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Derbyshire; The Peak District
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  • Andrew's Travels

Derbyshire; The Peak District

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  • Andrew's TravelsDerbyshire; The Peak DistrictTraveler
    The Hope and Anchor
    The Hope and AnchorBeef BrisketSt Mary's Gate and the Wirksworth Heritage CentreSt Mary's ChurchThe Old Grammar School (Georgian Gothic, 1827), now two private dwellingsSymonds HouseThe Town HallCast Iron Milepost by the Town HallThe Red Lion Hotel, originally the town's principal coaching and posting innThe Feather Star Ale House is now in the main bar of the Red Lion HotelThe Moot Hall on Chaoel LaneThe Old Chapel at Chapel Row, now rentable modern cottages (where we stayed)

    Wirksworth

    August 16 in England ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    Wirksworth is a historic market town located on the southern edge of the Peak District National Park; the area has been mined since Roman times and developed as a centre for lead mining and stone quarrying.

    After the Wirksworth Circular Walk, we rest for a while before going to the Hope and Anchor for an early Sunday evening meal. After this (still before 6 pm), we have a walk around the town using an architectural trail map from the accommodation; see captions on photos for details of this attractive town.    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsDerbyshire; The Peak DistrictTraveler
    Wirksworth Station: This is the end of the Ecclesbourne Valley Heritage Railway Line from Duffield
    Wirksworth Station: This is the end of the Ecclesbourne Valley Heritage Railway Line from DuffieldView towards the disused Dale Quarry near WirksworthBolehill; a cottage on our way up to Cromford MoorView towards another disused quarry near WirksworthThe trail through the woods near Black Rock, on Cromford MoorThe trig point, 323m, near the Bolehill telecommunication and TV relay mastBlack Rock, formed of weathered Ashover gritView of disused quarry close to Black RockOn the High Peak Trail (not dissimilar to the Monsal Trail)Steeple Grange Light Railway, an 18 inch gauge Heritage Railway staffed by volunteersView down the Middleton Incline, walking up to Middleton TopMiddleton Top Engine House; this used to haul trains up the 1 in 8 InclineInside the Middleton Top Engine HouseInside the Middleton Top Engine HouseMiddleton Top Intake Quarry (disused)The StarDisc Stone Circle is located in Stoney Wood, above WirksworthDetail of my birth signStoney Wood informationView towards BolehillWalking down into WirksworthRoute Map for the Wirksworth Circular Walk

    Wirksworth Circular via part of High Peak Trail

    August 16 in England ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    We leave the accommodation and walk up past the cemetery and then up to Bolehill; from here, it is a climb up to the woods on Cromford Moor and across to Black Rock.

    We then join the High Peak Trail; this is a 17.5-mile trail that runs from Dowlow near Buxton to High Peak Junction near Cromford, following the historic route of the 1831 Cromford and High Peak Railway. We see the station at Steeple Grange and carry on up the Middleton Incline to Middleton Top; fortunately for us, the restored Engine House is open on Sundays.

    Soon after this, we turn off and walk down towards Wirksworth, passing more disused quarries, eventually reaching the StarDisc Stone Circle on the edge of Stoney Wood; it is an interesting 21st century illuminated stone circle and celestial amphitheatre that spans 12m and is carved into black granite. We walk along the edge of Stoney Wood and join the road down into Wirksworth.

    It has been a really interesting and varied 5.4-mile walk. We walk back for a shower before heading out to Wirksworth for dinner and a look around.    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsDerbyshire; The Peak DistrictTraveler
    Cromford; View over Cromford Pond, built in 1785 as the pound for Cromford Mill
    Cromford; View over Cromford Pond, built in 1785 as the pound for Cromford MillCromford; A mid-19th century water wheel for a mill grinding locally mined barytesCromford; Willersley Castle dominates the hill on the east side of the River DerwentCromford; St Mary's Church, built between 1792 and 1797 by Richard ArkwrightCromford; Inside the ChurchCromford Mill; the world's first water-powered cotton spinning millCromford Mill yard; the sluice on the mill yardCromford Mill: The water wheel has been refurbished and provides energy for the site nowCromford Mill; Cotton spinning machineCromford Wharf on the Cromford Canal; The Gothic WarehouseMasson Mill: This is on the River Derwent, and was more powerful than Cromford MillMasson Mill; home to a working textile museum, unfortunately closed todayMasson Mill; Inside the Visitor Centre

    Cromford

    August 15 in England ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    We leave our cottage in Eyam and head off for 2 nights in Wirksworth via Cromford, where we stop off.

