Richard Arkwright - Masson Mill

After walking the Derwent Valley Heritage Way I am now on a continued mission to educate myself in all things Arkwright. The next location on my list was Masson Mill, I have visited before many years ago but that was only to browse the shops that are now part of this diversified mill. Masson Mill sits in between Matlock Bath and Cromford at the northern end of the UNESCO Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, It is the crowning jewel in Sir Richard Arkwright's cotton milling achievements and I knew I had to go and check out this fantastic looking mill.

[caption id="attachment_1922" align="alignnone" width="600"] Masson Mill[/caption]

I arrived at just after 10am on a very misty autumnal morning, the leaves were falling, the mist had descended so the warmth of the mill building felt very welcoming. I visited his very first Mill last week and wrote a blog post which can be found at Richard Arkwright – Cromford Mill.

[caption id="attachment_1918" align="alignnone" width="600"] Masson Mill[/caption]

As I mentioned earlier there is a wealth of shopping and dining facilities at Masson Mill. I did quickly sample some coffee from the cafeteria on the ground floor before I heading off to the museum to learn some more valuable history lessons. You enter the Mill Museum by descending down the slope which is just to the left of the shopping entrance and car park. I paid the very modest entrance fee of £3, quickly stopped to take a picture of the original Mill bell from 1785 and then headed down stairs to begin soaking up all that was on offer.

[caption id="attachment_1921" align="alignnone" width="600"] Masson Mill - Yorkshire Loom[/caption]

As it was approaching 11am I headed straight for the Weaving Shed and Dispatch. A machinery demonstration takes place at 11am & 2pm Monday to Saturday, if you visit on a Sunday the demo is 11am and 4pm. I had a great chat with Kevin Gilbert who works at the museum, he very kindly answered a few quick questions while I recorded it for Peak Routes via AudioBoo. In the Boo which is embedded below you can hear our discussion and the sound of one of the Yorkshire Looms that dates back around 130 years.

listen to ‘Sir Richard Arkwright - Masson Mill - Museum Tour - Part 1’ on Audioboo

I was totally fascinated by all that was on offer in the Weaving Shed, the live demo of the machines was excellent and it was great to see them working. The noise of the Yorkshire and Lancashire Looms was at a bearable level today, it does make me wonder what it must have been like to work in the mill when all the machines were weaving, spinning, carding and doubling all at once.

[caption id="attachment_1914" align="alignnone" width="600"] Masson Mill - Cotton Bale[/caption]

After the great demo by Kevin I moved on to the Spinning and Carding section of the museum. The huge "Mule" spinning/drawing machine looked very impressive, It wasn't in operation today but I can imagine it must have required great skill to operate as it moved backwards and forwards.

[caption id="attachment_1915" align="alignnone" width="600"] Masson Mill - Cotton Drawing[/caption]

Next I wandered through the Mechanic's shop to the boiler house. when Arkwright built the mill it was originally powered by water until the steam boilers were fitted around 1911. They are absolutely huge and I imagine this room must have been particularly warm when they were in use.

[caption id="attachment_1920" align="alignnone" width="600"] Masson Mill - Weir on the River Derwent[/caption]

After the boiler house I wandered outside to have a look at the weir on the River Derwent that was built by Arkwright in 1783. one of the reasons he built Masson Mill is due to the great power that could be harnessed from the River Derwent. His original mill down in Cromford had suffered from water flow issues as it was using the power of Bonsall Brook and Cromford Sough. The Derwent which begins high up in the Peak District at Swaines Greave has a much larger flow.

[caption id="attachment_1913" align="alignnone" width="600"] Masson Mill - Bobbin Room[/caption]

The mill was first powered by the water wheel, then by steam and is now run by hydro electric power. Thanks to this, the site is totally self sufficient and when the mill is closed the hydro electric power is channelled back into the national grid. I then wandered through the Bobbin Room which house the worlds largest collection of bobbins, according to the signs there they have around 680,000, needless to say I didn't take the time to double check their count :-)

[caption id="attachment_1919" align="alignnone" width="600"] Masson Mill - Tethering Ring[/caption]

Next was the Doubling Room which is in the oldest part of the mill, I was particularly impressed by what is attached to the wall in this area. It is the original ring where Arkwright tethered his horse when it was raining. being the fanatic that I am I had to grab hold of it and imagine what it must have been like in the room all those years ago. I was once again left fascinated by the working cotton doubling machine that is housed here. I recorded an AudioBoo while I watched it working the strands of thread, twisting them together and giving double thickness to the final yarn.

