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!