June 16, 2021.
CURBAR, BASLOW, CALVER, CURBAR WOOD, BEE WOOD, GRINDLEFORD, FROGGATT WOOD, HAY WOOD, THE GROUSE AT NETHER PADLEY, FROGGATT EDGE, FROGGATT PINNACLE AND CURBAR
Distance: 10+ miles.
Difficulty: Strenuous.
Weather: Hot and sunny.
Walkers: Mickey Barrett, Peter Beal, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Hughie Hardiman, Alan Hart, John Jones, Chris Owen, Dean Taylor, George Whaites and Dave Willetts.
Apologies: Andy Blease (Anglesey), Alastair Cairns (w*^king), Mark Gibby (monitoring Royal Ascot)
Leader: Cunliffe. Diarist: Hart.
Starting point: Lay-bys towards the top of Curbar Lane, Curbar, Derbyshire.
Starting time: 10.03am. Finishing time: 3.33pm.
Reaching the starting point for this walk involved one of our longest forays into the Derbyshire Dales. But all agreed the views were worth the journey. After the exertions of last week we were put through our paces again. This time we had to contend with a blazing sun and hardly a breath of wind.
After a gruelling climb to our pub stop we were able to relax in the beer garden before our final push along Froggatt Edge where we had one last lingering look at the spectacular scenery before we returned to our cars below it.
From the lay-bys we crossed the road to follow a wooden public footpath sign downhill and through two wooden gates. Where the path swung right we headed down to our left to cross a ladder stile (22mins). In the fields below cows and their calves were sunbathing in a meadow.
After going through one wooden gate ahead we went through another wooden gate on our left marked with a yellow arrow (55mins). Our route took us through a series of gates until we went through a wood and emerged on a lane, where we turned left (67mins)
On a distant hillside a staunch royalist had planted a living memorial in foliage to our long-reigning queen.
We crossed a road, passing a house called Crifters on our right. It is my sad duty to report that at this stage there was some indiscipline in the ranks. At the front Chris had set a brisk pace but missed a turning on the right marked by a partially hidden wooden footpath sign.
Dave and Dean had taken the correct path and temporarily vanished into a field. Meanwhile JJ and George had become detached at the rear of the group. Mercifully the phone connections were good and we were able to reassemble after turning right at the sign and passing a play area before pausing for a late Pietime (82mins) on a handy pile of rocks.
Resuming we headed towards a drystone wall, turning left 20 yards before we reached it and going through a wooden gate (84mins). The path on our left then took us into Curbar Wood.
At some stage, after passing through two ancient gates, this became Bee Wood. After heading left over a stone step stile we reached a main road (117mins). Here we turned right for 150 yards until, opposite Woodstone House, we crossed the road and turned sharply left down a gravel track. After 50 yards we turned right into Froggatt Wood and used stepping stones to cross a stream (132mins)
Following a yellow arrow on our right (143mins) we crossed duckboards (147mins) and reached a diverted path to the Grouse Inn and Haywood House (150mins). The diversion took us through two wooden gates. On our right was a mansion and on the left was a bridge over a stream. We crossed the stream and turned immediately right uphill for the challenging walk through Hay Wood.
In doing so your diarist became the third Wednesday Wanderer – but not the last - to crack his head on the same overhanging branch.
As we climbed ever upwards we finally reached two wooden gates which enabled us to leave the wood and enter a field. On the far side of it was the welcome sight of The Grouse (183mins), where we enjoyed pints of Wainwrights' cask bitter for £4 in the sunny beer garden.
We were also treated to a round of drinks by Mickey, who was celebrating the 71st anniversary of his birth. We wish him many happy returns.
Suitably refreshed we left the pub and turned right along the main road before crossing it and following a sign for Froggatt Edge (192mins). As we walked there were magnificent views of the valley below. We stopped for lunch (216mins) at a rock formation including a distinctive landmark called Froggatt Pinnacle.
After lunch we continued along the path and went through a wooden gate before turning right to follow a sign for Baslow Edge (246mins)
Next week's walk will start at 10am from the war memorial statue outside the main entrance to Piccadilly railway station. We intend to explore the city's points of interest including several historic pubs and a much-loved curry house.
Happy wandering !
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