listen to ‘Sir Richard Arkwright - Masson Mill - Museum Tour - Part 2’ on Audioboo

[caption id="attachment_1917" align="alignnone" width="600"] Masson Mill - Doubling Room[/caption]

After the Doubling Room I had one more look in the Weaving Shed before concluding my very brief visit. There is a vast wealth of things to see, hear and experience at the museum. I will definitely be returning again very soon to spend more time exploring and learning. If you would like to find out more about the museum at Masson Mill you can do so by visiting http://www.massonmills.co.uk/Museum/. They have a great website which is full of information that will make you want to go and have a look for yourself. Thanks for taking the time to read this post and I hope to bring you another instalment in my Derwent Valley Mills visits very soon.

Richard Arkwright - Cromford Mill

I'm fascinated by history, by the great things people have achieved and by the stories they have left behind. While I type this I immediately think back to one of my trips to Australia, I had been researching the history of that great land and knew that I had to visit Botany Bay where Captain James Cook first landed on saturday 28 April 1770. As I sat there alone by the water's edge at La Perouse in deep thought I could just picture the ships out in the bay... Thankfully back in blighty if I want to experience some great historic sites I don't have to travel so far, there is a local landmark that has world wide significance right on my door step. The place I'm talking about is Cromford Mill that was built by the legendary father of industry Sir Richard Arkwright, just 1 year after that famous Captain landed in Australia.

[caption id="attachment_1881" align="alignnone" width="600"] Sir Richard Arkwright's Mill Number 2 at Cromford[/caption]

I feel ashamed to say that as I live so close to this great place I have passed it bye many many times, I never really gave it a thought when I was younger and I do regret that now. Cromford Mill is a very popular place for local schools to visit, sadly I missed out on that trip as I had moved for one year to a small village near Stocksbridge in Sheffield at the time. I really should have visited before, like I say I had passed so many times and kept telling myself I would stop one day for a look. Today, I decided it was high time to come and learn some of the great history this place holds.

[caption id="attachment_1882" align="alignnone" width="600"] Sir Richard Arkwright's Mill Number 1 at Cromford[/caption]

I knew about Sir Richard Arkwright, how could I not. The history lessons at school covered him in great detail, I must admit it was great to finally be stood inside the court yard of the place this great man created. The weather today was perfect, a fresh autumnal morning and the sun was casting a great light over the area. I walked to stand beside the watercourse and recorded an AudioBoo.

listen to ‘Cromford Mill - Sir Richard Arkwright’ on Audioboo

So here are the facts. Cromford Mill was the first water-powered cotton spinning mill developed by Mr Arkwright. The power of the water from Bonsal Brook and Cromford Sough were harnessed to power his patented Water Frame. The patent was later over turned as it was found that the design was sold to him by a gentleman called John Kay, a clock maker and mechanic who had helped Thomas Highs build the original invention of the water frame. It was Arkwright however who made the system work and housed it in Mill number one in 1771 creating the worlds first factory. A second larger mill was built at Cromford between 1776 and 1777.

[caption id="attachment_1883" align="alignnone" width="600"] Steve Messam's "Twisted" in Number 1 Mill at Cromford[/caption]

The Mill buildings have seen many uses over the years, Water shortages began to become a problem in the second half of the 19th century so they were diversified. One housed a laundry, others a brewery, then the site was eventually sold on to a company who produced colour pigment for paint. Thankfully however, the entire site is now owned by the Arkwright Society. They have set themselves the task of returning it to its former glory to provide an educational resource and to preserve this great historic place. They have stripped away some of the newer buildings that were not part of the original plan and you can find out more on their great website at http://www.arkwrightsociety.org.uk/. They have done such a great job that the site has been recognised by UNESCO and is now part of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site.

