'B' Walk from Eyam 2017

Walk Leader: Beverley Kelly
Total Distance: 8 miles
Total Ascent/Descent: 1400ft

B Walk anticlockwise

This is an interesting walk ‘off the beaten track’ as we traverse ancient woodlands, dance with a Highlow Brook and wander over open moorland listening to beautiful birdsong, mainly on natural pathways which have probably been there for centuries, but first we have to tackle Eyam Edge.

This isn’t a difficult ‘B’ Walk, with gentle slopes as we traverse the boundary of the White peaks, but we do start with a steep climb of 400ft over 0.5mile up Eyam Edge. We will take this at a steady pace, waiting for the slowest, but after a rest we will be ready for the rest of the walk.

I have decided not to go to the Barrel Inn at Bretton as we would lose too many walkers so we veer over to Bretton Clough and some delightful pathways through ancient woodland, slowly descending to Stoke Ford but noticing Gotherage Barn Ruins on the way. We may have lunch at the Ford.As we leave the ford, notice the footpath sign erected in 1939 and still clearly showing the way – for us uphill to the left. We are on the lower slopes of Eyam Moor but will have some excellent views, particularly of Hathersage as we approach Tor Farm at Hazelford. I wonder how big the new born lambs will be now?

 A short steepish climb now on a minor road to Leam where we join a footpath across Eyam Moor. Keep an eye open for the variety of ground nesting birds and wild flowers. Eventually we can see the Wireless Mast which indicates that we are getting nearer Eyam and Sir William Hill Road (not the Bookie, Baddeley's guide to the Peak District, published in 1899, claimed it may have been named after Sir William Peveril, son of William the Conqueror, but this is far from certain)

We walk along this road, which was abandoned by the council many years ago and this shows as it is a very rough rocky route. Turning off to a footpath, we head down Bole Hill, passing Ladywash Mine, now closed and boarded up but was used for many years to extract iron ore and then Fluxite.

We now have to descend Eyam Edge, making sure we take the correct route to come out opposite the next pathway down to the village and refreshments or a browse of the history of this famous place, including Riley’s Graves.

More Photographs taken on the Recce here