Eyam

 April 27, 2022.

EYAM, WILLIAM HILL, NETHER PADLEY, ABNEY, THE BARREL INN AT BRETTON, GRINDLOW, FOOLOW AND EYAM

Distance: 8miles.

Difficulty: Moderately strenuous.

Weather: Dry but cloudy with a chilly breeze.

Walkers: Andy Blease, Mark Enright, Mark Gibby, Alan Hart, Chris Owen, Jock Rooney, Dean Taylor, Keith Welsh, Dave Willetts.

Apologies: Micky Barrett (routine blood test), Peter Beal (in Wensleydale), Alastair Cairns (dental appointment), Tom Cunliffe (chest infection), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Martin Evans (in India)

Leaders: Rooney and Owen. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Free car park behind public toilets in Eyam, Derbyshire.

Starting time: 9.55am. Finishing time: 2.37pm.

Jock came up with an ingenious idea for supervising this splendid route from the pretty village of Eyam in the Derbyshire Dales. Knowing he would be outpaced by the younger members of the group, he gave Chris verbal directions for the journey ahead.

Chris, with his combination of cheerful enthusiasm and absence of any sense of direction, strode onwards while Jock followed like a sheepdog herding us from the rear. As Chris and his followers hared off unerringly on a series of false trails they returned as Jock was thus in time to catch up. Consequently we were able to complete our circular route to the highest pub in Derbyshire without any casualties.

After a challenging uphill start we could see for miles in every direction because there was clear visibility despite wall-to-wall cloud above.

On the nature front we walked through many fields containing ewes with their spring-born lambs and at one point spotted a pair of buzzards which grew bigger as they approached overhead and proved to be gliders from a nearby flying school.

From the car park we walked back to its entrance and swung right uphill until we reached a wooden public footpath sign on our left leading into woods (7mins). The path took us upwards through a series of wooden gates before we went right over a stone step stile and headed towards the communications mast on William Hill. Beyond it was a locked gate which we were obliged to climb to reach a lane and turn right to join Jock and Keith who were following the correct route and crossing the lane to go straight on at a wooden public footpath sign (28mins) whilst we joined them and turned left,

View from William Hill

As we started our descent (36mins) we crossed two stone step stiles (45 and 55mins) to reach a T-junction where we turned right down to a wooden footbridge over a stream. On the far side we stopped for pies and port (65mins)

Continuing we crossed another footbridge and followed a sign for Abney through a wooden gate. At a second wooden gate (79mins) we turned left.

On the way to Abney

The path took us through a seven-barred metal gate (85mins) and we reached a lane where we turned left (89mins). We turned left again at a wooden public footpath sign for Nether Bretton (93mins) and crossed a wooden footbridge (95mins) before beginning a climb along a path through the trees.

Our route took us through a wooden gate marked with a white arrow (98mins), over another gate followed by stone steps (100mins), and yet another wooden gate where we turned left at a wooden public footpath sign (102mins). We swung right at a large white public footpath sign (104mins) and immediately left at a wooden public footpath sign leading us over a stone step stile (105mins)

The path led us up stone steps on our left to cross a wooden stile (109mins) and follow the route across moorland to a wooden footbridge (114mins) followed in quick succession by a wooden gate and another footbridge. At a fork in the path we went right uphill (117mins)

En route we passed this pony

We then began our second arduous climb of the day through wooden gates and stone step stiles until we emerged on a minor road on the left of a house called Shangri La Cottage (134mins)

Here we turned right to reach a main road with The Barrel Inn at Bretton on our left (141mins) where Andy bought a round of drinks to celebrate his 59^th birthday. We wished him many happy returns as we sat outside for a brief glimpse of sunshine before a chilly wind drove us back inside the pub.

Birthday boy Andy is second left

The Barrel at Bretton became an inn in 1753 and at 380 metres above sea level claims to be the highest pub in Derbyshire. It marks the intersection of two ancient bridle paths between Hathersage and Eyam and between Sheffield and Buxton.

Below is Hucklow Edge Lead Vein which was first worked by the Romans. Mining created huge caverns including Barrel Cavern which gave the pub its name. It stands on the divide between the White (Limestone) Peak and the Dark (Gritstone) Peak.

The area contains several rare species of flora including Jacobs ladder, cloudberry, dwarf thistle and southern marsh orchid.

Suitably refreshed we turned right out of the pub downhill passing The Bull's Head at Foolow on our left (171mins), which is no longer open at lunchtimes on Wednesdays.

We continued along the road until we reached a wooden public footpath sign on our right (174mins) and headed towards a wooden gate.

From here paths led us through fields and gates in a direct line back to Eyam where we emerged ultimately in the centre of the village (205mins)

We turned left at Eyam Hall, passing Eyam Post Office on our right before following the sign for the public toilets and car park on our right (208mins)

Next week's walk will start at 9.40am from the lay-by opposite The Harrington Arms at Bosley on the A523 Leek road out of Macclesfield just beyond its junction with the A54. It is intended to pause for a livener at Wetherspoons in Congleton or, if accompanied by dogs, at The George next door. We expect to reach there around 12.30pm and be back at the cars around 2.45pm.

Happy wandering !