[caption id="attachment_1884" align="alignnone" width="600"] Steve Messam's "Twisted" in Number 1 Mill at Cromford[/caption]

Inside Mill number one there is currently an Art installation that was designed by Steve Messam and is called "Twisted". It is 70,000 metres of Red polyester thread, 2 frames at either end of the building are connected by thousands of red thread and it twists half way down. It looks like some kind of vortex as you look down the centre towards the other side of the Mill.

listen to ‘Cromford Mill - Inside Mill Number 1 Built In 1771’ on Audioboo

Inside Mill number 2 which was finished in 1777 there is a room which houses a great exhibition/museum of facts about the history of Mr Arkwright and his work along the Derwent Valley. It was great to wander around and learn some great facts and fill in some of the blanks in my knowledge about the man and his work. For some reason I had always thought the mill had been powered by the River Derwent but thankfully that miss information was corrected here today, As I mentioned earlier it was actually powered by Cromford Sough and Bonsal Brook... You Learn something new every day, which is the way I like it :-)

[caption id="attachment_1885" align="alignnone" width="600"] The Original Mill Bell from 1771[/caption]

I'm so pleased I visited today, after walking the Derwent Valley Heritage Way and my walk last week from Cromford to Via Gellia I knew I had to visit the Mills. If you haven't visited I would highly recommend you go and you can find more information over at http://www.arkwrightsociety.org.uk/, http://www.derwentvalleymills.org/ and http://www.cromfordmill.co.uk/.

Peak District - Cromford & Via Gellia

The Peak District has a wealth of routes to take, interesting spots to see and has historical tales by the bucket load. I do feel lucky to live within a close proximity of this great national park and I'm reminded how lucky I am on a regular basis. The area I have frequented the most over the years is the eastern peak, Bakewell, Chatsworth and Matlock. I have many happy memories that are burned in my mind in these scenic spots and new entries are being added all the time.

[caption id="attachment_1851" align="alignnone" width="600"] Sir Richard Arkwright's Mill number 1 built in 1771[/caption]

Although not officially in the National Park the area around Matlock, Matlock Bath and Cromford are places I have spent the most time. There is plenty to do and see around there. Cycling the High Peak Trail, ride the cable car to the Heights of Abraham, do a spot of climbing at Black Rocks or take in the historic Cromford Mill.

[caption id="attachment_1854" align="alignnone" width="600"] Cromford Mill Buildings from Mill Lane[/caption]

Cromford Mill which was built by the Legendary Sir Richard Arkwright was the starting point for today's walk. He built the first mill way back in 1771 and he became the Farther of the industrial Revolution. From the Mill Car Park (Proceeds go to the Arkwright Society) we then headed up to the cross roads in Cromford itself, We crossed the road and walked up past the Greyhound Hotel which was built by Richard Arkwright in 1778. After passing the Inn you then walk past the Workers Cottages which are also sites of historic interest. We joined the footpath which runs at the back of the house and continued to climb out of the valley.



We climbed up hill towards Black Rocks, joined the High Peak Trail and then followed it until we came to the bottom of the Middleton Incline. The Middleton Incline is a 1 in 8 slope where the trucks with their loads were pulled up to Middleton Top. They were taken on this voyage while being dragged upwards by a beam engine built by the Butterley Company in 1829. I once hid a Geocache up here but sadly it is long gone :-).

[caption id="attachment_1856" align="alignnone" width="600"] Middleton Top[/caption]

We continued along the High Peak Trail after a brief stop to check if the cafe was open at Middleton Top, sadly it wasn't so we had to make do without caffeine :-)

[caption id="attachment_1857" align="alignnone" width="600"] Middleton Top[/caption]

I haven't been along the High Peak Trail for a few years and if I'm completely honest I'd forgotten about Hopton Tunnel. It's only a very short tunnel but still impressive and it reminded me of being in the very similar ones on the Monsal Trail.

[caption id="attachment_1858" align="alignnone" width="600"] High Peak Trail - Hopton Tunnel[/caption]

After passing through Hopton Tunnel we made our way along towards Harboro Rocks, another spot I visited over a decade ago in search of a Geocache. It wasn't long before we were leaving the High Peak Trail and heading northward on the Limestone Way to Grangemill.



We walked over the fields while getting a great view down into the valley at Via Gellia, I'd not seen it from this angle before as last time I was here I was in low cloud. We descended down to Grangemill, crossed the road and then climbed back up a steep path towards the road that leads to Ible. Ible is a sleepy little farm hamlet, it's a lovely peaceful area and I can imagine not a lot of traffic comes through here. Great looking stone farm buildings, cattle being drive down the road and it looked to me like it could have been straight out of BBC Radio 4's The Archers :-)



After you pass through Ible the Limestone Way goes back across fields again as it works its way across to Bonsal. I think I lost count of the amount of gates we went through, its small field after small field across the moor here.

