35 years or so ago [don't worry, I'm not going to blog about a walk that far back], before I had a car ... before I learned to drive ... the Goyt Valley was the place where I would walk on my own, mainly because I could get to it on public transport. There were other places I could reach this way but the Goyt Valley was the one that appealed most.
It was nice to go back more recently. I parked at Derbyshire Bridge about a mile from the Cat and Fiddle ...
It's called Derbyshire Bridge because the bridge once straddled the boundary between Derbyshire and Cheshire.
I walked north along the lane which is closed on "Sundays and Bank Holidays from May until the end of September" according to the Peak Park's 'Access for All' page.
The photo above is the view back towards Derbyshire Bridge though I'm not sure whether this is actually Derbyshire Bridge itself. I think it could be !
A little further down in the valley, where the sun had been shining a little longer, the colours of the bracken were showing through ...
Before long though I was again out of the sun and it was cold again ...
... much colder ...
I followed the riverside walk as I hadn't been in this part of the valley for a few years ...
With the River Goyt heading downstream beside me, I made my way ...
... sometimes looking behind me as the sun started to push through the branches of the surrounding trees ...
Further down the valley, but standing higher on the hillside, I could see Errwood Reservoir ...
Near Errwood Hall the view opened out even more ...
I say Errwood Hall, well, don't let me get ahead of myself. Let's follow the path first ...
Here's the hall or the remains of it ...
It had once been a fairly substantial building in a delightful setting ...
The hall was built by the Grimshawe family who lived here for a century until nearby Fernilee reservoir was built in the 1930s.
As I walked out of the grounds via the impressive gateposts I tried to imagine what it must have been like in all its grandeur ...
I swung around in a large loop moving away from the hall ...
... before getting a final glimpse from the other side of a side-valley ...
There are a few black and white photographs of the hall, as it was, just here.
The walk had brought me back to a spot above Errwood Reservoir ...
Then I was heading back along the lane ... back to the car ...
This walk was followed on the 21st January 2011
Length of walk ~ 2.55 miles *
Total mileage walked so far in 2011 ~ 23.42 miles
Total mileage between the 1st September 2009 and the 21st January 2011 ~ 552.47 miles
6 of 2011
* distance calculated on Ordnance Survey's Getamap
I love this place Charlie but never been in winter.What an impressive house, it must have been heart breaking to see it destroyed.Thank you for the memories.Ann
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed it Ann. I don't think any of the family were around when it was demolished. It sounds as though the Grimshawe family had died out ...
DeleteI really enjoyed this walk Charlie. Great scenery, with some good uphill sections. Despite my dislike of the cold, I do love frost-covered scenery.
ReplyDeleteFrost covered scenery is marvellous when the sun's out isn't it Mitch. I was thinking the other day that I might well prefer walking in wintertime to summertime ... it's a borderline decision.
DeleteI would have loved to sneak around inside to see how the family lived, or be a fly on the wall, when it was being fully utilized. Magnificent. This was a great post again. I felt like pulling on a shawl.
ReplyDeleteThank you Karyn ... it doesn't seem five minutes since I did this walk. There were no end of these buildings pulled down because of the building of reservoirs or the cost of their upkeep.
DeleteAhh, I managed to track you down. ;)
ReplyDeleteBut I didn't realise I have blogger account! Must have created it while sleeping. Ha!
Well done Larra ~ good to see you on here. Now I will follow you. Have you set up your account so I can do that ?
DeleteThere appears to be no means by which I can follow you at present Larra. I think you need to add something to your Blogger page so that I [and others] can do so ...
DeleteI have managed to moved all Multiply blog entries to Blogger, but haven't publish all entries. Here's the address to my blog http://larrajungleprincess.blogspot.com/
DeleteI have linked up with you on Blogger, Larra ...
DeleteIt is easy to see, when we look at the images, why there has been such incredible literary talent in Britain. The inspiration is incredible ...
ReplyDeleteThere are tens [if not hundreds] of thousands of people who love England's countryside ... probably more. We love it for its literary connections too.
Deletewow what breath taking views : ) I so wish I did not live in the flat fens
ReplyDeleteI quite like flat areas especially in mist and cold weather ... and more so now. I'm not too good at getting uphill.
DeleteLovely pics as usual, Charlie. Yes, as Mitch says, it does look cold, but the views are worth it (if you kindly photograph them for me . . .).
ReplyDeleteThank you Neil. There should be more photographs coming along before long.
Delete