2 Jul 25 Wildboarclough Gradbach Leaders: Rob and Elizabeth, Length of walk: 8 miles, Driving Distance: 21 miles, Number walking: 21
Park in the Clough House car park in Wildboarclough
(W3W ///veto.turntable.doghouse. Click on the link to see it on a map https://w3w.co/veto.turntable.doghouse )
For a map of the route click on the link
The journey to Wildboarclough was blighted by various road closures but everyone made it to the car park at Clough House. Also in the car park was a lone walker who was training to ascend Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon as it used to be known) by repeatedly climbing Shutlingsloe. He had strapped a fridge to his back – not because he wanted a cool lunch; the fridge was empty, but to make it more challenging. The walkers wished him well, before their own challenge of climbing Cumberland Clough. Fortunately, they didn’t climb all the way to the Buxton road; they turned off towards Three Shires Head, which made the trek somewhat easier.
At Three Shires Head a few people were scattered around; some paddling and others sitting or walking dogs. There was plenty of room for the walkers to sit down for coffee and they were also treated to chocolate brownies and Spanish biscuits lovingly brought back from holiday.
The next section of boulder-strewn path followed the valley of the River Dane to Gradbach, where the group took advantage of the seating for lunch and the toilets.
The route from Gradbach required a steep climb out of the valley past Burntcliff Top and Tagsclough Hill. This required some puffing and pausing to look back at the views. Everyone made it more or less intact before descending to Wildboarclough.
On the way down the leading walkers observed a struggle between a hawk and its intended dinner – a hare. The result reported was that the hare escaped this time. The walkers carried on back to the car park. From there some of the group called in at the Rose and Crown at Allgreave (by the tight bend).
16 Jul 25 Tissington Leaders: Marie, Length of walk: 10 miles, Driving Distance: 44 miles, Number walking: 18
Tissington Village Carpark, Darfield Lane Tissington DE6 1RA
(W3W ///asterisk.evolves.hobble. Click on the link to see it on a map https://w3w.co/veto.turntable.doghouse )
For a map of the route click on the link
It was a splendid day for walking; although the sky was never free of clouds, the sun kept appearing. The breeze kept the temperature to a comfortable level, which was especially welcome as the groups tackled the “slow steady inclines” mentioned in the pre-walk description. They were slow and steady for a good reason.
The car park sits on the Tissington Trail but the route ignored that to start with as the group went north up the first “slow steady incline” to Parwich. On the village green outside the church the leader distributed delicious flapjacks to the walkers as a reward for their effort.
On restarting the group went east passing the tiny village of Ballidon, where the walkers inspected the church, which has not been used for services since 2003. It has been under the care of the charity Friends of Friendless Churches since 2011. Given that it has not been used for such a long time it is in surprisingly good condition. No doubt its remote location helps avoid vandalism. The walkers left it and climbed another “slow steady incline”.
Brassington appeared suddenly as the group reached the top of a hill, and it provided the location for lunch. The churchyard offered several benches that were put to good use.
After lunch the group set off south to Bradbourne, which is famously the only Doubly Thankful Village in Derbyshire. It acquired this title by virtue of recording no deaths in the wars of 1914-1918 and 1939-1945. There are 14 Doubly Thankful Villages in England and unless they were exceptionally lucky, they would all have contained similarly small populations. Bradbourne recorded 117 residents in the 2011 census.
From Bradbourne the route turned west to return to Tissington. The walkers were delighted to find more “slow steady inclines” on the last leg and as a special treat, they walked the last 400 yards on the Tissington Trail.