We eventually turned off the Limestone Way and headed along the path which takes you through the old Bonsall Mines. It's a fascinating spot with some great history. Hundreds of little sunken holes that look like bomb blast pits. They are however old disused Lead mine shafts dating back around 150-200 years. The site itself is called Fool's Venture and you can find a great run down of what is at the site by looking at this PDF from the Peak District Mines Historical Society Newsletter. To find out more about Mines in the Peak visit http://www.pdmhs.com



After the mine field we descended down towards Slaley, once again we found another idyllic High Peak village. It is a small group of houses perched on the hillside with great views across the valley. There looked to be some fantastic houses here, they would require a lottery win I think to be able to afford one.


We eventually arrived down in Bonsall, turned right down towards the Via Gellia Road and came out at the old Mill building. A short wander down the road and we then crossed over the river near Slinter Cottage, it is owned by the Arkwright Society and you can find out more details there website at http://www.arkwrightsociety.org.uk/content/slinter-cottage-details.

listen to ‘Peak District - Cromford & Richard Arkwright ’ on Audioboo

After a nice wander through the woods following Bonsall Brook we arrived back in Cromford. We passed the Mill Pond, rounded the corner, crossed near the Greyhound Inn and then crossed the A6 to walk back to the car near Arkwright Mill / Cromford Canal.

A great little afternoon wander that takes in some great historical parts of this corner of the Peak District. I have since been back and paid a visit to Cromford Mill so keep and eye out for my blog post from there. Thanks for stooping by :-)

Peak District - Lathkill & Bradford Dale

I'm always keeping a watchful eye on the weather to spot some nice walking windows, sometimes though the need to walk overtakes the importance of nice weather and you just have to head out. I'm not scared of a little rain which is a good thing as this year has offered up plenty of it. When the weather looks bad I just adjust my plans accordingly and plan a route that will keep us out of the worst of it. Today was one of those days where staying low was a good choice, a months worth of rain had been forecast over a 24 hour period and it came down with full force as we walked :-)



We started off by parking the cars at Alport and then heading northwards up Lathkill Dale from SK 2202 6455. The rain was coming down hard at this point and it didn't relent at all throughout the day. We wandered while chatting up to one of the many impressive Weirs that are along the River Lathkill, The one pictured below can be found at SK 2145 6518.

[caption id="attachment_1792" align="alignnone" width="600"] Lathkill Dale - Weir at SK 2145 6518[/caption]

We continued on up this wonderful dale passing many great looking spots up to Conksbury Bridge at SK 2117 6561, This interesting historic bridge is a Grade-II-listed structure from the 18th century. The rain was particularly heavy at this point so sadly I don't have any pictures to show you from today. Here is an image of the bridge that can be found on the Geograph website.

[caption align="alignnone" width="600"]

Conksbury Bridge (Dave Dunford) / CC BY-SA 2.0

[/caption]

As you proceed up the Valley from Conksbury Bridge it opens out slightly and you can see the many wiers that alter the flow of the river, You really can't help but notice how clear the water is that flows through here. The Dale itself is littered with signs of its past where it was widely mined for Lead, There is even the remains of an aqueduct and a ruined pump house near the old Mandale Mine.

[caption id="attachment_1791" align="alignnone" width="600"] Lathkill Dale - River Lathkill[/caption]

We decided to leave Lathkill Dale at SK 1747 6553 by heading over the bridge and joining the Limestone Way in Cales Dale. We followed the way as it climbed up the steep steps then came out on to farmland which then leads across towards Calling Low. We were out in the open then on which meant we were met by the full force of today's weather. It was a misty wet wander across the fields as we were just below the cloud line today, in no time at all though we arrived at the road at SK 1927 6447. We crossed over then decided to leave the Limestone Way by headed down Moor Lane to Youlgreave. Moor Lane is one the many Quiet Lanes in the area and its an interesting concept that I welcome. Here is the definition from the Department for Transport "Quiet Lanes are a Countryside Agency initiative, which has the support of the Department for Transport. Quiet Lanes are minor rural roads which are appropriate for shared use by walkers, cyclists, horse riders and motorised users. They should have low traffic flows travelling at low speeds."

[caption id="attachment_1790" align="alignnone" width="600"] Bradford Dale - Swimming Area[/caption]

After Walking down Moor Lane we arrived in the narrow back streets of Youlgreave, we Proceed down Holywell Lane to the Bridge of the River Bradford at SK 2089 6399. We followed the river down stream and in no time at all reached the Swimming Area at SK 2112 6405. I doubt you would have wanted to swim in there today as not only was in raining it was pretty cold. I can imagine this place gets rather busy in the summer months.

