MY WAY AROUND ~ TISSINGTON TO WATERHOUSES ~ BY SALLY MOSLEY

This was the most exciting and enjoyable section of my challenge so far, walking over a rural paradise of remote farms and quaint little villages. However, there were oodles of bog, squelchy fields and farmyard gloop to contend with as well as paths overgrown with brambles and a ford to wade through. Nellie and I had a great time!!

From the O.S. map it would appear that Waterhouses is a village divided – one side of the main road is in the Peak District National Park but the other side isn’t. Exiting the cycle hire car park, Nellie and I followed the pink dashed boundary line to the start of the Manifold Way, an 8-mile trail along the route of the former Manifold Valley Light Railway. However, we only walked a hundred yards or so along it before going left through a metal gate to follow a footpath that initially headed up a grassy bank before it became a narrow walled path after crossing a stile. Everywhere and everything was blanketed with moss but our way was also littered with the detritus from decaying ash trees, a sad sign of the times. We emerged onto Whitefields Lane which we followed to its end, enjoying lovely far reaching views along the way. This brought us to Waterfall where we sat on a seat in the village pinfold for a drink and a biscuit snack.

After heading into the heart of the village, our route to Onecote was by following instructions from the official boundary walk guide that took us past the telephone box library and then Waterfall Church dedicated to St James and St Bartholomew. Dating from the 12th century, its interior was a delight to behold because of a wonderful and colourful assortment of needlepoint kneelers spread out along the pews.

A footpath led us down to Back o’ th’ Brook which is a quiet little backwater of properties set in a tranquil valley. After crossing the little footbridge we did a left along a narrow lane to pass Gibgreen which conjured up grisly thoughts of felons being executed and their bodies left to rot in a gibbet.

The lane became a track and eventually dipped down to a pond and bridge. After this my hiking boots were put to the test as we made our way across fields and some awkward stiles as well as splashing through a ford on a footpath to Felthouse which turned out to be an extremely impressive property of a most unusual brick construction.

We now picked up the Hamps Way which would lead us to the remote and isolated hamlet of Ford. At times the path was quite challenging with stiles that were not at all dog friendly and a patch so badly eroded by water that we had to walk in the bed of a stream. I’m not complaining thought because it really was an enjoyable adventure and we got to pass by some fabulous old properties along Dairy House Lane in Ford which is situated in the parish of Grindon.

After the humpback bridge we turned right to walk up Wetley Lane past Banktop, yet another attractive old homestead. Our ascent to high ground along a ‘sound surface’ track gave me false hope for good terrain on the last stretch to Onecote. Unfortunately, the path toward Clough House was a continuous bog, whilst the final approach to the farm was a calf-deep gloopy swamp due no doubt to two months of persistent rain. Thankfully there was a relatively clean and deep puddle along the drive to clean my boots and Nellie’s legs before we got back to the car.

On meeting the B5053 we turned right and walked roadside down into Onecote, passing a lovely little Methodist Chapel where services are still held at least twice a month. Built in 1822, the porch was evidently added as a gift from Misses H & E A Deaville in 1934.

Onecote was first documented in 1199 as Anecote, meaning hut or cottage by itself. It is now much more of a village with the oldest buildings in the parish dating from the 1600s.

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FOOTNOTE BY NELLIE: Whilst out walking we came across a nice man with his very young Jack Russell pup that had discovered the joys of humping. While mum and the man were nattering and not watching what was going on, the dog clamped itself around my back leg, its nose disappearing up under my tail. I can be very tolerant of other dogs, especially young ones, but on this occasion I woofed out the words ‘f off’ in canine talk and gave my leg a good shake. That little pipsqueak had to learn you don’t go there without an invitation! xx