Autumn Hike 2010                    Matlock Bath     17th September 2010

Up for it were:

Yup, Granpop Bill, Keithee’s up for it, Stubbee, Jaycee, Dasher, Malc Jay, Spikelett, Mr Tahoo-one eye’s eyer, Jacko, Paul Hecky Thump, Wendy Hecky Thump, Tim Mothy and Colonel Bradders.

Heavy Steve Machine, always a good puller, was pulled out at work and had to pull out.

Route - see end of notes ......               Distance approx 13 miles

The forecast was for a bright and sunny day with wet periods later (in the pub). And so it turned out to be.

The sun shone brightly, so much in fact that many wished they'd bought their sunglasses.  Joe had bought his and recounted the tale of the high price he nearly paid for them. Picking up a pair in an opticians, and with his deteriorating eye sight, assumed they were £12.50. He swiftly returned them to the assistant when he realised they were actually £125.

It was an early start for Colonel Bradders who was up at 4.40am to catch the train from Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton and then on to Stoke. He was surprisingly alert when we picked him up at Stoke Station despite his lack of sleep, but would it last?

Dasher leapt out of the minibus to meet him as he came out of the station, before bumping in to an old acquaintance to set up a dodgy deal.

Bill, our minibus driver, dropped us off in a car park to the north side of Matlock Bath adjacent to the River Derwent, where we met up with the rest of the group.  Setting of on time we began the long steep clamber to the west, meeting the station at the top of the cable car run. Sadly it didn't open till later otherwise we would have opted to use it from the valley to save the strenuous start.  Good job we're fit...

We were soon on the flat again, thankfully, and descended to Cromford and the breakfast stop.

Keithee came up with some lame excuse about his knee, but made it at least to a cafe in the village, just short of our proposed stop at the Wharf.  He managed a bacon butty with tea, chatted to the locals, visited the museum and met us back at The Boat Inn later. Sounded good.

The rest of us continued to the Wheatcroft's Wharf Café where the waitresses were just opening the premises and appearing upset that we were eating our own food and using their tables.  Well it was shut when we arrived.

It was an excellent spot by the canal and very pleasant in the morning sunshine.  'Is that a duck bill?', asked Mr Tahoohigh.

Joining the High Peak Trail, it was to be uphill again !!  Along the way there were several points of interest relating to bygone years and the achievements of Arkwright, which gave us a breather. Pity the trains weren't working today.

As the trail flattened out we left the trail to pop into the Rising Sun Inn at Middleton, where Wibbly Wallaby from the Wincle brewery was gleefully accepted for our first drink of the day.  Sadly it began to run out as Mothy's was being poured, but he graciously accepted a two thirds Wallaby and one third IPA cocktail to avoid missing out.

Jaycee asked if we’d spotted a picture of the 'Muppet of the year' on the wall in the gents toilets. 'It's a mirror', said Yup.  Followed by Mid-week Tone who pointed out, 'He's never been the same since he got struck by a bolt of lightning'.

Spikelet noticed that the locals had re-arranged the letters of the pub name on one of the walls, so it read 'ruin in the shxx'.  We took his word for it.

With an interest in the local stone and quarries, Spikelet discovered there were apparently 32 miles of underground caves in the immediate area, with tunnels stretching to the Hopton Quarry on the opposite side of the trail.

The area was once a lead-mining stronghold which turned to quarrying towards the end of the nineteenth century.  It was famous for the production of a stone which was 99% limestone and supplied stone to the Houses of parliament, Law Courts and the Tower of London, and provided thousands of headstones for graves in France and Belgium after the first world war.  So there you go..

Returning to Cromford, and downhill at last, the fluid intake took it's toll on one or two, especially Hecky Thump .  Faster than an Olympic hurdler, he leapt into an adjacent garden but leapt out even quicker as he spotted the owner cutting the grass. Dam it !!

The Boat Inn was to be our lunch time stop, where Keithee was eagerly awaiting our company. 

Copper Dragon’s Golden Pippin and best bitter were also awaiting our arrival. 'Life couldn't get any better' to repeat Keithee's favourite comment. We waited some time for the meals as there was a shortfall in staff.  However, when it did arrive, it was piping hot and was supplied with mountains of chips. The only disappointment being the pies which weren't; still tasty though.

Sitting in the warm suntrap in the rear garden, the bubbles from the dashes of lemonade began to affect Dasher as he swooned over the thoughts of a trip to Benidorm. Shame.  If only we had some photos ...

It was difficult to move on but with Granpop Bill itching to sample the White Gem at the Bell inn we made the effort.  It was well worth the 5 minute detour as the Derbyshire Brewing Company ale was on top form.

