At 8.30
a.m. on Saturday 1st September, a group of St.
John’s parishioners turned up at Liverpool Road
Methodist Church
We had
woken to threatening skies so had turned up with fleeces and waterproofs but in
the event it was an excellent day for walking and we ended up carrying quite a
lot of clothes by the time we got to Bakewell!
Following
the rain that we have been having the beginning of the walk was extremely muddy
and slippery which slowed the group down a little.
However the river and waterfall were
beautiful and before long we reached the Monsal Dale viaduct.
This was very dramatic from below. [Built in 1863 on the Derby
to Manchester
We then
climbed to the top of the viaduct (not quite the flat walk that had been advertised!) and on to the Monsal
Trail.
We had our
packed lunches on the viaduct, surrounded by glorious views and watching the
many walkers and cyclists that were enjoying the trail (which is along the
disused railway line).
After lunch
we set off along the trail and soon reached the Headstone Tunnel.
[The cutting was made in 1860 when the
Midland Railway was under construction.
Blasted with gunpowder and drilled and dug by hand, the 490 metres
Headstone Tunnel is the longest on the Monsal trail (and the only one we walked
through). Following work by the Peak
District National Park Authority – using £2.25 million funding from the
Department of Transport – the tunnels were repaired, resurfaced and lit so that
they now form an extension to the previously existing Monsal Trail. The tunnels
were re-opened for use in May 2011.]
As
we walked through the tunnel (and along other parts of the trail) it was not
hard to imagine a ghost steam train coming down the “tracks”. The cutting was also a paradise for those
interested in geology.
Our next
stop was the Hassop Station Café for a welcome drink and toilet stop.
Again, in that peaceful setting, it was hard
to believe that 100 years ago we would have been sitting next to a noisy railway
track!
In due
course we arrived at Bakewell station about an hour before the coach was due to
depart at 4.00 p.m.
This gave
some of us an opportunity to sample the local produce and purchase a Bakewell
Tart for tea!
The
Liverpool Road Methodists were extremely welcoming and have kindly invited us
to join their final walk of the season to Ambleside.
I'm sure we
would all like to thank Eric and Malcolm for inviting us and, of course David
Wall for leading a really lovely and relaxing walk.
