W/C 22 June 2013 - Monyash & the High Peak Trail

For this walk, I shared the morning with the Sutton-in-Ashfield Ramblers, before setting off on my own to explore the High Peak Trail. A bus took us to Alport near Bakewell. We then followed the Lathkill Valley westwards to Monyash. I then headed off on my own via the Limestone Way, almost to Flagg, before turning west to join the High Peak Trail near its northern end. I walked down to the end of the trail near Cromford. I followed the Cromford Canal to Whatstandwell. before turning towards home. I reckon this walk was about 40 miles long.

We began at Alport, walking across fields to Raper Lodge. The weather was looking very threatening, with strong winds blowing and dark clouds overhead. Still, this is England in the summertime, so why not?

 

 The bulk of the party then climbed the steep side of the river valley onto the moors above. Here is a very  damp view looking towards Youlgreave.

By now, it was very windy and wet. Apologies for the quality of the following photographs, but getting rain on the lens was inevitable. It was so windy at times I could hardly hold the camera steady. The light was also poor. This was the approach to Over Haddon.

 Turning to look south, we had this view of the wooded Lathkill valley below.

 It was well dressing time in Over Haddon.

 A little further on, we approached the precipice at the edge of the Lathkill Valley. The geological formation is quite spectacular.  This is an almost unique habitat for some species of wild flowers.

 This was the view up towards the end of the valley. I was amazed that this shot came out at all.

 We made a precipitous, slippery descent into the valley below. This is a view of part of the upper valley from the safety of the valley floor.

At Monyash, I left the main party and continued on my own. This is a view of Monyash from the north west. I was standing on the Limestone Way, heading towards Flagg.

 I turned west along a minor road just before the village of Flagg. This is a view of the village, in a rare moment of sunshine!

 The rain stopped once I left Monyash, though the clouds looked very threatening for much of my walk. I reached the High Peak trail about 500 metres short of its northern end at Dowlow, after crossing a few fields on a public footpath opposite the Duke of York Inn. The trail goes along old railway lines. This was the view looking north.

 The northern part of the trail was formerly a line from Buxton to Ashbourne. There were some good, if gloomy views across the countryside. This one is looking south-west towards Hartington.

 This shows another view in the same general direction a mile or so further south.

 At Parsley Hay is a small visitor centre. You can hire bikes here for use on the Trails. This sign shows the routes available.

 Parsley Hay was once a junction on the railway. The main line carried on south on what is now called the Tissington Trail. I turned left along the former Cromford and High Peak Railway, which is now part of the High Peak Trail. This was a very early line, using rope-worked inclines to get wagons up and down the steeper sections. Wikepedia does a good description HERE

The photo shows the main line in the deep cutting form the C&HP trackbed as it veers east.

 The trail is well maintained, on the whole and makes for rapid walking if you are in the mood. It was almost deserted - probably because of the weather!

 This was the first tunnel I encountered. Notice the stone crediting Jessop with the engineering.

 There were several traces of the old railway along the route - like the remains of this old signal.

 There were wide views across the countryside at a number of points..... this one shows one of the stone embankments on the trail, in the far distance, that I would eventually cross.

 At this stage the line was very exposed. I was glad the rain had stopped! The wind more or less pushed me along - though in places it was more of a side wind. On the section below, I could hardly keep upright at times.

 The engineering was quite interesting. This is one of several stone embankments along the route.

 And here are some impressive quarries near Longcliffe.

 Gradually, the scenery became less wild and more homely. This is a view near Hopton - and almost some sunshine!

 There were a few steep rock cuttings on the route, like this one on the approaches to Middleton

 This is a view of the Harboro' Rocks as I approached from the west........

 .......and a close-up, just after I passed them.

On a normal weekend, they would be covered in climbers, but not today! In fact, the whole route was very quiet - just a few dog walkers for company.

Beyond here, the weather got incredibly dark and threatening, so I put the camera away for good. It did brighten up a bit as I reached the Cromford Canal, but not for long as by then it was around 8pm.

The route takes you down two steep inclines to the canal. At Middleton Top, the original steam winding engine is still in working order. The other incline is the Sheeppasture incline which offers spectacular views towards Matlock and Cromford on a good day.

The old line and the Trail end up at a wharf alongside the Cromford Canal. From there, it is a pleasant walk along the canal to Whatstandwell, including a short adventure through a tunnel.

At Whatstandwell, it was time to make for the quickest way home, as I knew it would be dark well before I reached my destination. There is a good, but steep road up to Crich with a footpath most of the way. From Crich, I headed for South Wingfield, past the ruins of the historic Wingfield Manor. From there, I followed the roads again to Alfreton. By this time it was just getting dark. There were street lights and good footpaths all the way home though.