There were 2 options available to us; either to stroll back along the flat A6, or to climb up and over the hills back to the start.  Yes, somebody chose the hills, whilst a few made their way back along the much easier route of the A5.

There were so many chippies back in Matlock that we couldn't refuse stopping off for a snack. 

Yup spotted a balti restaurant, with an interesting name - 'Balti', which he'd add to his list of mystery trips (oops).

Yet again it had been a terrific day with plenty of crack and sunshine.  Bill the driver was prompt and speedily returned us back to Stoke with Colonel Bradders amazingly remaining awake.

Cheers Bill

Yuppers

(enjoy yer chips)

Proposed Route Itinerary


Matlock Bath to Cromford

08.00Assemble at Artists Corner Car Park on A6 just south of Matlock.
08:15 Cross A6 at north end of car park & walk up St John’s Rd past St John’s Chapel to gate of big house spanning road. Take footpath to right of gate up steep wooded slope past Masson farm.

By the farmhouse the waymarked path rakes up to a gate with Victoria Tower directly ahead. Past the gate climb to a stile at the top of the field and then through a hawthorn thicket to an entrance to the Heights of Abraham complex .

Ignore the tarmac path & go uphill along the perimeter of the complex then turn left over a stile, cross a wide vehicle track & re-enter woodland.

Through the woodland turn right along a green lane (Ember lane) past Ember Farm to Bonsall Village. Turn left at the church along a lane that becomes a path. Continue along path past Ball Eye Quarry & take a right fork down the slope along A5012 towards Cromford. Turn left along Scarthin to market place & cross A6. Turn right to Arkwrights Mill & Cromford Wharf (breakfast stop? 0945 - 1000)

Cromford to Black Rocks & Middleton

10:00 Walk along Cromford Canal towpath to High Peak Junction, cross canal to Infromation Centre & former LMS brake vans on display. Join High Peak Trail up incline & along level to Black Rocks, through car park past café & toilets down steps to lower car park & main exit.

Go out of Black Rocks main exit & left along road for 20 yds & cross field by graveyard to stile at bottom LH corner. Cross main rd through small industrial estate to rough track leading into a field to a stile then across a track to another stile. Follow winding path up field to a kissing gate stile. Follow fence on left to a stile by a nature reserve information board. Cross a rough track keeping well to the left of a sports field & turn right alongside a fence for a few yards. The path swings left to a stile between high bushes. Follow a distinct path down a narrow field to a stile. Continue across the next field close by the fence on the left to join a track. Turn left into Chapel St, Middleton then after 20 yds to the main street.

Across main street climb steeply up Sandy Hill for 50yds turn sharp right in front of a house called Hillcrest along a tarmac access road becoming a rough track.. At a metal gate turn left at waymark, follow path up hillside with fence on right. Go left at T junction then right after 50 yds past old quarry then turn left at astile into a moorland field. Continue straight on along a discernable path down to Middleton Top & turn left along High Peak Trail to sign for Rising Sun Inn arr 11;30ish.

Middleton to Cromford

12:00 – 12:30 depart Rising Sun to re-join HPT back to Black Rocks. At car park take waymarked footpath just to left of trail down stepped path through woods. Turn right at next waymark across top of field to stone cottage. Go through gate down drive & path to a sreet of 70’s housing. Cross over down path to main Cromford road past Bell Inn to Boat Inn in Scarthin., arr 13:00 - 13:30

Cromford to Matlock Bath

15:00? After further refreshments in Cromford, take sett paved path up hill from Scarthin behind some houses past a fingerpost “to Bonsall & Matlock Bath”. Continue uphill to a waymark pointing sharp right (back at 45 deg). By a large house take left branch of path slightly uphill by a netball pitch, bear left at next waymark. At next waymark by a cave entrance on the left, go straigt ahead gently uphill through the woods as the path levels out. At the edge of a wood at a junction with some houses ahead, follow the path straight ahead to the left of the houses. Follow path down past Gullivers Kingdom to A6 at Matlock Bath.

16:00 – 17:00 Hostelries in Matlock Bath, then;
Either walk back along A6, or (as map);
At first shop on west side of South Parade after pelican crossing take footpath uphill to steps which come out on a road near Temple Hotel. Turn right then first left. At top turn right by entrance to Heights of Abraham & follow ro0ad downhill. After 100yds take footpath on left signed to Matlock. Go up trough woods over a footbridge & under cable car. Continue to another sign for Matlock & emerge on to a lane. Turn right down hill & right again on to St John’s Rd.


Alternatively, catch a no. 6.1 bus from Cromford Market Sq o/s Greyhound Hotel back to start