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WALKS WITH NELLIE! - Blackwell




This is not intended as a walk guide

In these current days of heatwave hot weather I decided that a pre-breakfast walk was the order of the day, so headed off from Millers Dale Station at just after 6am.

For only a small village, this was one of the busiest and biggest stations on the former Midland railway line. Now however, nature has taken back the five platforms, turning them into elongated beds of colourful wild flowers. We are at the purple stage in the annual wild flower calendar and during the walk I saw lots of knapweed, cranesbill, scabious, willowherb and thistle in floral domination.

Having descended the sixty plus steps to river level, I turned right at the road junction and walked carefully on the very narrow verge heading uphill beside the B6049 until I could access a rough stone track on the left, following a section of the Limestone Way.

It was so peaceful and fresh. A little haze of mist was rising up from the Wye, grass in the fields was damp with dew and the air hung with a fragrant aniseed scent probably from sweet cicely growing in the verges.

I continued uphill following Long Lane for almost a mile and then turned right to follow the rollercoaster road through Blackwell, the name said to derive from the Norman Blacheuuelle or King’s land. Evidently this little village is sometimes referred to as "Blackwell-in-the-Peak" to distinguish it from Blackwell near Alfreton.

It is reputed that Neolithic remains including a flint re-sharpening flake for tranchet axes was found in the grounds of Blackwell Hall. There are also the remnants of a Romano-British field system, dating from around the year 400 nearby.

The road was lined with characterful houses and cottages built of local stone. There were various farm buildings and barns and behind them were store cattle feasting on rich pasture. Some fields were stripped bare, their hay harvested and put aside for winter feed.

I noticed a poster for Taddington Well Dressings, Flower Festival and Village Fete pinned to a post. Fingers crossed for nice weather between 17th and 23rd August when this will be taking place.

At the top of the village is Beech Croft Farm camping and caravan site which is immaculately maintained and now contains Daisies Coffee Shop for both residents and non-residents, although I was too early to hear the kettle boiling or smell bacon sizzling.

Arriving at a gate and combination sign I headed along the track ahead following signs for the Pennine Bridleway. It crossed fields before heading steeply down through Chee Dale Nature Reserve to Blackwell Mill at an area long ago known as Slitherford. From this ancient track there were fabulous far reaching views across the valley to Mosley Farm and away in the distance to Tunstead Quarry where an array of dust encrusted buildings and structures looked surreal, surrounded by a more pastoral panoramic scene.

Eventually I reached the Monsal Trail where I turned right to end my walk of over 4 miles with a glorious level wander through Wye Dale and Chee Dale, passing buttress cliffs and crossing high viaducts beneath which the river was tunefully tumbling over rocks.

My steps echoed as I walked through cool tunnels, the light at the end being like a beacon that drew me through.

It was still relatively early when I got back to my car. The café was still closed so I had to head home and make my own tea and toast.

Sally Mosley

FOOTNOTE BY NELLIE: For more than two weeks now I’ve been dressed up like a dogs’ dinner and it’s all my own fault because I’m not a very patient patient! A few days after surgery on my leg I managed to get at the wound and give it a right good slurp until there was a nasty little red and oozing hole. This was despite having a cone of shame on my head and being watched almost 24/7 by mum and dad. Dad fell asleep!

Back to the vets I went for more tablets to make my food taste funny and more dressings (I managed to eat a super sticky one and swallow it on the ride home in the car!). I’m so slim, lithe and flexible that I have managed to get my tongue around an inflatable doughnut and up the leg of a surgical onesie. Mum has tried valiantly to secure my dressings with bandages, surgical tape and sellotape, whilst Dad even had a go with gaffer tape!

Anyway, despite all that, you will be pleased to know that the inside of my leg is mending nicely and I can walk on all fours again. I’ve even made it to the end of the village but with several little rests along the way. Mum says there is never a dull moment with me around!

Nellie xx

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