Longnor

March 8, 2017.

LONGNOR, MANIFOLD VALLEY,CLOUGH HEAD, BRUND, SHEEN, THE DEVONSHIRE ARMS AT HARTINGTON, DOVE VALLEY, BANK TOP FARM, PILSBURY CASTLE, CROWDECOTE AND THE CHESHIRE CHEESE AT LONGNOR

Distance: Ten miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Dry with cloud clearing to sunshine.

Walkers: Alastair Cairns, Mark Gibby, Alan Hart, Steve Kemp and Jock Rooney with Tips.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (attending agm), Peter Beal (walking in Lakes), Colin Davison (nursing broken ribs), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Lawrie Fairman (recovering from hernia op), George Whaites (decorating).

Leader: Rooney. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Cobbled square in centre of Longnor, Staffs.

Starting time: 10.20am. Finishing time: 4.20pm.

Circumstances conspired against us for this walk along two of the White Peak’s prettiest valleys, criss-crossing the counties of Staffordshire and Derbyshire en route. We were also depleted for medical reasons, but the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune did nothing to dampen our spirits.

Traffic problems on the A6 delayed Mark and your diarist and we were indebted to Jock for having the patience to wait for us even though a text message warning of our tardy arrival had not been received. 

There was a further short delay as Mark attempted to park his car in a manner which reminded me of the driving skills of my ex-wife Vicky.

When we did get under way, our progress was slowed by the muddy fields which were still soaked from torrential overnight rain. At first we tried to tiptoe our way around the worst affected areas. Before long we just ploughed through the mud, but it still impeded our speed.

The entertainment was provided by a machine in the gents’ toilet at our first watering hole. Apparently it could improve your height and posture because it offered to “Boost Your Erection.” But the makers of the brand, Rock Hard, also warned clients to “Use responsibly.”

On the nature front we heard the early call of the curlew and admired a magnificent display of snowdrops. We also passed within feet of the underwhelming structure known as Pilsbury Castle.

From the cobbled square in Longnor we turned left to pass Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese on our left before turning right at a green public footpath sign indicating the way to Brund (2mins). 

After the path took us through a farmyard we went through a series of wooden gates and stile as we headed south through a series of muddy fields.

We crossed a wooden footbridge over a stream (38mins) and followed another sign for Brund (50mins) before stopping for pies and port (55mins). We are indebted to Alastair for informing us that today was officially Britain’s Pie Day.

After we had digested this piece of trivia as well as our pies, we continued until the footpath took us to the left bank of the River Manifold (62mins). We proceeded with the river on our right and dog-legged through a gap stile (65mins). We followed a wooden public footpath sign for Brund and Sheen (71mins) and reached a road where we turned right.

Yards later we were at a junction and a map was produced – always the source of concern and dismay. Instead of following the road to Sheen we turned right as if we were heading back to Longnor but swiftly went left at a new gate, following a wooden public footpath sign (74mins)

This took us through a field, uphill through a gap stile and an exit by a wooden stile back to the road to Sheen, having cut a corner.  

As we proceeded we passed Clough Head and Sheldon House on our right before reaching the point in the road where a sign declared it to be named The Brund (79mins).

While we were marching along the mud-free road towards Sheen, first Tips then Jock rounded us up and brought us back to The Brund sign. We crossed a stile, now on our right (86mins) and climbed uphill. The path led us through a series of fields until we emerged via a stone step stile to a road (108mins)

Sheen Parish Church was a few yards to our left but we turned right and then left at a wooden public footpath sign, following the path to the right of a cottage (110mins) and followed the path through a series of gates and stiles until we reached a footbridge across the River Dove (130mins). We were now in Derbyshire.

We turned right and went through gates marked with yellow arrows until we reached a lane (143mins). On our right was the boarded up cheese factory which until recent years had produced Hartington Cheese. We turned left and reached the Devonshire Arms on our right (146mins) to enjoy their Black Sheep cask bitter at £3-30 a pint.

In the gents they also had a machine called Xciter which invited us to “wipe on sex appeal and boost your pulling power”. I am happy to report there were no signs of anybody attempting to do this.

From the front doors of the pub we headed to the right of the village duck-pond (147mins)

A plaque there informed us that Hartington was the first village in Derbyshire to be granted a market charter in 1203. Some parts of St Giles’ Church date back to the 1200s.

We were also told that the Old Creamery in Stonewell Lane, which was built by the Duke of Devonshire, once produced one quarter of the world’s Stilton cheese. Furthermore only three counties – Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire – are allowed to produce blue Stilton.

After passing the duck-pond and Pool Hall on our left (156mins) we stopped for lunch at the side of the road (159mins). Resuming we passed Bank Top Farm on our left (165mins) by the side of the River Dove. After passing Pilsbury Grange on our right (194mins) we passed a dazzling display of snowdrops on both sides of the road.

We turned left at a public bridleway (198mins) and reached Pilsbury Castle on our left (202mins). Anybody expecting to see a towering edifice or, indeed, some ruined battlements, were destined to be disappointed. It is little more than a mound of earth from which white limestone protrudes.

Far more impressive was the artist’s impression of what the motte and bailey castle might have looked like 800 years ago. It is believed to have been built within 50 years of the Norman Conquest and controlled the Dove Valley at a time when the Normans were following up their victory at the Battle of Hastings by the campaign to harry the rebels in the north of England.

We continued to walk along the right bank of the Dove, going through a farmyard (231mins) and emerging on a road at Crowdecote (235mins). Having confirmed that The Pack Horse on our right was closed at 3.33pm, we turned left across the Dove and thereby returned to Staffordshire (237mins).

A long uphill climb brought us to Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese back in Longnor (252mins). We were delighted to find it open at 3.50pm with a pretty blonde barmaid who was not only happy to serve us with pints of Robbies’ Unicorn cask bitter but also provided biscuits for Tips. From there it was only 80 yards back to our cars (253mins) after a long, tiring but enjoyable day.

The first three photographs by Alan Hart

Pictures below by Steve Kemp

Next week’s walk will start at 9.50am from the lay-by at Topley Pike on the right of the A6 out of Buxton next to the quarry. On the opposite side of the road is the Monsal Trail alongside the River Wye. We will be heading eastwards along the trail before turning south to reach The Church Inn at Chelmorton around 12.20pm. After de-booting back at Topley Pike we will drive to Wetherspoons’ Wye Valley House Hotel in Buxton for further refreshment at about 2.30pm.

Happy wandering !