[caption id="attachment_1789" align="alignnone" width="600"] Bradford Dale - Swimming Area[/caption]

From the swimming area its a nice gentle walk down the dale past Rheinstor Rock and then to were we had parked our cars at Alport. It had only been a relatively short walk today but given the conditions it was probably a wise move. As a result of the rain I haven't managed to take many pictures or do an episode of the Podcast, I did however record a quick before and after AudioBoo for you to have a quick listen to. Thanks for stopping by to read this pretty short post, its a great route than can be done easily in 3-4 hours even with a few break along the way to take in the history.

listen to ‘Peak District - Lathkill Dale’ on Audioboo

Peak Routes Podcast - Episode 6 - Chrome Hill & Parkhouse Hill

Episode 6 of the Podcast follows my walk up both Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill. The weather on the day was rather wet, windy and a little wild but it was a great little wander. These 2 Limestone Gems are a must see for visitors of the Peak District and Crowdecote is a great place to start from to explore this stunning area.

[caption id="attachment_1620" align="alignnone" width="600"] Peak Routes Podcast - Episode 6 - Chrome Hill & Parkhouse Hill[/caption]

You can view the blog post to which this podcast relates by clicking over to Peak District – Chrome Hill & Parkhouse Hill. You'll find plenty of pictures, some video and more audio there to accompany this episode. I hope you enjoy it :-)

If you would like to download this episode or any of the others then you can visit the Podcast page of the site. You can also subscribe to get them delivered to you via iTunes or Feedburner. FeedBurner have all the popular Podcast catching links listed but please let me know if there are any other apps or programs that need adding to this list.

Peak District - Chrome Hill & Parkhouse Hill

There are some fantastic landscapes to be seen in the Peak District, it really does have it all to offer when it comes to views. You have the Dark Peak with its bog, moorland and gritstone edges. The White Peak offers up some fantastic limestone gorges, lush green farmland and its tranquil rolling hills. There are some sites in the Peak that really do look like they are from a different world. I remember the first time I set eyes on the Roaches and Ramshaw Rocks while driving north from Leek. It was like some form of Alien being had dropped these awesome looking objects for us all to enjoy. The wonders of nature never fail to amaze me, the fact that these shapes in our landscape can be formed by the powers of erosion. You don't have to look very far from the Roaches to find more examples of these Alien looking formations, Chrome Hill & Parkhouse Hill are just a mear hop skip and a jump over in the Upper Dove Valley.

The weather was pretty dire when I looked out over the eastern peaks from my bedroom this morning, I have never let that stop me before so ignored the dark clouds and got my kit together. I had decided that I would walk today regardless of weather, without planning any routes, without checking my maps, there was only one certainty, I was to start from Crowdecote and head over both Chrome and Parkhouse.

[caption id="attachment_1591" align="alignnone" width="600"] Crowdecote - Underhill Farm[/caption]

I parked up in Crowdecote at around 09:30 after a swift 25 minute drive from home, I chucked my waterproofs on and marched out into the rain heading for Glutten Bridge. I took the footpath that starts from Meadow Farm and takes you across the fields to Underhill Farm. The farmland around was looking rather deserted but that may have been because today was farmers market day over in Bakewell.



I eventually reached the garage at Glutten Bridge after passing through Underhill Farm and walking along the single track road. I turned towards the north for a short while and walked along the road before swinging back to the west again. I was greeted by a view of ParkHouse Hill's eastern flanks.

[caption id="attachment_1593" align="alignnone" width="600"] Parkhouse Hill from the East[/caption]

I made my way across the field just as the rain decided to stop for a short while, in no time at all I was walking through the gate to begin my attack of Parkhouse Hill. Access to this area was once pretty tricky but thanks to the Countryside Rights of Way act 2000 (CROW) thankfully it is no longer a problem. I'm so thankful that I can walk freely here, its all thanks to those valiant campaigners and trespassers that have paved the way for us all.

