SUNSHINE ON EYAM MOOR

Yes, the title of the post gives away our destination this week, but also our surprise. I don't think we have ever walked on or near Eyam Moor without a hint of rain; and to be honest, it is usually torrential! So sunshine is a bonus.

As is the heavy frost that lies like a thin covering of snow all around here. So yes, it is chilly, time for plenty of layers.

We park on the rough track on Sir William Hill Road and by the time we are out of the cars the only other vehicle, a huge lorry almost blocking the entrance to the track, has moved on.

Already the views are splendid and we are so looking forward to the walk. We climb over the stile - they never seem to get any smaller! - and take the path straight ahead that skirts the drystone wall. Looking over the wall we can see for miles.

It is a good job that it is so frost as the boggy patches on the path, of which there are many, have a crispy surface which prevents us being mired in mud. We still have to employ some nifty footwork in places though as there are deeper puddles that are ready to embrace the unwary.

We continue along the wall-line even though in places the path is a deep hollow where rainfall has eroded the soil and rock, but at least the potential for mud is behind us. There are a few more walkers about today, but that is hardly surprising given what a glorious day it is.

At the end of the path we turn right and clamber over another very high stile. We have views straight ahead of Bretton Clough with Abney on our right. We turn right along the wide path with a steep drop down to Bretton Clough on our left.

This is an easy, fairly linear path that has yet another stile before taking us down by easy steps towards Highlow Brook. The last stretch, on a steep muddy path that has frozen over, is a bit tricky but we manage it without mishaps.

At the bottom we reach the wider path that runs alongside Bretton Brook/Highlow Brook but rather than taking the right hand turn towards Stoke Ford we turn left instead in the general direction of Bretton.

We are under the trees here, but the sunlight is filtering through and it is lovely. The path is rising slowly and the stream is getting lower and further away from us. Soon we are out in the open again, brown scrub and lingering frost.

Once we turn a descending corner though we know we have found the right spot for lunch. We are in Bretton Clough, the sun is shining, there is Bretton Brook, there are trees, and there is also a very conveniently placed drystone wall to sit on.

We have a drop out of the secret flask first, the remains of the vanilla vodka, then out comes coffee, sandwiches and bun. PC's buns - chocolate muffins with fresh cream - are greeted with great anticipation. Until she says they have cherry in them. I hate cherry, so we follow the pantomime of dissecting the muffins to remove the cherry conserve (which Mollie devours with relish - are dogs supposed to like fruit jams?) because I am determined to enjoy the chocolate and cream bit. I won't give up on the buns without a fight!

It is tempting to linger in this spot, we have the sun on us and it is lovely, but the odd cloud keeps passing over and with it a chill, so we pack up our things. As we are about to head off we see some hang-gliders floating silently in the sky above us, and then a buzzard soaring with much less effort and more grace. We watch the bird until it spirals higher and out of sight. 

From here the path is pretty straight forward but clearly not that well used. On the map there are a number of side paths with only a hint of them on the ground. We continue ahead until we cross a small bridge then turn left through a gate and up through the woods.

It is a bit steep but soon we are out above the trees and over another stile onto a path that runs behind a farm and fields. Pretty soon we are out onto a lane and we are at Nether Bretton. We are briefly tempted by the eggs for sale at the house but instead, after a quick consultation of the map, turn left onto the rutted byway skirting Bretton Moor and leading back towards Sir William Hill Road.

There is still ice on the puddles here, and in places it is deeply rutted where it has been used by 4x4 vehicles. Also there is more cloud cover passing over so the temperature has dropped.

When we reach the 'crossroads' we debate briefly whether to go on the path past Stanage House which leads back onto Eyam Moor, but decide against it. We'll stick to this track which runs onto the Sir William Hill Road with only a few steps on the tarmac road to negotiate.

The stroll along the last part of the track is easy and pleasant. We're still getting bursts of sunshine which has taken most of the frost from the surrounding fields and moors although a little still lingers under the shady wall bases.

 

A great walk, possibly more so because we haven't been subjected to the weather Eyam Moor usually throws at us. It is a surprise to get back to the cars dry!

EYAM MOOR

Traditionally we don't do very well on our walks around or over Eyam Moor. This morning looked like giving us some of our usual poor weather; grey skies and a few spots of rain with the possibility of later downpours. Sad really given that we'd been experiencing some (un)seasonably dry and hot weather which had already meant hosepipe bans were being put into force in the NW.

I reached our meeting spot on the end of the track on Sir William Hill Road early, PC texted to say she'd be late - a change for both of us. By the time PC arrived the clouds had thinned and the sun was making a break for freedom so we abandoned our waterproofs (well, stuffed them in our rucksacks) in favour of suncream, sunhats and sunglasses. This may be a first for Eyam Moor.

