WALKS WITH NELLIE~ ROWSLEY TO DARLEY BRIDGE ~ BY SALLY MOSLEY

Way back in 2006 I had the bright idea to walk with my sister, west to east, across the Peak District National Park, starting at Upper Hulme and ending in Rowsley. It took us 2 days with an overnight stay on the outskirts of Hartington. Later that year I set off from Marsden in the north to Thorpe in the south, completing an approximately 75-mile hike in nine staggered stages. Each section was completed with a family member and so I entitled this series ‘A Relative Descent Of The Peak District’.

After a rest of 20 years I have set myself a new challenge, which is not a fundraiser, but purely to enjoy as an achievement. I aim to complete a clockwise walk of the National Park boundary which I am going to call My Way Around as I’m going to plot my own routes. I hope to complete this epic undertaking before I’m 70 in 2027. I don’t know how many stages there will be but I’m working on the basis of one walk a fortnight of either linear or circular hikes.

I undertook Stage 1 from Rowsley to Darley Bridge and back on Boxing Day. I chose to start this marathon in Rowsley because it is the nearest point on the boundary to my home and psychologically it will be nice to finish there should I actually make it to the end!

This festive morning was crisp and bright when Nellie and I set off along a stretch of the White Peak Loop cycling and walking route to the east of the Peak Park boundary. The long wooden causeway bridge over bog was slippery with icy frost so I had to tread carefully – I didn’t want to slip at the first hurdle!

Arriving at the entrance to Peak Rail I was surprised to see a smoke signal billowing up from an engine waiting at the platform. I hadn’t expected it to be an operating day as I knew the Santa Specials finished on Christmas Eve. Evidently mince pies were still being served but Santa had returned home until next year.

We now left the track to follow a footpath forming part of the Derwent Valley Heritage Way which led us through fields beside the river to a fabulous Victorian property known as Abbey House, although it is not thought there was ever an actual monastic building situated on this site.

Having continued to Churchtown I took a quick peep in the churchyard of St Helen’s to see the famous yew tree which is believed to be one of the oldest in the country. Some say this majestic stalwart could be 2,000 years old!

After another series of fields and stiles we arrived close to the cricket and sports field at Darley Bridge where a couple of junior football teams were burning off some energy, watched eagerly by doting and enthusiastic parents.

To make this a circular route Nellie and I now turned left to walk roadside as far as Darley Dale Station. Our timing was perfect as the crossing gates had been closed to allow the steam train to pass through. A cloud of billowing smoke rose up as the driver pulled back on the regulator lever resulting in the throaty and powerful ‘chuff-chuff’ sound that no diesel or electric train can replicate.

We now walked along the narrow path following the railway lines. We passed numerous other people walking off their Christmas dinners, some with children in tow and many with canine friends that Nellie said hello to.

Arriving back at Rowsley South Station we popped into the warm and cosy café to share a sausage bap before returning to the car by following a riverside path through woodland beside the Derwent. After a welcome dry spell of several days there was hardly any mud and the river level had returned to normal for the time of year after a flood warning had been issued earlier in the month. From this path I could clearly see the confluence of Wye and Derwent where two of Derbyshire’s main rivers combine forces.

Of this nearly 6-mile walk, less than 3 could be classed as boundary miles. Oh well, only another 200 plus miles to go before I get to the finishing post! Should you want to see my progress on Facebook, please search My Way Around and then click on ‘Follow’.

Sally Mosley

FOOTNOTE BY NELLIE: Mum’s had another of her brainwaves. I don’t think there’s much point in disagreeing with her because I’ll get dragged along anyway. And she has the nerve to say that I’m the bonkers one! If you ask me she should have called this series My Way Around The Bend! You never know though, we might have some magical moments together along the way. Here’s hoping.

Nellie xx