[caption id="attachment_1592" align="alignnone" width="600"] Parkhouse Hill - Access Land[/caption]

After a short sharp slog up towards the very top I was greated with a great view around to Chrome Hill. It almost felt like the sheep were teasing as I scrambled my way up the slippy ground, while they moved around with ease :-)

[caption id="attachment_1594" align="alignnone" width="600"] Parkhouse summit with Chrome Hill in the background[/caption]

The very top of ParkHouse Hill feels razor sharp. It is almost a sheer drop off the northern edge and you certainly wouldn't want to miss place your footing on a wet and windy day like today. I paused for a short while to take some pictures, record a snippet of audio for the podcast and then I begun my way down the western side.

[caption id="attachment_1588" align="alignnone" width="600"] Chrome From Parkhouse - Instagram[/caption]

listen to ‘Peak District - ParkHouse Hill’ on Audioboo

[caption id="attachment_1595" align="alignnone" width="600"] Chrome Hill from Parkhouse Hill[/caption]

I arrived back down at the bottom after slip sliding my way down the muddy and rocky western flanks of Parkhouse. Once I set foot on the road I was reminded of the very first time I ever came here. That was back in 2003 when the hunt for a Geocache bought me to the area. It was when Geocaching was in its infancy and there were very few Caches placed at that time. I remember when I was first introduced to Geocaching by my father in 2000 that there were only 3 in the entire British Isles, Now there are around 100+ in a 10mile radius of my home.

[caption id="attachment_1590" align="alignnone" width="600"] Chrome Hill Sheep[/caption]

After another sharp but short slog upwards I found myself standing at the very top of the awesome Limestone gem. Chrome Hill has always been a favourite of mine, from the first day I clapped eyes on the place I was hooked. The shape of it really does make me think it has been transported from a parallel universe :-)

[caption id="attachment_1603" align="alignnone" width="600"] Parkhouse Hill & Dove Valley - HDR[/caption]

The image above is my first attempt at HDR photography, I layered 3 images in Photoshop and tweeked it a little to come up with this one. I have learned a few lessons from this attempt so next time I will do a few things differently, mainly to concentrate on not allowing the camera to get wet and also where to focus on.

[caption id="attachment_1587" align="alignnone" width="600"] Parkhouse from Chrome - Instagram[/caption]

The rain had been intermittent for the last few hours, the cloud base was dropping now and the precipitation intensified. The wind was beginning to pick up too so I decided not to linger long at the top and make my way off the north western side. I began to drop down until I saw the archway which is 30 or so metres west of the summit. This is the area in which the Geocache was hidden all those years ago. I forgot to mention that the very first time we came we ran out of daylight, got absolutely drenched and didn't even find the cache. Thankfully, we managed to locate the sneaky little hiding place on our second visit :-)

[caption id="attachment_1596" align="alignnone" width="600"] Chrome Hill Archway[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1599" align="alignnone" width="600"] Chrome Hill - Mini Cave[/caption]

Moving on from the archway and heading further downwards you come to another interesting formation. A huge chunk of exposed limestone with a great looking little mini cave.

[caption id="attachment_1598" align="alignnone" width="600"] Chrome Hill from the bottom[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1602" align="alignnone" width="600"] Sheep near Tor Rock[/caption]

I kept going north westward and joined the concessionary footpath that leads up towards Tor Rock, the rain had all but stopped again thankfully by this point. I passed Stoop Farm and crossed the field towards Booth Farm.

[caption id="attachment_1597" align="alignnone" width="600"] Chrome Hill from Booth Farm[/caption]

Just before you arrive at Booth Farm you can pick up the bridleway that runs around the western flanks of Hollins Hill. I chose to head downwards instead of along the top of Hollins Hill mainly because I wanted to find some shelter from the elements so I could have a bite to eat. I found what I was looking for when I arrived at the bridge over the river Dove just before Hollinsclough. I'm not sure what the story is behind the sign, I can only assume some work is being done to strengthen the bridge.

[caption id="attachment_1600" align="alignnone" width="600"] River Dove Bridge - Near Hollinsclough[/caption]

After a very short break under the tree cover near the bridge I moved on once more. I walked up the muddy field and then joined the road down into Hollinsclough. There was not a sole to be seen in the village today, only the postman urinating against the side of his van. I never saw Postman Pat do that on TV, Mrs Goggins would have given him a firm telling off he had i'm sure :-)

After passing through Hollinsclough I picked up the track that follows the river down stream towards Glutten Bridge. I crossed the bridge next to the ford and I was back in Derbyshire once again. The river Dove marks the boundary between Derbyshire and Staffordshire and I had just realised I had come out without my passport. Thankfully I had only been an illegal immigrant in Staffordshire for a short time and was now back on home turf in sunny (not today) Derbyshire.

