Tuesday and Wednesday 11 and 12 August 2026 - The Steel Cotton Rail Trail Stage 2, and some fun at home

Tuesday 11 August was the day allotted to our Stage 2 of the Steel Cotton Rail Trail. This combined Stages 3, 4 and 5 of the published 14 Stage route. Transport was back to normal, with trains running on time, and thanks to a zero seconds wait for a tram we were able to enjoy coffees at Piccadilly Station's  Carluccio's before making our way to the stopping train to Grindleford.

Having experienced some fragmentation of the group on Stage 1, I took the precaution of taking a team photo before we left Grindleford's platform (see above - Sue W, Rick, Andy, Dave P and Sue B). Needless to say, this group remained together throughout the short walk.

The trail was well signposted out of the station.

Following the signs, and walking parallel to the railway, we soon came upon the site of Padley Manor and Padley Mill, where in the 1580s Catholic priests were offered a safe haven, though this didn't always work out. In July 1588 two priests were found in a raid. The entire household was arrested, the priests were executed, and the manor house was seized. The 'Padley Martyrs' are remembered in the stained glass windows of the chapel that has survived next to the manor house.

The gatehouse of Padley Manor, pictured above and below, housed the chapel on its first floor.

An information board indicates that the buildings date from the 14th Century.

We continued along a lovely path through Bolehill Wood.

After going through a gate, our path chose to turn left along a grassy path, past a large rock, and down through more woodland to a bridge over the railway, which would then remain on our right all the way to Hathersage.

Views towards Stanage Edge were partially restricted by leafy woodland, and we passed through an area where new hedges are being laid. You can see these in the next picture - numerous saplings planted between the fence posts.

We didn't go into Hathersage, instead turning left along the B6001 road to cross Leadmill Bridge then turn right to follow the path beside the River Derwent all the way to Shatton, near Bamford. En route we passed a heron who seemed to be fishing rather successfully. We stopped for a coffee break near here in the shade of trees by the river. Idyllic on the hot day.

We passed a family who were having great fun on the stepping stones that provide an easy route across the river in drought conditions such as we are currently experiencing.

Having no need to visit Bamford, we continued along the waymarked trail through Shatton towards Hope, passing through an emu, donkey and turkey farm.

Soon after this, we passed through a few fields to reach a shady spot with views towards various 'Edges' that was ideal for a lunch stop.

With the River Noe, which we joined near Bamford, now out of sight on our right for a while, we followed paths and tracks along the waymarked route towards Hope station.

On reaching the B6049 road in Brough, we turned right and passed the thriving farm supplies business of William Eyre & Sons. From a footbridge across the River Noe, the back of the Eyre buildings divulge their origin - the business started in 1885 as Brough Corn Mill.

As we strolled up to Hope station a train arrived, so without a pause we hopped on it and were back at Piccadilly in time, for  those who didn't need to rush off, to enjoy ice creams and a stroll to the tram stop at St Peter's Square.

Our route was just 11 km, with about 150 metres ascent, taking us a shade over three hours. An excellent way to spend a hot summer's day. Apparently we are in the fifth heatwave of the year. 

The following day - logistics not being favourable for a camping trip, we went camping in a garden in Timperley.

A model school and farm provided great entertainment.

The tent made way for fun with a bucket of water.

The farm adjourned to a living room floor, where Sue was required to impart the personalities, hardships and injuries in relation toto a a wide range of denizens of the farm.

Our visitor was taken home, and Sue, exhausted, went into 'rest' mode before, next day, going swimming with Richard and Jenny in Sale Water Park.

That's all for now folks

Sunday 14 December 2025 - A Christmas Walk and Meal - from Bakewell

Just ten of us set off on my annual Christmas walk. It started in the early 1970s when three of us - former UMIST students then working in different parts of the country - decided to plan a monthly activity for the coming year. We used to meet in the stables at Monsal Head after walking from Tideswell, where we planned the monthly activities that were then circulated to friends by way of Christmas cards.

Anyway, with the aid of Sue's RAMSOC friends and various others, we now meet for a chat and a catch up at The Crispin at Great Longstone. Many other venues have been used over the years. We might even discuss a bit of planning.

The Lime Lounge (in which we are pictured above) in Bakewell has become our point of departure. This year, with various other commitments and injuries, the walkers were down to ten in number, with Andrew and GS meeting us at the pub.

The River Wye in Bakewell is currently swollen after some regular rain showers.

The meadow is home to a large flock of Canada Geese.

For the first time we set off along the north bank of the river on a route suggested by Sue W.

After a gentle start, the path rose past old mines that litter the countryside in this part of the world. I won't go into it here, but if you put 'mine workings in Bakewell' into a search engine you could spend some time reading about them and watching videos. We met some people who had just emerged, but there was no way in through the locked door we found. 

As we rose up the hill to the north of Bakewell we could admire the views back down to the town on this fine day for a walk.

We climbed gently up the good track, neatly enclosed within well constructed walls, that led us to the Monsal Trail.

We would return to this point later, but for now we simply crossed the Monsal Trail's disused railway line and headed across a field near Toll Bar House.

There followed a glutinous ascent for five minutes or so up a path that has been taken over by a crop of winter greens.

After reaching a wall, a left turn took us over easier ground to a stile that offered perching spots for elevenses before we continued on firmer surfaces to the hamlet of Rowland.

Beyond Rowland, an excursion beside another field of winter greens brought us out onto a pleasant lane where we expected to find GS engaged on a renovation project.

Soon after this, a left turn up a pretty restricted byway with good views to the west, led all the way up to the edge of an opencast quarry on Longstone Edge.

There were good views back to the rolling hills of the White Peak district beyond Bakewell.

After a steep descent, a gate led to a path down through a field to a copse. There was no sign of the predicted livestock.

Before the descent, a pause on a bench whilst someone went missing.

Soon Wendy's Seat was reached, before a slightly muddy path saw us into Great Longstone and along a nice footpath past the church to reach our luncheon destination, The Crispin.

Party time. An excellent meal as always, with GS and Andrew adding their names to the list of ten walkers.

After a couple of hours in the pub, and after booking a table for 13 December next year, boots were donned again and a narrow ginnel led to an easy path down to the disused railway line that contains the Monsal Trail.

It was then a simple case of following the Monsal Trail, via the conveniences at Hassop, to Bakewell Station where most of us had parked. We finished at dusk; no torches were needed.

Here's the route - 13km (8.6km before lunch), with 330 metres ascent. Three and a half hours walking time plus two hours at The Crispin.

What a lovely way to spend a Sunday. We'll do the same on 13 December 2026. See you there...