Middleton Top / Eyam Walk
14 July 2019
The club continues its popular wide ranging summer programme with a 12 mile linear walk from Hassop Station to Hathersage. At two points there will be a choice of routes,,easy with Barry or rough with Bill! There will also be a separate shorter walk option on offer. As always new members are made most welcome. The majority of the day will be spent in attractive White Peak scenery.
The walk begins at Hassop Station (above Bakewell) and heads across to the remote tranquil hamlet of Rowland. Onwards then across Deep Rake where there should be an abundance of beautiful wild flowers. Soon then linking up with Coombs Dale a superb limestone valley well known for its array of butterflies. After descending to the charming little village of Stoney Middleton there will be the first choice of route. Barry will lead an easy route into Eyam along quiet lanes Bill will take a “rough and ready” route down a steep quarry track leading to other tracks under “The Cliff”
The two parties will converge at Eyam village where there will be a variety of refreshments to enjoy during the main lunch break, Then everybody meets up at the village car park (with toilets) outside the museum and sets off up Eyam edge and then a descent down the attractive steep sided Bretton Clough . This leads us down to Stoke Ford ,a popular picnic site with three streams converging at this point. Here there is the second choice of route.
Barry will take a fairly straightforward path by Highlow stream Bill will cross the footbridge, ramblers preferably crossing one at a time and take a more challenging path.
The two parties will then merge again on a minor road near Highlow Hall This fascinating Hall was owned by the Eyre family from approximately 1340 to 1842, a span of over 500 years.. It is associated with the White Lady, a local ghost of a woman called Elizabeth Archer, who is reputed to haunt the estate. The Hall is renowned as the most haunted buildings in Derbyshire with at least 4 ghosts!
There are lovely views over the Hope valley in this area before we drop down into Hathersage for a
6.00 pm coach departure home.