All in all, a great walk despite the weather. I am just glad that on this day I was not walking alng the High Peak Trail in the other direction. With that wind in my face, even I would have given up!

W/C 15 June 2013 - Chesterfield Canal (East) - Gainsborough to Worksop

For a change, I decided to use the train to go further afield than normal. This gave me an opportunity to walk the eastern half of the Chesterfield Canal. The canal was built to link Chesterfield with the River Trent. There is a Canal Trust looking after the welfare of the waterway. Their site is here. 

My journey began with a mile-long walk to the local station and a train ride to Gainsborough, changing trains at Worksop. The canal begins a few miles north of the railway station, at a village called West Stockwith. After leaving the station, it was a short walk to the road bridge over the River Trent, enabling me to switch to the west bank of the river. A footpath begins immediately after the bridge, next to a pub. To be honest, the walk up the river was a bit disappointing. There were very few views of the river itself until I got very close to West Stockwith, as the river bank is thickly wooded. The thick, rough grass along most of the route made it hard going. There is a bus service from Gainsborough to West Stockwith if you wish to learn from my experience!

On the approach to West Stockwith, the view opens out to give this vista

 The locks on the eastern part of the canal are broader than the rest, allowing 2 standard Chesterfield Canal boats to ascend or descend side by side. Here is the outfall into the River Trent.

Behind the lock is a large pool for boats to dock, but this is not accessible to the general public. Across the main road, you join the towpath, which generally runs on the north side of the canal all the way to Worksop and beyond. Apart from short sections, this is a grass path all the way. Stout shoes are recommended as it can be hard going in places. The grass was short, but quite stubbly.

The first part of the journey goes through some very flat scenery, particularly to the north. It was a very clear day, so I could see for miles.

 Tere was some evidence of old industry along the way, including this old brickworks near Walkeringham.

 The canal gradually rises through a series of locks. This is Shaw Lock, near Gringley-on-the-Hill.

 There were few people on the towpath - just a few locals walking their dogs. There was bird life in abundance though - including this family of swans, neatly shepherded by the parents for my photo!

 In places, the canal was quite wooded. This was Scotts Wood (I think)

 At Drakeholes, the canal suddenly turns due south before passing through a short tunnel. This is the small basin on the south side of the tunnel, taken from the road above.

 Drakeholes is also the home of this interesting pub, the White Swan. The top storey must give great views south over the countryside.

 Here is a view of the tunnel mouth, looking north.

 The canal generally follows the course of the River Idle in these parts, gradually climbing. It meanders quite a lot over the next few miles in order to keep to the high ground. There are some beautiful secluded sections, well away from civilisation, including this section near Wiseton.

 One uniquely ornate bridge was this one, serving a private drive near Wiseton. I stopped here for a break, just to listen to all the fantastic birdsong and see the swifts darting under the bridge. I could have stayed all day, but had to move on...

 At Clayworth, there is a canal club centre, with loads of barges moored alongside the canal, which eventually straightens out in a generally southerly direction as it approaches Retford. Not to be missed is the delightfully names Whitsunday Pie lock - though the name apparently has nothing to do with food.

 This is the main mooring point in the centre of Retford - a complete contrast to the town above.

 Just west of the town centre, the canal passes over the River Idle on an aqueduct, leaving the river and heading generally westwards towards Worksop.

 Is this Venice......? No, sorry, we are still in Retford. ;)

 The canal continues through farmland. The roughness of the towpath can be seen here.

 In the middle of nowhere is a set of three locks called Forest Bottom, Middle and Top. This is the bottom lock. By now , the locks are narrower, so only one canal boat could go through at a time.

 Near Blyth, we abruptly hit the busy A1 dual carriageway, running south for a short distance to the village of Ranby. This is where the old road crossed the canal.

 We leave the A1 and follow the valley of the River Ryton on the approach to Worksop. The towpath changes briefly to the south side of the canal - presumably to keep the rif-raff away from the grounds of Osberton Hall, which is behind the trees on the right.......

 This was the best view I could get of the Hall from the canal....

 As you approach Worksop, the countryside rapidly disappears, degenerating into a series of eyesores - a disappointing end to what had otherwise been a very pleasant walk. The eyesores begin with the railway viaduct..........

 Followed by a derelict waterworks in a sea of weeds and this bridge.

We go through an old industrial area, before arriving in the centre of Worksop, just a short walk from the railway station.

This walk was only about 30 miles, but the rough grass made it quite tiring. I made slightly slower progress than normal. I had previously walked the section from Worksop, westwards to Staveley at the end of January. The bit from Worksop to the eastern portal of the Norwood Tunnel is especially interesting and generally very beautiful - probably the best part of the canal to walk.