July 21, 2021.
TOPLEY PIKE, WYE VALLEY MONSAL TRAIL, CHEW DALE, BANK PIT SPRING, CHURCH INN AT CHELMORTON, DEEP DALE
Distance: Eight miles.
Difficulty: Challenging terrain: one strenuous climb: one tricky descent: otherwise easy.
Weather: Dry, warm and mostly sunny.
Walkers: Peter Beal, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Alan Hart, John Jones, Jock Rooney and Dean Taylor.
Apologies: Mickey Barrett, Andy Blease, George Dearsley, Mark Gibby, Hughie Hardiman, Chris Owen, Dave Willetts.
Leader: Rooney. Diarist: Hart.
Starting point: Outside entrance to Topley Pike Quarry, near Buxton.
Starting time: 9.50am. Finishing time: 2.30pm.
Due to a misunderstanding this diary is based on my memory rather than any notes so my apologies for any further mistakes. The lack of detail available also makes it briefer than your diarist's normal verbose efforts, for which you may well be grateful.
From the free parking on spare land next to the quarry entrance on the A6 road linking Buxton with Bakewell we crossed to the pay-and-display car park at the start of the Monsal Trail. We walked with the River Wye on our left until we reached a cycle hire shop where we crossed to the other bank. We followed the footpath on the right with the Wye now on our right. Many plump brown trout were clearly seen idly loitering beneath the surface.
We negotiated two sets of stepping stones beneath the cliffs from which climbers were practising their techniques. The steep sides of the gorge were keeping us out of the hot sun but we still had to negotiate the undulating rocky path and several clusters of head-high nettles.
At one stage we crossed a footbridge to walk briefly back on the right bank of the river before criss-crossing back again to the left bank to continue. After a section of duckboarding we came to a stone footbridge on our right where we stopped for Pietime (70mins). For the first time since pandemic restrictions were invoked we were also allowed to share some tots of port.
Suitably fortified we continued by crossing the footbridge and heading slightly right at the start of a long hard climb up a scarcely visible path which brought us eventually to a drystone wall. It is believed this was once the site of a bronze age hill fort with views over the Chee valley below.
Our route took us through a farmyard and across a main road which we crossed and carried straight ahead for 100 yards before turning right at a wooden public footpath sign to enter a field. The route then brought us to the left of trees behind a drystone wall to an overgrown gate leading to another main road.
We crossed this and went over a stone step stile to enter a spinney with a drystone wall on our left. A stile led us into a field where we negotiated a herd of apprehensive cows with their newly-born calves.
Emerging via a stile to a path we turned left and swung right and followed a footpath with a farm far away on our right. After going through a gate we turned right at a public footpath sign which took us to the left side of the farm. We crossed three stiles to enter and leave fields until we reached a track from the farm.
Turning left we emerged at a lane where we turned right for 30 yards before turning left at a public footpath sign for Chelmorton (115mins). We followed this, passing Bank Pit Spring on our right.
Here a plaque informed us: The spring on this site was historically the source of Chelmorton's water supply. It was known as the 'Illy-Willy Water', and lies at the end of Grove Rake, an important former lead mining site.
The trough is the first of what used to be a series of water supply troughs down the west side of Main Street. The supply was replaced in the late 19thCentury by a 10,000 gallon tank – now redundant – below the trough.
After passing the spring we entered Chelmorton with St John the Baptist Parish Church on our left and The Church Inn on on right (140mins). Here we enjoyed pints of either Marstons' and Wainwrights' cask bitter in the sunny beer garden.
Resuming we turned right out of the pub and after 40 yards turned right at a public footpath uphill. This was the start of a route which went over stiles and gates in a north-westerly direction. After pausing for lunch we negotiated a tricky descent of Deep Dale with slippery limestone and scree to trap the unwary. Happily, apart from the odd girlish shriek from nettle stings, we emerged unscathed for the last lap of the journey. Here the footpath took us to the right of the quarry and deposited us at its entrance to rejoin our cars (200mins)
Next week's walk will start at 9.30am from the free Tom Brad's Croft car park next to Whaley Bridge canal basin. To reach it from the A6 take the Whaley Bridge signs, passing Tesco on your left and The Joddrell Arms on your right just before turning left and sharp left again to head towards the start of The Peak Forest Canal. The road swings right at the basin and the car park is on your right.
We intend to head up past the repaired dam at Todd Brook Reservoir to Taxal from where we will head for Taxal Nick and Windgather Rocks before descending down to the bridge between Errwood and Fernilee Reservoirs. On the far side of the bridge we will head left and walk along the right bank of the reservoir before reaching the main road and aiming to arrive at The Shady Oak for a bracer around 12.20pm. We will return to the car park around 2.30pm via the Goyt Valley and the disused Cromford and High Peak railway line.
Happy wandering !
Words by John Jones
Wander on 21st july;- we met at Topley Pike car park at 09.50 hrs, six walkers, (seven including the illicit female daisy. Self, Dean, Alan, Tom,Jock, Peter....It was interesting to note that most of us wore large brimmed hats ,rather wisely and most wore shorts which with untidy , nettle and thistle girded paths proved to be the opposite? As there was a confusion over who exactly was to lead this walk it was ruled by proxy...
Over A6 along River Wye and walking past cycle shed we crossed the river turning right, East, at the four terraced cottages. keeping E for two miles travelling over greasy stepping stones . limestone etc. Onto a narrow footbridge where we stopped for pie time utilising the scant shade. A welcome return to some normality was a nip from alan's hip flask. Much appreciated.
Over said bridge taking a s up to a (now disused ) roman settlement which once commanded a superb and strategic view over 270 degrees. .Through field and a lane walking S to Blackwell hall . across B6049 ,SE up lane shortly taking a R over stile and uphill past cattle and onto the A6 which we crossed entering the much needed shade of a small copse..Uphill through a delightful "Wildflower Meadow" and along Sough Lane . turning R taking a WSW direction along dry stone wall and passing Fivewells Farm over PillWell Lane and joining old lead rake down to Chelmorton passing the old sough and past water supply for the village. Into the pub yard where we greedily quenched our deserved thirsts... delicious ales at a not too dear price.. This pub never fails us .. After which with a slight collective unsteadiness we took a R turn entering Common Lane passing Shepley farm and crossing Old Coalpit Lane, NNW past burrs farm which is neater every time we pass by, A quick lunch and then down to a dale taking a N direction past settling pools and back to our cars, 9 mile approx over under 5 hours.
Next week's wander will be from the roadside by the Cock Inn, 09.40. Whaley bridge , will visit the shady oak at Fernilee and will be led by Alan hart.
pictures by Alan Hart
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