Bakewell Photo's 2019

'C' Party Walkers

397 Walks from Bakewell 2019

Our Second walks of the year will be from

Bakewell

in the Beautiful Derbyshire Dales 

on

Saturday 13th April 2019

0800hrs prompt from the short stay car park

BAKEWELL - 'ancient capital of the Peak...'
Set in an enviable location on the banks of the Wye, with the river meandering gently through the centre, this beautiful old market town is in the heart of the Peak District, surrounded by stunning countryside views. Famous for its Puddings, Annual events and for receiving royal charter as a market town in 1330, markets are still held every Monday in the town centre and there is a thriving livestock market. Bakewell grew up around a cluster of thermal springs and wells that attracted Iron Age settlers and, in Anglo-Saxon times, gave the place its name. The town has a long and fascinating history; mentioned in the Domes Day Book of 1085,`Badequella� meaning Bath-well.

Perhaps best known as walking country, the Peak District National Park offers a spectacular variety of scenery and routes to be explored – from steep sided limestone dales to the dramatic high moorlands. There is something for everyone – individuals, families and groups – whether you want a challenging hike or a short stroll.

 

There will be three walks as normal:

• A Walk led by Mark Stanford
• B Walk led by Peter Ackers
• C walk led by Gwyn Jones

Details will be added as they become available, but by 6th April

 

397 'A' Walk from Bakewell 2019

Walk Leader: Mark Stanford
Total Distance: 12 Miles
Total ascent/descent: 1800ft

BAKEWELL ‘THREE RIVERS’ A WALK

This will be a good stretch for the A party, 12 miles with 970 feet of ascent.

We leave Bakewell heading South to the West of the River Wye after crossing the Lock Bridge. Passing Haddon House we gain height crossing Haddon Fields as we head for Shinning Bank Quarry, with views of the impressive Haddon Hall across the river. The old quarry now provides refuge for the critically endangered White Clawed Crayfish as well as habitat for nesting birds on its cliffs.

Skirting the quarry we follow the path to Alport, where the Lathkill and Bradford rivers converge.

We follow the Bradford where we’ll stop for lunch at a spot of exceptional pastoral beauty.

Joining the Limestone Way we face a stiff climb on a zigzag path out of the valley, before heading across fields to Cales Dale. The well made stepped path descends quickly to the foot of the dale where we follow the track to the adjoining Lathkill Dale with its rugged limstone cliffs.

The Lathkill is our third river which we follow downstream, watching out for dippers as we go, until meeting the lane to the charming village of Over Haddon. The lane gives us our final steep climb, so a quick breather before following a mix lanes and footpaths across the fields to return to Bakewell for further refreshment.         

 

397 'B' Walk from Bakewell 2019

Walk Leader:  Peter Ackers
Total Distance: 9 Miles
Total Ascent/Descent:

Bakewell to Chatsworth

We leave the car park and head towards Carlton Pastures taking the steep path through the woods by the old station.

An easy walk along the open expanse of the pastures past the Iron Age fort and the Russian Cottage.

Passing through a walled lane we emerge on to Chatsworth Park to enjoy our first full view of the House.

We walk on to Edensor a lovely village where no two houses are the same, except in colour.

Leaving Edensor we make our way to Chatsworth and lunch by the river.

After lunch we follow the River Derwent and making our way to Carlton Lees.

The afternoon is uphill most of the way, past Carlton Houses and back to the pastures.

From here we head back via a steep decent through Manners Wood and back to the car park.

Edensor

 

397 'C' Walk from Bakewell 2019

Walk Leader: Gwyn Jones
Total Distance: 6.2 miles
Total ascent/descent:

C Route (anticlockwise)

This walk is a repeat of one we did a few years ago but this time we do it in reverse. We start with a short climb up to the Monsal Trail which we then follow on level ground for about 3 miles. We stop for our lunch at an old railway station and shortly afterwards leave the Monsal Trail and head through fields down and up to Ashford in the Water. Here there is an opportunity to have an ice-cream before we head alongside the river back to Bakewell.

Lunch spot at old station platform

Bridge at Ashford in the Water

'A' Walk from Bakewell 2017

Walk leader:Steve Edwards
Walk Distance: 11 Miles app
Total Height Gain: 1685ft app

The Monsal Trail and Monsal Dale

The Monsal Trail uses part of the former Midland Railway Line through the Peak District National Park. It runs for eight and a half miles between Blackwell Mill Junction at Wyedale, three miles east of Buxton, and Coombs Viaduct, one mile south-east of Bakewell. We enjoy it for about 3 miles.

We start our walk from the coach park and head up the steep road towards the former Bakewell Station and onto the trail. Although the railway line closed in 1968 the station building is well preserved and now functions as the headquarters for a local business. We make our way behind the station and set off west along the trail.

As a former railway line the trail is completely flat and the good quality surface to the path allows us to make good progress with the biggest decision of the day being whether to stop at the magnificent coffee shop situated at Hassop Station, less than a mile into the walk that serves great bacon baps.

We continue along the disused railway track and onwards to the now opened Headstone tunnel immediately prior to the Monsal Viaduct.

From the viaduct, we leave the flat walking and follow the banks of the river Wye past the weir.

We continue through wooded terrain to where the path crosses the main A6 road from Bakewell to Buxton. Once across this road there is a small picnic area, but we don’t stop, instead pushing on towards the toughest section of the entire walk.

This brief section south of the A6 begins with a steady climb before reaching a stream, which may be bone dry, or a raging torrent depending on the weather. We walk up the stream for about 10 metres before reaching a stile. Once across the stile the path becomes ever steeper until we reached a stone wall where the path divides. We head uphill on a path which is relatively short but can present a real challenge if wet under foot.

In the top field, we will find a suitable spot for lunch or continue across rolling farmland to the village of Sheldon, which is a very picturesque little place boasting an enticing looking pub called ‘The Cock and Pullet’. Heading out of Sheldon we return to farmland paths towards our next landmark on the horizon - Magpie Mine. This was one of the most famous lead mines in the Peak District up until its closure in 1952 and today is something of a heritage attraction.

After the mine, we head towards a short section of quiet public roads continuing downhill all the way to Over Haddon and onward into Bakewell.

If we maintain a good pace we should be back in Bakewell in plenty of time for tea and tart.