MY WAY AROUND ~ TISSINGTON TO WATERHOUSES ~ BY SALLY MOSLEY

THIS IS NOT INTENDED AS A WALK GUIDE

It was an early start for this ramble and I was the first car in Tissington Station car park. Nellie and I had the trail almost to ourselves as we ambled along to Thorpe. Birds were singing and there were catkin dangling from some of the trees.

Beyond Thorpe Station we went over a field to Spend Lane then crossed to walk down a narrow lane beside The Firs, a very large red brick property. As we wandered down between neatly trimmed hedgerows I glanced right to see teeny figures atop the reef knoll summit of Thorpe Cloud.

Down in the dip we crossed a stream by means of a 2-plank bridge, then headed up a lovely path leading to Thorpe Church where a dense scattering of snowdrops brightened up the graveyard.

A left on meeting the road and we said goodbye to Thorpe by going through the ‘gate with the view’, following the former Cheadle Road as confirmed by a milestone dating from 1822 just before Coldwall Bridge. At ¼-mile in length, this is one of the longest bridges in the Peak District. Constructed in 1726 it was once part of a coach road linking Derbyshire and Staffordshire. Not only were we hopping from county to county but Nellie and I had also changed maps from O.S. OL24 to O.S. 259.

Ascending the other side of the valley was a bit of a drag. We took it slowly and quietly as there were pregnant ewes all around us. The track then led us through Coldwall Farm where breakfast appeared to have just been served. To our right was a cowshed where a row of cattle munched on silage that looked like warm shredded wheat, whilst to our left was a big sheep shed divided into a maternity ward and nursery suite with new mums and mums-to-be all tucking into their muesli.

We turned right at the end of the drive and walked roadside to Blore, passing Blore Hall which evidently contains traces of both Celtic and Saxon occupation. In 1375 the estate came by marriage into the ownership of Sir John Bassett who built himself a manor house here that was said to be at the time the largest in Staffordshire. Today the extensive property has been restored and converted into holiday cottages and apartments. Nearby is Blore Church where in a side chapel is a large 17th century Bassett family tomb, sculptured in alabaster.

From Blore crossroads we took the Leek Road as indicated by the old black and white sign, heading west along Ilam Moor Lane for a while to pick up a footpath that would lead us around the wooded summit of Hazelton Clump to Musden Low where I noticed an interesting geological feature. An outcrop of rock near the summit was made up of slabs of limestone bedrock laid down horizontally millions of years ago but now exposed and at an angle through heave and tectonic movement. Nearby were the remains of an old lime kiln.

From here Nellie and I had a choice of footpaths, all eventually leading to Calton which turned out to be a very pretty upland village containing mainly traditional limestone houses and cottages apart from an impressive Victorian brick built Manor House.

Calton is proud to be a ‘thankful’ village, all its Great War servicemen returned safe, although this was not the case in the Second World War. St Mary The Virgin Church was a joy to visit. It is obviously much loved by its congregation and well used, with a welcoming fragrance of polish and fresh spring flowers. The stained glass windows were also most unusual and very attractive.

For the final stretch of our walk to Waterhouses I should have followed the official route. However, instead I took a short cut which was not ideal to say the least, but we survived! Oh well, this whole challenge is supposed to be an adventure. We have now headed around the ‘Cape of Good Hope’, southern most point of the Peak District boundary. From here Nellie and I will make our way across the Staffordshire Moorlands into Cheshire and then have a dip into Greater Manchester!

Should you want to see my progress on Facebook, please search ‘My Way Around’ under ‘pages’ and then click on ‘Follow’.

Sally Mosley

FOOTNOTE BY NELLIE: I couldn’t sleep the other night. I was restless because my stomach was making loud gurgling noises, no doubt thanks to something very dodgy I had eaten. Anyway, mum said it might help if I tried counting sheep. Not the best idea to tell a collie-type breed with an over-active imagination! When I finally nodded off mum said my legs were going ten to the dozen and my nose was twitching as well as belly rumbles. Then who couldn’t sleep I wonder? Night night, sleep tight, Nellie xx