April 28, 2021.
LONGNOR, DOVE VALLEY, BEGGER'S BRIDGE, ALDERLEY CLIFF, ABBOTSIDE FARM, HURDLOW GRANGE, ROYAL OAK AT SPARKLOW, HIGH PEAK TRAIL, CUSTARD FIELD FARM, DARLEY FARM, PILSBURY CASTLE, RIVER DOVE, THE PACK HORSE INN AT CROWDECOTE, YE OLDE CHESHIRE CHEESE INN AT LONGNOR
Distance: 9-10 miles.
Difficulty: Easy.
Weather: Dry but cloudy with occasional sunshine: chilly wind.
Walkers: Peter Beal, Andy Blease, Alastair Cairns, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Hughie Hardiman, Alan Hart, Chris Owen, Jock Rooney, Paul Sidebotham, Dean Taylor, Dave Willetts.
Apologies: Micky Barrett (in Lakes), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Mark Gibby (in Ripon), John Jones (removal preparations)
Leader: Rooney. Diarist: Hart.
Starting point: Cobbled main square in Longnor, Staffs.
Starting time: 9.56am. Finishing time: 1.53pm.
A chill wind did nothing to cool our enthusiasm for this attractive walk as we criss-crossed the boundaries of Staffordshire and Derbyshire in and around the Dove Valley. Apart from the magnificent scenery we also admired a 900-year-old castle and three traditional country pubs. In the interests of research we inspected two of them and promised ourselves a visit to the third on another occasion.
Jock has clearly learned much from his faithful border collie Tip as he led our 11-strong group mainly from the rear, nipping at the heels of any strays where necessary.
The tactic worked well until we reached a pub a mile from the finishing line when Peter and Hughie disappeared together for the second time in a month. It is to be hoped this will not lead to any scurrilous unsubstantiated gossip. In these enlightened times we would not wish to be judgemental.
From the main square we turned left, passing our ultimate destination, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, on our left as we walked in the direction of Crowdecote before turning left up Dove Ridge (4mins). We turned right at a wooden public bridleway sign (6mins) and followed this until just before reaching a barn where we turned left and immediately right at a sign spelt Begger's Bridge (11mins)
To our left as we walked through a field was the distinctive shape of Chrome Hill. After crossing the infant River Dove via the bridge we followed a path to the right (19mins) and reached a lane where we turned left (26mins) passing Alderley Cliff on our left. Beyond Abbots Grove on our right (33mins) we turned sharp right passing a sign warning “Unsuitable For Motors” as we headed uphill.
On our left was an easily-missed wooden gate with a yellow arrow (38mins) which we used to cross a field and then a lane on the far side with another small gate and yellow arrow (39mins). We aimed diagonally right to the centre of the next field and went through a wooden gate marked with a wooden public footpath sign (43mins)
Another wooden gate (44mins) led us through a field where we kept a drystone wall on our right. The path now led us through a series of gates , fields and a copse of saplings to a stone step stile which led to a gravel track (59mins) where we paused for Pietime.
Continuing we squeezed through a gap stile to enter a field, keeping close to a drystone wall on our right before turning right through an open gateway (61mins). We reached a lane and headed left downhill(64mins) passing Hurdlow Grange on our right (70mins) and arriving outside The Royal Oak at Sparklow (87mins)
Because of our brisk pace we had arrived there 22 minutes early for their noon opening time, so after some of the group availed themselves of the toilet facilities we continued.
Passing the pub on our left we soon turned right downhill along a track which passed Railway Cottage on its right (93mins) before entering a car park and joined The High Peak Trail (95mins)
The High Peak Trail runs for 17 miles from Dowlow to Cromford following the trackbed of the former Cromford and High Peak railway line. This was completed in 1831 to carry minerals and goods between the Cromford Canal and the Peak Forest Canal at Whaley Bridge. The line closed in stages between 1963 and 1967 because it was no longer deemed viable. It was reopened as a leisure facility and is joined by The Tissington Trail and is now part of The Pennine Bridleway and The National Cycling Network.
We followed the trail, passing a sign for Parsley Hay (101mins) before turning right at a wooden public footpath sign marked with a yellow arrow (127mins). This path led us through the yard of Darley Farm (130mins), across the road and a dogleg right and left turn which took us through a wooden gate marked with a yellow arrow.
After crossing three stone step stiles we headed through another farmyard before following a signpost for Pilsbury (143mins)
We crossed a lane and aimed for Pilsbury up a flight of steps through a wooden gate and by following a yellow arrow (144mins). Similar arrows on a series of posts led us through two wooden gates and a series of three stone step stiles.
When we reached a signpost for Pilsbury left and Crowdecote straight ahead we ignored the left turn (160mins), continuing to aim for Crowdecote at another wooden public footpath sign (169mins). After going through a wooden gate marked with a yellow arrow (171mins) we reached the mound of earth and stone which was once Pilsbury Castle (179mins)
This motte and bailey ruin was built after the Norman Conquest as troops loyal to William the Conqueror carried out their ruthless campaign to harry the north of England into submission through force and starvation. It controlled the Dove Valley until falling into disuse during the 12th Century.
We proceeded along the right bank of the Dove through a wooden kissing gate (189mins) and a metal gate (202mins) to reach a main road (207mins). Here we turned right to enter the beer garden behind The Pack Horse Inn on our right (208mins)
This traditional English country pub was taken over by young Latvian landlord Chris and his wife just before the covid virus and subsequent lockdown disrupted the hospitality industry. We wish them well in running one of the best pubs in the area.
Leaving The Pack Horse we turned left to cross the road bridge over the River Dove, thus returning from Derbyshire to Staffordshire. It was only a mile to Longnor and Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese on our right (226mins) where further refreshment was taken.
Next week's walk will start at 9.30am from the car park of Sutton Hall, Gurnet, on the outskirts of Macclesfield. We are hoping our wounded comrade Laurie Fairman will be fit enough to join us for a pint at The Harrington Arms in Gawsworth, which we expect to reach for a livener around 12.15pm. Further refreshment will be taken on our return to Sutton Hall at about 2.30pm.
Happy wandering !
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