quite impractical number of locks. The rail line still had to get up and over the hills so was built with a series of inclined with separate static engines hauling the trains up.
    The heritage carriages information on roles on the railway is fascinating. they include a man employed solely to switch the points if a runaway train was sighted so it ran into the escape tunnel. The driver were expected to leap out it hit the tunnel in this scenario

    Finally there was a pleasant mile along the only remaining navigable bit of the Cromford Canal.
    There have been some pressing family concerns for me to pray for today and as ever broader areas for prayer must fit around these. Thankfully there have been some encouraging answers today    Read more

  • Barbra DepledgeBarbra’s Peak OdysseyTraveler

    Beginning day 3

    May 15 in England ⋅ ☁️ 5 °C

    Today brings another early start. Although I'm normally out on my daily cycle ride at 6.30, that is routine, familiar, routine. Here I'm facing new challenges, however small, at an early hour. This morning brings the most complex "positioning flight" to return to where I left off my walk yesterday. Rural bus routes sometimes take different routes at different - presumably to meet the needs of different sections of rural communities. So it will take me 3 buses to get to where I want to be. And tonhe there before 10, I need to get the Transpeak (fortunately literally outside the door!) at 7.15 as far as Cromford, plenty of time to find the bus from there to Ashbourne. And then nearly an hour to wait for the bus to Newhaven. Fortunately I love the problem solving of working this all out and revel in the bus journeys - time to relax, enjoy a wonderful mix of familiar sights conjuring memories of past adventures and things I've never spotted before and seasonal delights. A real opportunity to celebrate being in the moment.

    Already two familiar themes are presenting themselves for further reflection.
    Back in Jeremiah 29 this morning, the first 9 verses are about settling down while waiting for the return from exile -so getting on with living everyday life faithfully, witnessing to God's goodness and faithfulness by the lives we live - rather focused on the longing for the better things promised, hoped for in the future - God's "big plan".
    Secondly Lectio 365 listeners will have been reminded this morning about being "constant in prayer". Easy to say but not so easy to maintain. I guess that whilst the apostles may have been living off the generosity of those women of Jerusalem (after God normally enables people to "live by faith" by prompting others to give), most of those 120 disciples in the twixt Ascension and Pentecost period had to go to work, keep house etc. Similarly we have to strive to be constant in prayer amidst the demands of everyday. As Christian communities, undertaking 24/7 prayer usually operates on a rota system. As an individual I need (aside from my Quiet Times and any other dedicated times of prayer) to discipline myself to be aware of God's presence and be in communication with him amidst my usual activities. Lots of room for growth!    Read more

  • Barbra DepledgeBarbra’s Peak OdysseyTraveler

    Cut off in my prime!

    May 14 in England ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    I get more technically inept with every passing day!
    I hadn't finished that last ramble!
    Verse 10 talks about AFTER the 70 years of exile. Thankfully we don't often have to wait 70 years but we do often have to wait what feels like a very long time before we move into the fullness of the Lord's plans for us. I think by underplaying the waiting we fail to validate the pain people experience (rant over).
    Amidst all this heavy stuff, I have been blessed with so much glorious scenery, long reaching views, wildlife etc - all signs of the wonder of our amazing Creator God!    Read more

  • Barbra DepledgeBarbra’s Peak OdysseyTraveler

    Day 2

    May 14 in England ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    Today got off to a funny start. As some of you will be aware, I deeply lament the absence of acknowledgement of many of the significant Christian. So when at home there are half a dozen or so local Anglican churches I frequent on these occasions. Accordingly I carefully researched and found the parish church here in Matlock had an Ascension Day Eucharist. I was perplexed that it said 7.30 a.m. to o 8.30 p.m. on their calendar which seemed a bit extreme but as it appeared on the calendar BEFORE their 9.30 a.m. I assumed they meant a.m. WRONG! I had a very pleasant stroll through the Park in early morning sunshine to find the place all locked up. 7.30 p.m. is nearly my bedtime so I've celebrated our Lord's Ascension on my own.
    Being all ready to roll and as the sun was shining I decided to pay the money to catch an earlier bus (twerly for oldies), got dropped off in the middle of nowhere where I ended yesterday. The first bit was my navigational challenge but once I found the correct starting point all went well.
    The sun was glorious and as I ascended onto the plateau of the White Peak, the views just got better and better. After the cross country but, it was easy walking for a while on the High Peak Trail and mainly quite quiet. The last bit into Hartington was more challenging but I made it in good time for the hoped for bus. Arriving in Buxton to catch the Transpeak bus it started raining torrentially and then turned to sleet. The bus was 25 minutes late so I huddled in a bus shelter with a number of neuro diverse and special needs folk so an opportunity to reach out and offer interest and concern(!).
    My reflections and conversations with the Lord have focused in two main areas. Firstly the need to remain flexible and adaptable (I do SO like to know what's happening when and not have my plans disrupted. Secondly some of you will know I have a bit of a hobbyhorse about how we love to quote Jeremiah 29.11 (I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you .....) neatly ignoring verse 10 (after the 70    Read more

  • Barbra DepledgeBarbra’s Peak OdysseyTraveler

    Background

    May 10 in England ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    In a couple of days, I shall be setting off on another pilgrimage walk.

    Having enjoyed my Peak Wesley pilgrimage last October, I very much wanted to undertake another pilgrimage walk this year. My objective initially was to capitalise on the things I loved and found most helpful about last year’s experience and avoid some of the things I found more difficult! I love walking alone and I absolutely love walking from one place to the next and staying in different places every night. However, I have almost always used luggage transfer services on multi-day walks in the past to avoid carrying a week or more’s baggage and these are not cheap. Solo travellers will also be all too familiar with the disproportionate cost of single accommodation. I was unable to justify incurring the cost of what might have been my preferred thing to do. So, I lit upon the idea of staying in a single base and using public transport to travel to and from the start and finish points of each day’s walk.

    I explored various designated (and potentially waymarked) routes but could not find one that worked in its entirety. So, I designed a circular route myself using parts of designated routes and trails. I am going to the Peak District again because the buses there are remarkably good and with a lot of careful planning it is possible to access lots of towns and villages (in my case, using my trusty Old Folks’ bus pass!). It isalso very familiar to me so the navigational challenges are less. I shall be staying in a self-catering studio apartment in the centre of Matlock which is a marvellous transport hub and has a couple of supermarkets so I can shop once and prepare all my own meals, snacks etc. reducing costs markedly.

    So, is this really a pilgrimage? I shan’t necessarily be treading in the footsteps of known heroes of the faith or visiting lots of holy shrines. My answer is that a multi day walk (or pretty much anything else) is what you make it. The main objective for me is to spend time alone with God and it is down to me to make sure that that is what happens. Walking is for me how I can best experience prolonged intimacy with God. I shall not be covering vast distances or scaling any huge heights but multi-day walking is always demanding whilst at the same time, giving the days a simple rhythm and routine. Being in the right place to catch buses and trusting them to turn up as per timetables will be an extra challenge but one I am comfortable with.

    I have felt quite conflicted as to whether it can be a “proper” pilgrimage without a lot more hardship! (We can hardly in reality think of it as “hardship” when people in our own country go hungry and homeless and people overseas are forced to flee violent conflict, are literally starving etc. so the question is a bit of a first world debate …..) Nonetheless, there are a lot of complex issues and it is probably no bad thing not to have everything we would like! At the end of the day, I am incredibly blessed and privileged to have the resources and the physical fitness to undertake what for me is still an exciting adventure.    Read more

    Trip start
    May 12, 2026
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