Ashford in the Water, Sheldon, Over Haddon, Bakewell

Date: 29 May 2011

Area: Peak District

Distance: 10.75 miles 17.3k
Start Location: Ashford In the Water

OS Sheet: Explorer OL24

Grid Ref: SK 1941 6972

Route

These notes are provided to enable the walk to be plotted on a 1:25,000 map.

From the village, head south over the bridge and on to the A6. Going West take the small road to the South and on to the footpath on right along the side of the River Wye. On entering a narrow strip of woodland and field, head South West up the side of the field. Follow the footpath past a cave into Sheldon.

From Sheldon head South towards Magpie Mine, before reaching the mine turn South East to Magshaw Mine and on to Over Haddon. Passing through the village take the footpath leading to the A6 at Haddon Hall. Take the riverside path West to Bakewell. Head West along the A6, take footpath through the houses and fields back to Ashford in the Water

Journey

I’m not sure if I got this walk from a book, magazine, blog or website or if I planned it myself. Either way it was a very good walk, made much more enjoyable by Andy and Sue joining Mrs G and I on our last full training walk before heading to Ulverston in a couple of weeks

We have all walked the areas to the North of Ashford in the Water, Monsal Dale, Miller Dale and beyond, around Bakewell and up and down Lathkill Dale but have never up on to or across the high land to the south of Ashford.

The walk from River Wye through Little Shacklow Wood up to Sheldon was a stroll through a small wonderland, masses of small white flowers (possibly wild garlic), trees in full leaf, rocks and moss all contained within a narrow steep sided valley. We saw what appeared to be the remains of old buildings while the cave indicated on the map was, I’m guessing, actually an old a mine entrance, all fascinating stuff.

As we walked through Sheldon, heading in the direction of the Magpie Mine the dull cloudy day we had seen in Ashford had become a very windy, dull cloudy day.

The moorland here, between the River's Wye and Lathkill is a windswept rolling space split by a few narrow roads then sub divided by grey stone walls which stretch off in to the distance; it is marked by old industries and decorated by isolated thorn trees and narrow strips of woodland. The land along our route generally fell steadily to the West inevitably there were a few short but steep slopes to climb which tested our wind, just as the multitude of stiles, in a multitude of styles tested our climbing, squeezing and balancing abilities, and our humour.

The walk from Haddon Hall along the Wye to Bakewell and back to Ashford in the Water was pleasant especially as after a brief shower of rain the wind dropped and the sun came out, Bakewell was heaving.

So having purchased Homity Pie and Bakewell pudding for dinner we pushed on to Ashford, stopping only to admire and puzzle over the major muck shift and reshaping works going on in the River Wye and as we reached Ashford we stopped to watch an over or two cricket.

This was a very good walk half in an area not visited before and half over well known linking in paths, but what we will remember the walk for, will be the humour, banter, experiences shared, advice given and taken between friends.