    Cromford is a picturesque, historic village, and part of the UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site Derwent Valley Mills; the village is famous as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, and features one of Sir Richard Arkwright’s pioneering water-powered cotton mills, We have a walk around the village before visiting Cromford Mill (1771), followed by Masson Mill (1783), also an Arkwright Mill, on the northern fringe of the village. Whereas Cromford Mill was powered by water from the Bonsall Brook and the Cromford Sough, Masson Mill was powered from the River Derwent and therefore had more power. Masson Mill and its Textile Museum were unfortunately closed due to staff illness. See captions on photos for details.

    From here, we drive on to Wirksworth.    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsDerbyshire; The Peak DistrictTraveler
    Eyam; St Lawrence's Church
    Eyam; St Lawrence's ChurchView down to Eyam ascending Eyam EdgeSir William Hill Radio MastLadywash Mine; a historic mixed-ore and fluorspar mineEntering Eyam MoorEyam MoorView down to Bretton CloughView over to Abneylow BarnStoke FordWalking along Bretton CloughView over to Abneylow2Bretton; The Barrel InnView down to FoolowDisused mineAn old well?Old Farm building on the walk down to FoolowFoolow; St Hugh's Church (formerly an old smithy)Foolow; inside St Hugh's ChurchFoolow; the village pondFoolow; the village cross is a Grade II listed medieval stone crossFoolow; The Bull's HeadEn route to Eyam; you can just see the Barrel Inn at Bretton at the topEn route to Eyam; Black Hole Mine with Eyam Edge behind itEn route to EyamEyam Circular Walk via Stoke Ford, Bretton, and Foolow

    Eyam Circular via Stoke Ford, Bretton, Foolow

    August 14 in England ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    Our last walk in the Eyam area on this trip is a circular walk, based on one we have in our book. We leave Eyam and walk up Eyam Edge to cross Eyam Moor to Stoke Ford (via a different path to last time).

    From Stoke Ford, we walk along Bretton Clough to Bretton; despite being a tiny hamlet, Bretton has a well-known and popular pub, The Barrel Inn, and a youth hostel because of its location on a ridge with a panoramic view. It is also the border between the so-called White Peak District area (limestone) and the Dark Peak District area (gritstone). Then we walk down to the picturesque village of Foolow; from here, we take the footpath directly across to Eyam. There have been good views during the walk; see captions on photos for details.

    It has been a lovely walk of approx. 8.5 miles in good weather, a bit cooler than yesterday. Later on, it's back to The Miner's Arms for beer and food; the end of our week based in Eyam.    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsDerbyshire; The Peak DistrictTraveler
    Baslow; Methodist Church, originally a Sunday School
    Baslow; Methodist Church, originally a Sunday SchoolBaslow; Bar Brook, a tributary of the River Derwent that flows down from the moorlandsChatsworth Park Estate; soon after the entranceChatsworth Park Estate; small building near the caravan parkChatsworth Park Estate; view of Chatsworth HouseChatsworth Park Estate; Queen Mary's Bower, a raised stone garden featureChatsworth Park Estate; view of Chatsworth House from the bridgeChatsworth Park Estate; sheepChatsworth Park Estate; sheep keeping coolChatsworth Park Estate; view back to Chatsworth House across the River DerwentChatsworth Park Estate; approaching Calton LeesApproaching Rowsley after Calton LeesApproaching Rowsley after Bank WoodRowsley; St Katherine's ChurchRowsley; the Viaduct is now disusedRowsley Bridge; view back / view aheadThe route from Baslow to Rowsley

    Derwent Valley Heritage Way; Baslow to Rowsley

    August 13 in England ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Today, we walk section 3 of the Derwent Valley Heritage Way from Baslow to Rowsley. We take the bus to Baslow Church and follow the route up and down to Nether End before joining the path through the Chatsworth Park Estate and passing by Chatsworth House. We walk on to Calton Lees, where Chatsworth Garden Centre is situated. From here, we walk on towards Rowsley; this village is located at the point where the River Wye flows into the River Derwent and prospered from mills on both rivers. It has been a lovely 5.5-mile walk that was very hot towards the end (hence an early start); see captions on photos for details.

