Castleton and Cavedale

We manage another dreary start for our walk today, hardly surprising given that it is winter and it has been raining. So the water running through the village is high and we are well wrapped up against the cold. We aren't expecting a spectacular walk, it is one we have done before, but it will still good to be out and about.

We park, as usual, on the road just past the entrance to the Peak Cavern where, on weekdays, the parking is free. We head off through the car park adjacent and at the far end we are in the village. Before walking through we are, as always, tempted to window shop in the small interesting shops tucked away in these quiet back lanes.

Next we go through the village centre and turn right between the two cottages to the start of Cavedale. As expected on such a grim day it is fairly quiet, and after so much rain, pretty wet. The views are familiar, but no less welcome for that.

Up the steeper stretch of the Dale is always interesting after rain given that you have to walk up the streams that flow down, and with slippery limestone underfoot it can catch out the unwary. But it isn't as bad today as we have seen it in the past, and the backward view is a good one of the Peveril's Castle.

Once through the gate at the top of the Dale the landscape opens out. The muddy path is slick underfoot and the wind is blowing in our faces. Also, a few drops of rain to add to the atmosphere.

The path eventually sweeps around to the left and heads for the gate onto the lanes at the top. We turn left and follow the wide track, probably used by farmers, quarry vehicles and some 4 x 4 enthusiasts. We meet none of them.

We find a wide turning circle/layby/quarry and decide to find somewhere to sit out of the wind and have lunch. It is a brisk affair given that the temperature seems to have dropped.

Suitably refreshed we head onward down the rubbly track. We get a wonderful close-up view of the cement works 😒 and continue down the now tarmac road. There is a shortcut path on our left, over a stone wall, but we have done it before and the final stretches are very steeply downhill through the slippery field. Given recent rain we decide to stick to the road.

It is pleasant enough to walk down and back to Castleton where we observe that there appears to be a very high number of Mini owners here. Perhaps Castleton will become the Mini capital of Derbyshire.

And, as usual, by the time we get to the cars it has started to rain. If anything, that is what defines Castleton for us.

Fabulous Palmiers to Diet for

Miserable weather but a glorious bun is how PC sums up this walk, and both statements are true. But it turned out to be a good walk anyway.

We were trying somewhere new again, always a bit of a risk when the nights draw in so fast, but we decided it was worth a shot. We parked up at Calver and headed towards Stoney Middleton on the pavement (which Mollie hates because of the lorries) then cross over the road to the broad foopath.

We have been on this path maybe a couple of times before in the past, but never on such a murky day. It isn't quite raining, but it isn't exactly dry either.

The path is a long one and tree-lined, with some interesting rocks and the closed-off entrance to a mine shaft or cave.

As the path ascends the trees are left behind and we come to a cross-roads of paths. We go left then almost immediately left again so that we are effectively retracing our steps but at a higher elevation and in fog. At least we can see where we are going though.

We climb over a broken section of wall (full of exciting fossils!) to find somewhere to sit and eat. Mollie waits patiently and hopes for more than biscuits.

Well, if the weather isn't going to be nice, the bun had better make up for it. Morrisons have started doing these wonderful giant palmiers full of fresh cream and jam. They are almost too big for one person, but we can't resist a challenge. And yes, we succeeded (but felt a bit full afterwards).

On our way again we come to the end of the path and turn left, following a track as it passes some trees and a couple of dwellings, then an old quarry.

Eventually we come out on a hillside up above Calver. Looks pretty grim, and the weather doesn't seem to have improved - in fact it has descended into the valley.

It is quite steep downhill, and a bit slippery on the wet grass, then there is a stone stile to negotiate which is next to the road, which is less than ideal with a dog that hates traffic. But we make it without incident. 

All in all it has been a good walk, and perhaps one to do again when the weather is a bit better.

Around Hathersage guided by Mollie

We have a vague plan for a walk and meet at the car park in the centre of Hathersage. It takes a while to sort out the parking, the option to pay by card is great....but the connection considerably less so, meaning digging out all our loose change.
We leave the cars and head out, turn left and down the hill under the railway bridge. Soon we turn onto a footpath on the left.

 The footpath takes us along a lane that is more of a driveway at the side of the river. We pass through a gate and pass a couple of farmers erecting some pens for sheep, then another gate takes us into the edge of the woodland.

We have a rough idea of where we are going, and know that the map isn't going to be a huge amount of help due to the myriad paths here.

We spot the uphill path we need and take it, stooping under a few low branches as we climb.

We follow on in what we hope is the right direction, and eventually cross over the railway line by a high bridge, feeling smug that we have succeeded this far.

We veer off to the right and make our way across rough grazing and through thin copses of trees, Padley chapel the next on our route.

We don't stop at the chapel this time, but continue on to the left hand path that leads up between the lovely houses here, then through the gate at the top into Padley Wood.

Here again we are into the 'vague idea' of where we are going. We walk uphill and find another path that doubles back on the one we are on, still climbing though. We take it and eventually reach a gate at the top. Once through we pause to get our bearings and Mollie is greeted enthusiastically by three children out with their parents for a walk. When they leave the refrain of "can we have a dog, please" continues until we are out of earshot.

The gate has brought us out onto the moor across from the Surprise View and Mother Cap in the distance. We turn left and skirt the woods to a wall then head towards the road.

Clambering over another stile we find a lovely sunny spot to have lunch where we can admire the view as a low flying plane crosses in front of us.

Despite the sun it isn't the warmest of days so we soon pack up and are on our way, making it up as we go along now. We know we are heading in roughly the right direction - sort of towards Hathersage again. The views are glorious and it is almost a shame to have to be walking back.

Yet again it is a mix of paths here, and as we seem to be approaching the road we veer left and Mollie takes over. Admittedly the map isn't a huge amount of use to us, though we know we aren't actually lost, but we carry on with Mollie trotting happily in front.

We pass some farm buildings, then as we start to go down the long drive Mollie pulls us onto a narrow muddy path away from the drive. Well, she is in charge. We follow her and the  steep path widens out into a broad swathe that takes us under the railway line.

Clearly the girl knows exactly where she is heading as trots happily in front, negotiating the criss-cross of paths in this part of the woods. And sure enough, we arrive back at the gate that we orginally came through into the woods in the first place. Mollie gets extra biscuits for being so smart, then it is a steady and short walk retracing our steps back to Hathersage. 

Thanks to Mollie, today's walk has been excellent.