A ramble from Monyash.

28/07/2018.

There are many great walks to be taken from the White peak village of Monyash, this particular one I class as a real classic. Recently we have been struggling through a heatwave that has lasted nearly three months..no rain and high temperatures have taken its toll on the countryside, but today we seemed to have turned the corner..much cooler with a few showers..Yep a definite improvement...Todays walk was with the Doncaster ramblers. A small group of 9 of us set out from the car park in the village bound for the Limestone way which we were to follow for the first half of our walk..I like the Limestone way, gentle walking with great views. As we approached One Ash grange farm two young lads on a quad bike came racing across the field to us and asked if we wouldn't mind waiting for a few minutes while they brought some cows up into another field..good to see youngsters working in the countryside, these are the farmers of the future..beats staring at a computer screen like the majority of kids in our towns and cities..Stuck in a rut they don't realise that just getting out into the countryside can improve their lives so much.

We passed through the farmyard, stopping to admire the row of ancient pig styes which are grade 2 listed, not sure how old they are. The farm also has an interesting history in 1700 it was granted a licence to hold Quaker meetings...the path also passes a small building believe to have been used by monks as a cold store...Not a place for a new born baby then.

After passing through the farmyard we dropped down a steep and slippery path into Cales dale..Followed by an equally steep path up the other side.

Upwards and onwards passing another farm [Calling Low] through typical White peak scenery, up to Moor lane above Youlgreave where we found a picnic bench, perfect spot for our elevenses break, after which it was downhill into Bradford dale, as picturesque as always, crystal clear water overhung by beautiful trees....I always love this stretch. So do several other people it seems.

We followed the Bradford around to Alport where we reached the Lathkill which we followed to Conkesbury bridge..Uphill now, steeply at times towards Over Haddon...and the pub..i was ready for the pub.

A pint of Bg tips from the Blue monkey brewery went down a treat..In fact we made it into the pub just in time as the heavens opened..i thought the windows were going to come in as the rain smashed against the glass.The beer was nice but not really impressed with the pub[ The Lathkill hotel]..it sort of seemed soulless. after a pint it was time to move on, just as the rain subsided.

Walking through the village with raincoats on the sun came out and coats came off..we passed a couple of Frenchmen looking for the path to Sheldon.We congratulated them on their countrys World cup win..strangely they didn't congratulate us on another British cyclist winning the Tour de france..maybe its a sore point with Frenchmen..downhill into Lathkill dale which we were to follow back to Monyash...The upper part of the dale is pretty cool we spoke of ambushes and Apache's.

The walk was supposed to be 10 miles but I was sure it was longer ...measured the route on Mapometer and it turned out to be almost 12 miles. taking my mileage for the year to 700 miles..another good walk under my belt.