    We take the bus back to Bakewell and change there for Eyam to get back to the cottage.    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsDerbyshire; The Peak DistrictTraveler
    En route to Stoney Middleton; old farm building
    En route to Stoney Middleton; old farm buildingView back to the Sir William Hill Mast after steep ascent from Stoney MiddletonView en route to Coombs DaleWalking along Coombs Dale; view backView from close to the top of Coombs DaleView back after leaving Coombs DaleDisused quarry; opencast workingsDisused quarry; opencast workingsRowland; a herd of cowsPile of logs close to Long Rake PlantationCrossing the Monsal TrailEn route to BakewellEn route to BakewellEn route to BakewellAnother herd of cows"I am not a number, I am a free cow"Close to Bakewell; Holme Hall, a Grade I listed Jacobean Manor, privately ownedBakewell Bridge; a Grade I listed arch bridge over the River WyeBakewell; War Memorial and the Rutland Arms HotelBakewell; Bath GardensThe walking route for Eyam to BakewellThe partial eclipse of the sun viewed using a colander; note the movement from one side to the other

    Eyam to Bakewell Walk

    August 12 in England ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    We leave our accommodation early for our walk to Bakewell to avoid the forecasted afternoon heat. We set off before 8:30 am. towards Stoney Middleton (using a different path to last time) and from there walk up and south towards Coombs Dale, a steep-sided, dry limestone valley; we see some of the old mines and quarries that were used in the past. From Bleaklow, we walk to and through Rowland, a small hamlet close to Great Longstone.

    We walk outside Long Rake Plantation before crossing the Monsal Trail on our way to Bakewell (see Monsal Trail separate trip in FP). After a quick look around Bakewell (see Bakewell post earlier in this trip in FP), we take the bus back to Eyam. See captions on photos for more details of the walk and the screen capture of the route; it has been a lovely walk of about 7 miles.

    Later on, we watched the partial eclipse of the sun using a colander and a piece of paper.    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsDerbyshire; The Peak DistrictTraveler
    The River Derwent near the start of the walk
    The River Derwent near the start of the walkCoppice Wood; Almost a stepping stone bridge...View after leaving the woodGrindleford; St Helen's ChurchGrindleford; the butterfly meadow close to the churchHorse Hay CoppiceThe path back in Horse Hay CoppiceView from Spooner Lane after leaving the woodFroggatt; view across the River Derwent to Stoke Hall, a Georgian Palladian mansionFroggatt; the Wesleyan Reform ChapelThe River Derwent after crossing Froggatt BridgeCalver Mill Goit; water was channelled from the Derwent to power the cotton-spinning machineryCalver; The Old School House at Stocking Farm was a day school for Calver Mill worker"s childrenCalver; The old cotton mill is now an apartment blockApproaching Baslow; view backBaslow Bridge; view back / view aheadBaslow BridgeBaslow; St Anne's ChurchThe route from Leadmill Bridge, Hathersage to Baslow

    Derwent Valley Heritage Way; Hathersage - Baslow

    August 11 in England ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Today, we walk section 2 of the Derwent Valley Heritage Way from Hathersage to Baslow; the 55-mile long-distance footpath follows the River Derwent from Ladybower Reservoir in the Peak District National Park down to Derwent Mouth, where it joins the River Trent near Shardlow.

    We start from Leadmill Bridge near Hathersage and follow the path along the path via Grindleford, Froggatt, and Calver to Baslow; see captions on photos for details of the walk and the final photo for the route. It was a lovely walk of 6.8 miles (my OS app says 7.3 miles, but it is usually 10% high....)

    Later on, we enjoyed a meal and good ale at The Miner's Arms in Eyam.    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsDerbyshire; The Peak DistrictTraveler
    Walking to Mount Pleasant Farm from Hathersage
    Walking to Mount Pleasant Farm from HathersageWalking to Mount Pleasant Farm from HathersageView from Mount Pleasant FarmHighlow Hall; a grade II listed historic Elizabethan manor houseCossing Highlow Brook en route to Stoke FordCossing Highlow Brook en route to Stoke FordView back to AbneyEn route down to Bretton BrookThe other side; almost there!View backThe walk

    Hathersage to Eyam Walk via Stoke Ford and Abney

    August 10 in England ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    We take the 9:20 bus to Hathersage and from there walk down to Leadmill Bridge and cross the River Derwent. We walk via Mount Pleasant Farm and Callow Wood to Highlow Hall, a grade II listed historic Elizabethan manor house dating back to the 16th century. We walk down to Highlow Wood and then turn west towards Stoke Ford.

    From here, we walk along Abney Clough, a secluded wooden valley towards the tiny gritstone village of Abney. We then walk south towards Bretton, crossing Bretton Brook after walking through a heavy fern growth on the way down. Despite being a tiny hamlet, Bretton has a well-known and popular pub, The Barrel Inn, and a youth hostel because of its location on a ridge with a panoramic view.

