In the afternoon, Alison had to rest before her big event, so I had a walk around the town after the showers had dies away. It was quiet in the late afternoon.
On Saturday morning, I dropped Alison off at Baslow Village Hall and drove back to the cottage. I left the car there and ran to the start of Bakewell parkrun that starts at Hassop Station on the Monsal Trail. This meant first running up the steep hill which is Station Road up to the old Bakewell Station where I could join the Monsal Trail. https://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/visiting/trails/monsaltrail
It was then a mile down the trail to the start. Just outside the station, a couple in a car asked if there was a parkrun starting there. I directed them to Hassop and I met them there at the start. It was Steve that was also running his first parkrun at Bakewell, and Sally was going for a coffee in the cafe.
The run was excellent. Because the Duke of Rutland had refused to let the Midland Railway have a route anywhere near the town, it was necessary for them to build the line high above the countryside. So there are great views the whole way, even in the cuttings.
I had a slow run back and had a restful afternoon, only walking into Bakewell for a newspaper. I think it was after 5 pm that I had the call from Alison to pick her up in Baslow. I think her event was 27 miles on her watch and over 3,000 feet of climbing. Her 75th place out of 153 competitors was brilliant.
The day had been cloudy and dry in the morning with light showers (one of them heavy) in the afternoon. A cool day of 15C.
On Sunday morning I walked into the town centre for a newspaper and later toured the town with Alison. Tea and cake at the Bean Bag cafe, and a visit to the gardens and craft fare.
In the afternoon we headed down the quiet Coombs Road where our cottage is situated to join the Monsal Trail at it's starting point at this bridge.
There are steps up to the trail and after a while there were great views over to Bakewell.
We walked down to Bakewell Station, and then along to Hassop for tea and cake in the cafe there. We walked back to Bakewell Station and down the hill to the cottage. It had been a lovely afternoon for a walk, a little warmer at 17C.
On Monday we headed for Eyam, but as we arrived the rain started. We gave up walking around the village and drove back. The weather had then brightened so we went off to Haddon Hall and had a great day there. https://www.haddonhall.co.uk/
On the way back, we called in at Ashford-in-the Water.
We had a look at the flower festival in the church and the well dressings.
Apart from the rain in the first part of the morning, it had been another lovely day with sunny intervals.
On Tuesday we made our way back to the plague village of Eyam. https://www.visitpeakdistrict.com/explore/towns-and-villages/eyam-p680381
There are great views from here.
On we walked to Stoney Middleton where we found an interesting church with a hexagonal extension.
We found the path back to Eyam and had time to visit the poppy field above Baslow that Alison found on her event. From the walk uphill across the fields, you can see this.
The poppies were wonderful and stretched right across the undulations of this large field.
With views over to Chatsworth House.
Another fine day, lots of cloud but some sun and 19C. In the evening we had a good meal at The Woodyard restaurant that is only a couple of minutes walk from the cottage.
I was due a run on Wednesday, so we parked at Hassop Station and I ran (and Alison walked) down the Monsal Trail, this time past where we turned at parkrun and further on to the Headstone Tunnel and the next door Monsal Head Viaduct.
Then tea and cake in the Hassop Station cafe, obviously, and back for a shower before going off to Chatsworth House. We actually just wanted to look round the gardens and were lucky that there was plenty of sunshine.The gardens were splendid. And we could see the poppy field in the distance.
The Cascade.
The rock garden!
There was just time for a visit to the cafe before it closed.
Thursday was our last day and we had planned to walk from Castleton to Mam Tor and The Great Ridge. The weather was cloudy and breezy but apart from the odd few spots of rain, it was dry. The Peak District and Derbyshire website (https://www.visitpeakdistrict.com/things-to-do/castleton-mam-tor-the-great-ridge-walking-route-p678311) has this as their Route 6 and says it is an exhilarating six and a half hours. Our little detours made it a little longer.
The route passes the Treak Cliff Cavern and the Blue John Cavern with some good views as you get higher.
Crossing two roads we could see Mam Tor (517 m) ahead.
It's a very easy climb to the top on a well made path. It was very windy on the peak so we didn't stay long.
The walk along the ridge is quite superb, described as "one of the best ridge walks in the country". At Hollins Cross we found some shelter to eat our sandwiches. This was the view with the Kinder Scout range in the distance.
The ridge takes in Black Tor (391 m) and finally Lose Hill Pike with excellent views all round, including this back to Mam Tor.
The long route back is fairly ordinary in comparison, but the day had become sunnier as we arrived back in Castleton for the obligatory tea and cake.
In the evening we went once again to The Woodyard for dinner and a lovely pint of Marston's 61 Deep. https://www.marstonsbrewery.co.uk/beers/61-deep. A good way to end an active week.
