Sunday, 9 April 2017

'A' Walk from Eyam 2017

Walk Leader : Peter Hitchcock
Total Distance: 11.5mls
Total Ascent/descent: 1980ft app



On leaving the coach park, with its free toilets, we walk back through part of the village to the church, stopping momentarily in front of the original now pretty “plague cottages” in the process.   


Then, striding through the churchyard we start climbing up out of the village towards Eyam Moor to the North.  It is a short but steep-stepped climb but you will have seen some affable, amiable alpacas to set you on your way!  At the ring-cairned peak of the moor you should get a fantastic view of the whole of Stanage Edge to the north-east.  We then descend into a very picturesque wooded valley towards Stoke Ford before climbing gently up to the grouse-filled Offerton Moor, and our eventual lunch stop.  

 Descending then to Robin Hood’s Cross, in what is called ‘The White Peak’ area, we take a short skip across Abney Moor, then up and down a few valleys to the lovely village of Foolow.  From there, it is a 1:15 walk across farmland, a working quarry and woodlands back to the village.

The walk is about 18.5kms [11.5 miles] but should only take about 5hrs  - even at my pace!  There are 2 steep climbs but which take only 10 mins each: one at the start out of the village and one mid-afternoon.  Right at the end, we have to climb gently back up to Eyam from Middleton Dale but, again, this will only take about 10 mins, and there’s a beer at the end of it!   So, not too serious by any means, promise!!  If windy, the moors will be bleak and chilly so a good windproof jacket would be a bonus.  An invigorating walk!.
 

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