April - Part 1

I can say that there were odd times to work on the allotment and get potato planting underway. But the weather continued to be generally grim.

Despite this we were determined to continue with our weekly walks. On the second of the month we chanced our arm with a visit to another section of the Monsall Trail. Earlier our next door neighbours, the Luckcocks, had given us a book showing walks starting at various railway stations in the Peak District. Walk number one was to start at Bakewell Station, head east and then turn left over some fields in the direction of Chatsworth House.

Two things went wrong. The first was that we turned left too soon in Bakewell and found ourselves in the car park at the Bakewell Showground. In someways this was fortunate; not the least being that the car park payment machine was out of order so we had FREE PARKING. The cafe at the showground was open with tasty, affordable food and drink. There was also a convenient convenience at the start of the walk.

The Monsall Trail was well sign posted and this led to the final plus being that we would be start at an end of the trail. I will explain this later.

To get to the end of the trail meant a walk down Coombs road for about 1/3 of mile parallel to the trail. The picture shows the murkiness that we would experience throughout the walk.

From the relatively level road there was a slight incline up to the trail which was suitably sign posted.

We would later find that this was not the only end of the trail. The beauty of Derbyshire trails is that they are level as they were originally railway tracks. They also, pretty much, all weather trails, which is more could be said about the path across the field. The original walk was abandoned and we plodded on further.

Quite soon we reached the old Bakewell station.

Our reading told us that the stations were so ornate because they needed to placate the duke over whose land the railway passed. This also explained some of the unnecessary cutting which were designed as a screen.

As we walked I became aware that there seemed to be a lack of places to sit and have lunch. But around the next corner was a grassy space with picnic tables. From where we sat having lunch we could see what appeared to be industrial buildings and so had to find out what they were. Lo and behold we had arrived at Old Hassop Station which certainly is a magnificent building.

For us this became significant as we recalled that last year we had walked from this station to Monsall Head and later on walked from Monsall Head to Millers Dale. A look at the map showed us that we had now completed all but a mile and a half of the whole trail. A plan formed.

Instead of going back to the end of the trail we left it at the old Bakewell station and walked down into the town. This walk took us to the river which is a lovely place and has two interesting bridges.

The first is the old stone bridge.

This second is the steel girder bridge which is interesting because it has become repository of padlocks attacked to the wires running across.

Sadly, on the 8th April, our friend Alan died.

On the 9th we could not immediately carry out our Monsall Trail plan and so we made the best of the time we had by visiting quite a little known pond. Strangely this was only about 10 minutes from us and it turned out to be lovely place to be. Martin's Pond is to be found by driving along the A609 towards Wollaton Hall. The road becomes Russell Road and to the left is Russell Drive. The pond entrance is where the drive turns sharp right. As always, I look for reflections and colour. The blossoms are quite splendid.

A path leads off the main pond. Having walked around Martin's Pond following the path leads to another pond. The walk becomes a figure of eight.

The following Tuesday was our tea and talk with the ladies of Leicester House. Irene's theme was 'The Two Easter Gardens'. The first being Gethsemene and the second Jesus' tomb.

We all enjoyed the tasty Easter cakes.

At last came the chance to finish off the Monsall Trail. We followed the A6 out of Bakewell until we came to the car park at Wye Dale. The sun was shining, it was holiday time and the car park was full, but we managed. It was a lovely walk along the river to the start of the trail; which was also called 'The End of the Trail'. So where is the beginning?

The route took us through two quite short tunnels and then in to the main Chee Tor tunnel which had to be lit.

Passing by the fantastic lime kilns which used to worked by a man and a boy we eventually came to Millers Dale. Our trek along the Monsall Trail was complete.

Jenny told me that earlier in the week they had done the whole trail in one go. Good for them.

Last Blog 2nd August

Last blog 2/8/11

I have certainly missed out on blogging for a long time. It is an activity that I quite enjoy and it might be a useful way to remember some of the lessons learned in previous years. Learning is, for me a very important activity and, these days, more important than teaching. After all, who wants to take any notice of a grumpy old man, who is entrenched in the philosophy of the good old days.

My poor blogging record lies in the slowness by which I prepare the images from the raw camera data.

However, here goes. Well nearly. I am reflecting on a comment that my photography aims for technical perfection, but is a ‘were I’ve been’ genre. I am considering a portfolio called ‘The Best of ‘Where I’ve Been’’. Hoping I have the correct collection of apostrophe/quotation marks. Perhaps I would better to format it to “The Best of ‘Where I’ve Been’”. Still looks ugly.

