Armed with my trusty OS EXPLORER 24 map, I parked in the Long Stay car park in Buxton near the Railway pub, cost £3.50 for the day. I set off with a rough idea of the route in my head and headed on up the A6 Chapel-en-le-Frith road to the top of the bank where I turned onto Waterswallows Road. From here I carried on until I passed Townend Farm where I headed on up acoss fields towards Daisymere Farm, and here is a photo of an inquisitive individual I met on my travels. I think his name was Shaun…
The day was cold but sunny, with blue skies at the start.
From here I headed onto Green Lane, finding quite a few puddles which were still frozen solid.
I carried on along Green Lane, past Waterswallows Green.
The OS Exploer map shows a route which traverses through Tunstead Quarry but the signs pointed the other way, creating a detour towards Handybarn and a bit of road walking which took me past Tarmac HQ and the impressive site of the Tunstead Quarry works. This is a sprawling metropolis which looks like something out of a sci-fi film.
Here I bumped into a fellow walker who proceeded to tell me he used to work there and was now retired. They were knocking down the building he used to work in and he wanted to take some photos of the event for his album! I asked him if he missed working there and he replied that he missed it like pulling teeth! Enough said. I said my farewells and carried on and eventually came across this strange looking concrete igloo.
And this is inside the igloo. Good place for a party! Bring on the beers and the Barbie!
And here’s me standing outside my igloo. Oh the wonders of the self-timer.
I followed the edge of the impressive Quarry works until I came to a road and then took the path which led through Flag Dale.
As I progressed through Flag Dale it became harder to negotiate, bracken and branches blocking my way. It started to remind me of something out of a twisted fairytale, and I half expected to see Hansel and Gretal or the Big Bad Wolf come wandering through the thicket!
And then someone decided to put this obstacle in my way! Bleedin inconsiderate if you ask me!
From here I met a gate which had a padlock on it, so I climbed over it to meet the path which crosses south-west up and over the fields towards Mosley Farm.
After passing through the farm I came across the breathtaking sight of The River Wye, Monsal Trail and Chee Dale as seen from above.
Then it was a zig-zag path down to the banks of the River Wye.
And I came across these lovely cottages! What a nice place to live.
I then carried on along a path at the side of the river, under the imposing aqueducts of the Monsal Trail through Wye Dale to the Car park.
From the car park I crossed the busy A6 (Bakewell) road, dodged the traffic, and headed up past Topley Pike Quarry and up and through Deep Dale.
Not sure what happened to this chap. Looks like he fell asleep on a tree and starved to death.
I carried on walking through Deep Dale which I found quite picturesque.
And then I came upon a cave. Damn! Where did I put that headtorch?
From here I headed uphill, joining some of the Midshires Way. This is the view looking down into Deep Dale from the brow of the hill.
I then walked across fields past Kid Tor and through Cowdale.
Then it was on through Staden, and past the caravan park and the imposing railway bridge back into Higher Buxton where I made my way back onto the A6 and back to the car park.
The walk was approximately 11.7 miles and was an enjoyable, varied trek in pretty good weather, and I ended it in style in the Railway pub with a pint of lager shandy and a southern fried chicken, cheese and bacon burger with chips! Yummy!
Steve