[caption id="attachment_1601" align="alignnone" width="600"] Parkhouse Hill - River Dove Ford[/caption]

I reached the garage at Glutten Bridge and decided that I would retrace my steps from here back to the car. I took the single track road, I made my way to Underhill Farm and then walked across the wet fields to Meadow Farm. The rain was quite intense at this point so in a way I was glad to reach the car and to be able to get out of it for a moment.

[caption id="attachment_1589" align="alignnone" width="600"] Chrome & Parkhouse from Crowdecote - Instagram[/caption]

Regardless of the weather I had had a thoroughly enjoyable few hours out walking. It was quite refreshing to have a relatively aimless wander today, Instead of plotting a route in ViewRanger and knowing exactly where I was going. The route I took over Parkhouse and Chrome is considered a classic and it really is. The stunning 360 views from both hills need to be seen and experienced. The weather was rather dramatic today but that only enhanced the experience, I don't mind a bit of rain, which is a good thing as this summer has been offering up plenty of it.

I'm hoping to head back over this way again soon and to bring you some routes from places further down the River Dove. Its hard to stray from the beaten path in these areas and bring you anything new but a routes a route. Thanks for taking the time to visit and to read my nonsensical rambling about my rambles :-)

Why not download the GPX route file for today's walk and have a go yourself [wpdm_file id=9]

Peak District - Monsal Trail

The weather this summer has been terrible, that is no understatement, it really has been rubbish. I know it must be digitally programmed into our British DNA to complain about the weather but this year it really is a valid complaint. We have had the odd day here and there where it has been nice but it always seems to fall when i'm at work :-). I can't let a little thing like the weather stop me from getting out into the Peak District though, I simply had to adjust my expectations a little and just get kitted out in the waterproofs.

Where to go when the weather is bad? Well, for some reason I can't get Bleaklow Stones out of my head but today I didn't think it would be doable judging by the forecast. The plan was to stay low and plot a route where plenty of cover was available. The Monsal Trail instantly sprung to mind as a place that was more than worthy of further exploration and would be perfect for the days weather conditions. So... a quick call to my mate Andy and the plan was set.



I reached the parking spot near Bakewell Station after a 20 minute drive from home and the rain was already falling heavily. We got kitted out in our waterproofs and then begun our wander along the trail.

A brief historical excerpt about the trail... The Monsal Trail follows a part of the former Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway, it was built by the Midland Railway Company in 1863 to link Manchester with London. It has many breath taking views along the way and you can feel the history as you walk along it. The trail officially begins down at the Coombs Road Viaduct which is around a mile down the hill from Bakewell station. We chose to start at Bakewell as there is usually ample parking near the bridge which crosses the trail. Today the road resembled a river bed as recent flooding had dragged lots of stones and rocks on to it. When we left the cars we half expected to find that they had been washed away when we returned.

[caption id="attachment_1555" align="alignnone" width="600"] Headstone Tunnel[/caption]

After leaving Bakewell station you gradually head up hill until in what seems like no time at all you arrive at Hassop Station, more on that later. After Hassop you pass Great Longstone Station which was built to service Thornbridge Hall. Sadly I have no pictures of Longstone from today's walk as at this point the rain was rather heavy. After Longstone the next main feature you come across is the Headstone Tunnel, this tunnel along with numerous others on the line were finally opened to the public back in May 2011. Previously the tunnels were bypassed by using footpath diversions, thankfully after a grant of around £3.7m we can now enjoy the original route the line took through the spectacular tunnels.

After walking through the 487 metre Headstone Tunnel you come out on to another spectacular landmark, one of the crown jewels in the Peak Districts Historical arsenal, The Headstone Viaduct. Here is a picture of said Viaduct from the Peak Routes archive as once again the weather spoiled any chance of getting pictures today.

[caption id="attachment_1199" align="alignnone" width="600"] Monsal Dale[/caption]

The Headstone Viaduct is a fantastic specimen of the ingenuity of a great age in British industrial history, there are many others around the british isles but this is one of my favourites. when it was originally built there was some opposition as it was said to have destroyed the tranquility of Monsal Dale, this may be true in some ways but its there and I can't help but be impressed by it. I've said in recent posts that when I first stood below it around 15 years ago I was awe struck by it, It stands around 40 feet high at its centre and its 5 arches span the 300 metres across the dale.