23^rd July - Cossall and the Nottingham Canal

This was the day that we discovered a magical world on our doorstep. Just 10 minutes drive from here is a car park near the village of Cossall. From the car park; alongside the disused Nottingham Canal is an easy walk. At each boundary along the walk the canal changes its character in a very clear way. There was a great deal of colour along the walk, wild life, industrial archaeology; although the town of Ilkeston was only a few fields away. The down side was that there were no cafes or toilets. The latter made for an interesting challenge of finding a secluded spot.

Disused railway viaduct

Heron taking flight

Bull rushes

28^th July - Dale Abbey and Stanton Hall

This was my first visit to Margaret Cornish in her new care home. We decided to combine the visit with a quick walk in Dale Abbey. We have never seen the ground so dry. Most any other time we have been there has been some mud somewhere. Today the driest areas had turned to sand. However even the dry ground did not deter an odd frog from crossing our path.

Frog

Path

Margaret is now resident in Stanton Hall, which is a large house standing in its own grounds.

Stanton Hall

  3^rd August - Millers Dale

This must have been one of the best days of the summer. We headed to Millers Dale with a view to walking along the River Wye to Litton Mill. It was one of the few times this year that we have paid to park. At least there was toilet stop at the start, but no nearby tea room. The walk goes over one of two massive viaducts over the Wye, along the old track bed before dropping down the bank, across the Wye (http://www.derbyshireuk.net/river_wye.html) to Litton Mill. I had visited this area some years before with a school party. At that time we were walking in the much seasonal Peak District rain and we sheltered in a dilapidated building at this spot. Now the buildings have been converted into luxury apartments and holiday homes.

Litton Mill Apartments

Cressbrook Mill and Mill Pond

Sluice Control

Mill Pond Outflow

We arrived at the Mill to find that here the developers had taken over and the refreshment rooms had been closed and looked very dilapidated even though it was not so long ago since our first visit to Monsall Dale. So, we scrambled up to look over Monsall Dale to have the picnic that we are now in the habit of carrying.

Our final stop before the car was ‘The Anglers Rest’ which is charming and close by the river. Here Irene encountered Crabbies alcoholic ginger beer for the first time and enjoyed it. From here it was quite a struggle to climb back up to the main track back to the station.

We did conclude that the map and walk directions for this walk were pretty good.

17^th August – Illam 

This walk day was almost as bright a day as the last one and the walk was superb. The writer of the walk was once more accurate in the write up and the map. Unsure of the area and having parked for free on the road side we wondered off towards Ilam Hall (http://peakdistrict.nationaltrust.org.uk/ilam-hall).This turned out to be a good decision. The hall is now a youth hostel in a stately house building in a wonderful park. Refreshment were good and a good value which we took on the terrace overlooking the hill around the River Dove.

Tea on the Terrace

A View From the Terrace

We walked past the cottages modelled after Swiss cottages. Apparently, a former owner of the hall was so impressed by his visit to Switzerland that he had the buildings visible from the hall demolished and replaced by Swiss style buildings.

Swiss Style Cottages

 The walk took us over fields towards the Dove Dale car park. There was a slight difference between the instructions and the walk. But, this was not serious.

When we arrived at the river we realised that this was truly the Summer holidays. Cars were queuing to get in and we were in crowds headed towards the stepping stones were we had to queue to cross.

Stepping Stones Over the Dove

On our two previous visits, out of school holidays we practically had the place to ourselves. We had thought to have our picnic and return from there, but we had made good time and decided to complete the walk. Fortunately, after crossing the Dove our route took us away from the crowds, around the back of Thorpe Cloud. This meant walking from the confluence of the River Lynn and the River Dove up to the source of the smaller river. Here we found a small cave. Below the cave the ground was deeper green with water plants. Above the cave the ground was the usual moor land. This must be one of the smallest rivers as we could see the end from the beginning. (A bit God-like.)

We were not very clear about the path at the top and kept more to the right of the field than we should have done. We found a nice spot to sit and picnic before going on to the village of Thorpe and a convenient toilet stop.

Picturesque Cottages in Thorpe

 The route took us through the village and down a farm track with a surprise at the bottom of a major road bridge. We found out that a road had been built to go through to Leek, but then it was discovered that the cars of the time would not have the power to climb the incline to Thorpe.

Abandoned Road Bridge

Having crossed the River Manifold the path, sadly, took us away from the river and at one point the path would have disappeared if it had not have been for a brightly coloured, tall way marker. From here it was an easy walk down and along the river back to the car.