    We then walk down Eyam Edge, a high gritstone and shale ridge with a lot of gorse, to join a small road back to Eyam. It's been an almost 9-mile walk with a lot of different scenery.    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsDerbyshire; The Peak DistrictTraveler
    Eyam; Cucklet Church, a limestone outcrop - Rev Mompesson stood here to preach during the plague
    Eyam; Cucklet Church, a limestone outcrop - Rev Mompesson stood here to preach during the plagueInside Cucklet ChurchView into Cucklet ChurchEyam; The stocksEyam HallEyam roasting jackOutside a plague cottageOne of the plague cottagesEyam Church (dedicated to St Lawrence)The Celtic CrossInside Eyam ChurchThe plague windowThe names of people who died during the plague (260, one-third of the villagers)The former Eyam Mechanics InstituteThe Lydgate GravesThe Boundary Stone, halfway between Eyam and Stoney Middleton; food and supplies would be left hereStoney Middleton Church (dedicated to St Martin)The unusual octagonal nave is one of only two to be found in the UKStoney Middleton Roman BathsThe Riley Graves; Mrs Hancok, from Riley Farm, buried her husband and six children hereView en route back to EyamMompesson's Well; a natural spring, and during the plague, a safe place to leave food and suppliesEyam MoorWalking down to EyamEyam; Humphrey Merrill's Tomb - he was the village herbalist during the plagueThe route

    Eyam Historic Places Walk and Eyam Moor

    August 9 in England ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    We are back in Derbyshire and drive to Eyam; our cottage is nice and well situated in the historic village of Eyam. Eyam is famous for the bravery of the villagers when the plague devastated the village in 1665-1666; they isolated themselves and prevented the plague from spreading to nearby villages and towns. We use a pamphlet detailing the many places of interest concerning the plague and see some of the other interesting things here.

    The plague started here in 1665 when George Viccars, a journeyman tailor, was lodging in one of the cottages and received a box of damp cloth from London, where the plague was raging; he hung it to dry in the cottage and died shortly after.. A new young Rector, the Rev. William Mompesson, asked the villagers to shut themselves off to avoid contaminating the whole area. The captions on the photos describe a bit more detail about the plague then.

    It was a very good and interesting day, with 8.8 miles walking.    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsDerbyshire; The Peak DistrictTraveler
    The Town End Well Dressing
    The Town End Well DressingDetailThe Small Dale Well DressingDetailThe Church End Well DressingDetailThe Hills Well DressingDetail

    Bradwell; Well Dressing

    August 5, 2025 in England ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    We drive to the village of Bradwell to see the well dressings that are there.

    Well Dressing is an ancient custom that is peculiar to Derbyshire and the Peak District; they are highly decorative items created to place near wells or springs as a thanksgiving for the water It happens in this area because of the limestone here; the porous rock has eroded over the years and rainfall is quickly lost underground - thus access to this water via spings and wells became essential to the agricultural villages economies of the past. About 80 towns and villages in the area have Well Dressings from May to September each year. Colour is added to a design from natural sources, such as bark, flowers, and petals.

    We see the Bradwell Well Dressings at Town End, Small Dale, Church End, and The Hills. They are all very beautiful.    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsDerbyshire; The Peak DistrictTraveler
    Bakewell Old House Museum
    Bakewell Old House MuseumThe tithe collector at his deskFarming implementsCooking areaWashing areaLoomView of All Saints Church from the Old House MuseumAll Saints Church; lychgate entranceView of the churchOld Saxon crosses in the church groundsChurch porch: medieval and saxon cross fragments / ancient stone coffinsInside the churchInside the churchThe two funeral chapels in the Bakewell cemetery area (away from All Saints Church)Bakewell Town; War Memorial and the Rutland Arms HotelStreet sceneBakewell pudding shopsBakewell's ancient road bridge

    Bakewell; Town

    August 4, 2025 in England ⋅ 🌧 19 °C

    Bad weather and rain all morning due to Storm Floris in Scotland and the North, so it's a late start; after lunch, we walk into Bakewell.

    Bakewell is a market town and civil parish in the Derbyshire Dales district of the county and the only proper town within the boundaries of the Peak District (it's capital!)

    We visit the market briefly and then go to the Old House Museum; this is a "folk" museum within a Grade II listed Tudor building that was originally built as a tithe house (a tax collector's dwelling) - it was later extended for other dwellings. The museum and exhibits cover the lives of former inhabitants; artefacts within date from the Tudor period onwards, and include ceramics, costumes, and toys. It is quirky and interesting.

    We then visit the All Saints Church; this is noted for its two Saxon Crosses in its grounds (the Beeley Cross and the Bakewell Cross), as well as a selection of medieval / Anglo Saxon cross fragments and ancient stone coffins in the porch.

    From there, we wander around the town before heading back to our accommodation (check photo captions for details).    Read more

    Trip start
    August 2, 2025