We clambered over the stile with agility borne of much practise and followed the wall on our left. The ground for the first few steps is surprisingly undulating, not apparent until you meet it during a deluge. On one occasion we were almost stopped from reaching our cars because the whole area had turned into a lake. Fortunately it was during our 'dog days' and my dog was big enough to be sent forward to test the depth. She made it, so we waded through. PC's diminutive dog, though, had to be carried or she would have had to snorkel!

Today, after the prolonged dry spell the undulations are barely noticed and we stride ahead enjoying the ever expanding views in front of us. There's hardly anyone else out today and apart from far distant figures we have the moor to ourselves.

Since we started so high we soon have to start our descent although the path is neither too steep nor too rugged and we can keep our eyes on the wonderful clear views as much as our feet. The terrain levels a little as we approach a stone stile built into a wall which we climb with caution. It feels very high and exposed. At the other side we pause to admire the view down to Bretton Clough and across to Abney Low. The drop down to Bretton Clough looks a lot more dramatic than it is, but makes for a suitable photo opportunity.

The path curves alongside a high wall and we pull on our jumpers against the chill wind that blows across the valley, although we need our sunglasses too. The path drops towards Stoke Ford with the added inconvenience of another stile. By the time we reach the point where we had once sat for lunch we are removing our jumpers again. When we'd been here before we'd sat, bemused, as a couple scoured the hillside for a path for a considerably length of time before eventually deciding to approach us for help. It turned out they were about 2 miles away from where they thought and had only a vague idea how to read their map. We set them right, and continued with our buns, but we wonder if they ever reached their destination.

We descend to Stoke Ford, once the main packhorse route from Eyam to Bradwell but now used primarily by walkers and with a bridge to prevent anyone getting their feet wet. Today the water isn't too high and although tempted to stop for a paddle we continue though the woods that skirt Highlow Brook. The woods give way to open ground carpeted with bracken and thistles which are proving a magnet for hundreds of brown spotted, orange butterflies. After much patience PC manages to persuade a pair to pose for a photograph.

Also, at a lower level and easily missed amongst the thick grass,

orchids.

Another photograph is called for.

This is easy, if undulating, walking. We cross one of the many small streams that feed Highlow Brook, hop over a wooden stile then look for somewhere to stop for lunch as we're making extremely good time. We sit down on the springy turf at the foot of Eyam Moor where we can enjoy a pleasant view across the moors. A ewe is instantly curious and hopeful, but we persuade her (nicely) to go away although she doesn't go too far, just in case.

Lunch is unmemorable, but the buns are good as befits our last walk for a while. We were going to have cup cakes but they hadn't materialised (unco-operative opening hours of the cup cake shop) but PC has brought along photographs and vivid descriptions of the treats beyond our reach. This is serious food porn at its most extreme. Instead, we content ourselves with New York Vanilla Cheesecake, and yes, it is exceptionally good New York Vanilla Cheesecake. Absolutely delicious. Our muted sighs of approval have the ewe showing an interest again, but she's disappointed. Some things are too good to share.


We stay a while, drinking coffee, talking, enjoying the blazing sunshine, making the most of our last walk. Summer holidays loom and we'll be going our separate ways until September (but I've been promised cup cakes for our first walk back. YAY!)

Soon we have to admit that we can sit around no longer so hoist ourselves to our feet, walk downhill and cross a stream via a small wooden bridge, a courtesy that had not been here when the stream was a torrent and we'd had to cross with a small dog and an audience! We walk through the edge of Highlow Wood and for once the path isn't a quagmire. .In open fields again PC decides to snap a pair of photogenic sheep who decide she's taking too long over the whole thing and put on bored expressions for her

We pass the beautifully kept Tor Farm and what must be the most picturesque 5 star chicken hut in England. A lot of houses don't look as good. Then we reach the road, turn sharp right and start the long, slow slog uphill. We're steadily overheating now and have frequent pauses to drink. At Leam we leave the road and return to the moor following the easily discernible path upwards. There are loads of bilberry bushes here with a few ripe berries on them, but after a sampling they are deemed to still be too sour.

Ahead stands a pair of gateposts in the remains of a semi-derelict wall, very atmospheric but no longer any use other than as a way marker. Through the gateposts it's time to pause and admire the views again, this time over to Higger Tor and Carl Wark.It isn't far now, and soon the cars are in sight. Through the last gate, and we're back. It has been probably our best walk ever across Eyam Moor, and a perfect end to our 'season'. Now we're can look back on what we've done this year, and look forward to our new season in September.