July 12, 2023
TISSINGTON TRAIL, BOSTERN GRANGE, MILL DALE, NEW HANSON GRANGE, PEAKWAY FARM, SYCAMORE INN AT PARWICH, TRAIL BARN, TISSINGTON HALL
Distance: 9 miles.
Difficulty: Easy.
Weather: Mainly dry but cloudy with brief light shower and sunny spells.
Walkers: Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Alan Hart, Chris Owen, Dean Taylor and Simon Williams.
Alternative walker: Jock Rooney with Milly.
Apologies: Micky Barrett, Peter Beal (entertaining guests), Andy Blease (in Anglesey), Alastair Cairns (gardening duties), Mike Cassini (medical appointment), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Mark Enright (attending funeral), Keith Welsh (Cornwall hols), Cliff Worthington (caring for convalescing wife)
Leader: Cunliffe. Diarist: Hart.
Starting point: Car park at the end of Darfield Lane, Tissington (DE6 1RA)
Starting time: 10.01am.Finishing time: 3.20pm.
Map and other pictures right at the bottom of the blog by Tom Cunliffe
This walk was once on the Wednesday Wanderers' list but has not been attempted for more than two decades. One of the reasons is the absence of any leader with a knowledge of the route. Another might be the long distance which we had to cover to reach its starting point.
We are indebted to Tom for rediscovering an old book which contained details of the journey he had once taken 24 years ago. What a pity he left the book at home. This oversight might have been redeemed when Chris announced he had brought an Ordnance Survey map. What a pity it was for a neighbouring area and failed to cover the route we were taking. In these circumstances we might have been in great jeopardy but happily the GPS on Tom's phone proved a godsend.
The omens had not been good. The weather forecast was for frequent showers and on arrival at the car park we discovered we had to pay £4-75. Tom assured us parking had been free back in 1999. The slow operation of the ticket machine also delayed our start by 16 minutes. To that extent we were lucky to have a modest turnout.
In all these negative circumstances the walk itself and the welcoming pub in Parwich made those present anxious to give it another go in the future.
From the car park we immediately joined the Tissington Trail, which runs for 13 miles along the old railway line from Ashbourne to Parsley Hay. The London and North Western Railway opened the line in 1899 and it was closed in 1967. It reopened in 1971 as a leisure facility for walkers, cyclists and horse riders.
As we sallied forth we passed picnic tables at what had clearly once been a station platform, We exited the trail (12mins) by turning left just before a bridge and heading uphill to swing right over it. This took us through a static caravan park, at the end of which we made our only error of the day which cost us a modest six minutes.
For the benefit of future walkers at the end of the caravan park look out for a narrow footpath on the left before you enter a meadow. It soon reached a crossroads of paths where you should proceed straight ahead (26mins). After crossing a wooden footbridge we turned right and at the end of the field we headed left uphill.
Turning right at a wooden public footpath sign marked with a yellow arrow (31mins) we then crossed a wooden stile (33mins). On reaching a lane we turned right and then left at a green public footpath sign (39mins) uphill. We went through a gap stile (46mins), crossed a lane and followed a wooden public footpath sign into a field.
At another wooden public footpath sign we turned right over a stone step stile and headed towards Grange and Mill Dale (52mins). After going through a gap stile into the next field (56mins) we stopped for pies and port .
Resuming we crossed the field and followed a wooden footpath sign for Bostern Grange and Mill Dale (60mins). After crossing a stone step stile (67mins) we went through a wooden gate (69mins) and then a farmyard (72mins). Beyond the farm we turned left off the track to head through a wooden gate towards Mill Dale and Alsop (74mins)
We reached a gravel track and turned left (77mins) then followed a wooden public footpath sign towards Mill Dale (83mins). After crossing a stone step stile (84mins) we descended towards a valley.
Beyond a wooden gate (92mins) we squeezed through a gap stile (94mins) and crossed a stone step stile (96mins). At another wooden gate we followed a wooden public footpath sign towards Lode Mill (99mins)
We reached a lane and turned right (102mins) passing New Hanson Grange on our right. At a main road we turned right towards Ashbourne (105mins) and soon crossed the road when a wooden public footpath sign appeared on our left (106mins). We crossed a stone step stile (107mins) and headed towards a tunnel, going through it and following a sign for Parwick Lees (110mins)
By heading diagonally left towards trees we located a gap stile, went through it and turned left (113mins). After crossing a stone step stile (121mins) we stampeded a herd of brown cows and headed through the left of two open gates (124mins)
As we reached a road we turned right uphill (127mins), passing Peakway Farm on our left (131mins) and then the sign for Parwich (142mins). At a T-junction we turned right (146mins) and reached The Sycamore Inn on our left (148mins), joining Jock and Milly. The Hopp beer was in good fettle at £3-90 a pint.
Outside The Sycamore Inn at Parwich
After posing for a photo taken by the friendly barmaid we turned right out of the pub in the direction from which we had approached it. After 25 yards we turned left then swung right and right again at a yellow arrow.
We then went through two gap stiles and a wooden gate (162mins) and paused for lunch. Resuming we crossed a wooden footbridge (166mins) and through a gap stile ((168mins) before turning left at a gravel track (175mins). We went over a bridge, passing Trail Barn on our left (183mins) before swinging left (193mins) and reaching Tissington Hall on our right (195mins)
The hall is an early 17th Century Jacobean mansion house and has been owned by the Fitzherberts, descendants of the Norman conquerors. It was acquired by the marriage of Nicholas Fitzherbert to Cicely Frauncis, heiress of Tissington, in 1465.
The old moated manor was replaced with this mansion in 1609 and the current occupant is Sir Richard Fitzherbert, the ninth baronet.
Here we were able to buy half litre bottles of Peak Ales IPA for £4-95 and sit outside the hall on trestle tables in the sunshine. Suitably refreshed we continued back to the car park and de-booted (200mins)
Next week's walk will start at 9.45am at The Three Horseshoes pub on Buxton Road, Blackshaw Moor, Leek (ST13 8TW). We aim to be in The Lazy Trout at Meerbrook, Leek (ST13 8SN) for a bracer at 12.15pm before returning to The Three Horseshoes around 2pm. Parking on the pub car park is conditional on having a drink there at the end of the walk.
Happy wandering !
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