Curbar

 February 23, 2022

CURBAR, BASLOW, CALVER, CURBAR WOOD, BEE WOOD, THE GROUSE AT NETHER PADLEY, FROGGATT EDGE, FROGGATT PINNACLE AND CURBAR

Distance: 9 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Dry sunny start becoming cloudy and windy.

Walkers: Peter Beal, Andy Blease, Alastair Cairns, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Mark Enright, Alan Hart, Chris Owen, Jock Rooney, Kieran Rooney, Dean Taylor, Dave Willetts, Simon Williams, Cliff Worthington.

Apologies: George Dearsley (in Turkey), Martin Evans (w*^king).

Leader: Cunliffe. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Lay-by at the top of Curbar Lane, Curbar, Derbyshire.

Starting time: 9.52am. Finishing time: 2.30pm

This was a reprise of a walk we enjoyed in hot and sunny weather last June. Considering the time of year and recent storms which had been ravaging the country we counted ourselves lucky to begin in unexpected sunshine. Although the sun was later replaced by clouds and a chill wind was making itself felt by the finish, our bakers' dozen stayed dry throughout.

Once again our leader had difficulties keeping up with his “followers” as Chris, Dean, Dave and Alastair strode ahead while priceless antiques like Jock and myself struggled to match their pace.

But we all managed to find the pub, where we received a warm welcome from the ladies behind the bar. We also shortened the journey when Tom, given a choice between mud and tarmac, chose the latter. So a loop through the inevitably slimy conditions in Froggatt Wood and Hay Wood was avoided on this occasion at the expense of an upward trudge along a busy main road.

From the lay-by where we had assembled we crossed the road to reach a wooden signpost opposite pointing downhill. We followed the rocky path as it meandered diagonally left with splendid views across the valley to the hills beyond.

To our right we looked back on the village of Curbar through which we had passed to reach our starting point.

The well-trodden path took us through a wooden gate and on our right a sign marked “Bull In Field.” As we passed this ominous warning it was impossible to see either a bull or a field. At a fork in the path ahead we followed the sign for Baslow (18mins)

The track led us between two drystone walls then we parted from it to climb a ladder stile on our left (24mins)

After squeezing through a gap stile we reached a lane and turned right downhill (32mins). Turning right into Gorse Bank Lane we reached the outskirts of Baslow (37mins) and headed through a farmyard (48mins). From here we could see the lay-by where our cars were parked on our right. They were 500 yards away as the crow flies but separated by impassable moorland.

Carrying straight on at a wooden public footpath sign (57mins) we turned left 20 yards later through a gate marked with a yellow arrow and headed downhill through two wooden gates. We then went right uphill (63mins) and turned right at a fork (68mins) ignoring a left turn with a stone footbridge over a stream. (Our trailblazing leaders had, we learned later, turned left here but found their way back to the route)

Our path took us to a lane where we turned left (71mins) and reached a road.

Crossing this we passed homes called Crifters and Candlelight Cottage on our right. Opposite Well House on our left we turned right (76mins) and right again after 20 yards to enter a field containing a children's playground. Uphill on a group of rocks, our advance party had already stopped for Pietime (80mins)

Continuing after a brief snack we continued uphill to a drystone wall where we turned left, soon turning right through a wooden gate (82mins) to enter Curbar Wood. After going through two metal gates in quick succession (98 and 99 mins) we entered Bee Wood and reached a stone step stile which was blocked by a fallen tree.

Our intrepid group found a variety of enterprising methods to circumvent this obstacle and reassemble on the far side (111mins). Here we followed a footpath down a steep hill on our left to reach a main road where we turned right (114mins)

Ignoring a potentially muddy path on our left (116mins) which would have led us towards Grindleford, Froggatt Wood and Hay Wood, Tom opted for a direct route by continuing along the main road. After a long uphill march we reached The Grouse at Nether Padley on our left (145mins) for pints of Marstons' Pedigree at £4.

As the main contingent prepared to leave, Rooney and Son chose to linger over their beer and make the return journey at their own pace. Bidding them farewell we turned right out of the pub and retraced our footsteps along the main road, though mercifully now heading downhill. At a lay-by where cars were parked on our left (153mins) we turned left and immediately right towards Froggatt Edge.

The route commands magnificent views on the right across the valley but by now the blue skies and sunshine had been replaced by clouds. After stopping for lunch at Froggatt Pinnacle (177mins) we continued along the clifftop path.

The path continued to provide pleasant views to our right although it was clear that the best of the weather was behind us. After passing a babbling brook on our right we went through a wooden gate (199mins) before turning right to follow a sign for Baslow Edge.

After 50 yards we turned sharp right to reach a road (201mins). By turning right downhill we soon reached the lay-by with our cars on the right (206mins)

Next week's walk will start at 10am from the main cobbled square outside The Grapes in Market Place, Longnor (SK17 ONT), which lies south east of Buxton as you cross the boundary from Derbyshire into Staffordshire. Jock will lead us up Axe Edge before returning to Longnor for drinks at The Cheshire Cheese around 2pm.

Happy Wandering !