Anyway thats quite enough lamenting for an age gone bye, Back to the job in hand... As we walked across the Viaduct and reached the other side I spotted a little sign that I hadn't seen before. The sign is pictured below and it represents the newly plotted White to Dark Peak walk to celebrate 25 years of the Country Walking magazine. If you would like to find out more about this then head on over to livefortheoutdoors.com.

[caption id="attachment_1568" align="alignnone" width="600"] White to Dark Peak - Country Walking Magazine[/caption]

After the Headstone Viaduct you walk along towards the Cressbrook tunnel, another one of the freshly opened gems for us all to have a wander through. As you approach the tunnel the Cressbrook Mill that was built by Richard Arkwright who plays a big part in the industrial history of this part of the world. It was once a thriving Mill but after a long history it went bankrupt in 1965 and it is now apartments.

[caption id="attachment_1554" align="alignnone" width="600"] Cressbrook[/caption]

The Cressbrook tunnel is another long and impressive tunnel at 431 metres long. when heading west it weaves slowly around to the left before you come out into the open once more.

[caption id="attachment_1559" align="alignnone" width="600"] Cressbrook Tunnel[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1557" align="alignnone" width="600"] Cressbrook Tunnel[/caption]

After the Cressbrook tunnel you don't have to wait long before you get to enjoy another one of the trails many tunnels, which was lucky for Andy and I as it was still raining heavily. Litton tunnel is next and it slightly longer than Cressbrook at 471 metres long.

[caption id="attachment_1563" align="alignnone" width="600"] Litton Tunnel - Looking out of the eastern entrance[/caption]

After the Litton Tunnel the trail climbs steadily as you pass Litton Mill, another Mill that has a very fraught history of bankruptcy and poor treatment of workers. Just like Cressbrook the Mill has now been turned into stunning apartments and a quick web search will find some available for holiday hire.

[caption id="attachment_1562" align="alignnone" width="600"] Millers Dale Viaduct[/caption]

Millers Dale is the next station on the journey westward along the trail, easy access and ample parking are available here. The station itself is now home to the Peak Park Rangers and it has handy toilet facilities for those in need. We chose to keep going today along towards the Chee Tor Tunnels of which there are 2. before reaching the first tunnel you pass the huge Lime Kilns, an historical relic and another way in which the geological wealth of the Peak District was exploited in years gone bye.

Due to time constraints we chose to head back the way we had came after we reached the Chee Tor Tunnels. The rain today had not stopped and we decided to have lunch before heading back towards Millers Dale Station while sheltering in the Tunnel.

[caption id="attachment_1561" align="alignnone" width="600"] Hassop Station from the Monsal Trail[/caption]

It was a rather grim walk back as the rate at which the rain was falling had intensified to a level at which folk in Derbyshire would class as chucking it down ;-), that is a scientific measurement, more than throwing it down but slightly less than pissing it down.. pardon my language but you need the facts to understand the scale at which i'm going by.

Thankfully we had the tunnels to shelter us from the torrential downpour and we eventually reached the haven of Hassop Station. I will admit to having never stopped here before, I have walked past an embarrassing amount of times but i'm so glad we decided to stop today. The Cafe inside the station has a vast array of goodies on offer and there is plenty of other things on sale in the book and gift shops. Cycle Hire is also available here so if you would like to find out more then click on over to http://www.hassopstation.co.uk/ Andy and I enjoyed a cup of coffee while taking the load off our feet for a while.

[caption id="attachment_1560" align="alignnone" width="600"] Hassop Station Cafe[/caption]

After a short break from the elements in Hassop Station we ventured back out into the rain to walk the final stretch back to the cars at Bakewell Station. I can thankfully confirm that the cars hadn't been swept away by a river which was now running down the road. It had been another great walk and I joked with Andy that one day we would manage a walk in nice weather. Its a long running Joke that when he and I go for a walk we seem to always experience weather at its most extreme. We've had wind (Peak District – Ladybower & Alport Dale), we've had snow (Peak District – Kinder Scout – Northern Edge in the Snow) and now we've had about the worst rain you could get today.

listen to ‘Peak District - Monsal Trail & A Wet iPhone’ on Audioboo

If you would like to find out more about the trail and what amenities are available then visit http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/visiting/cycle/monsaltrail. Thanks for reading my post for today's wander and I hope you will join me again soon for another Peak Route :-).