{"id":1006838,"date":"2023-01-26T20:22:23","date_gmt":"2023-01-26T20:22:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1006838"},"modified":"2023-01-26T20:22:26","modified_gmt":"2023-01-26T20:22:26","slug":"high-peak-trail-gotham-longcliffe-ballidon-and-parwich","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1006838","title":{"rendered":"High Peak Trail, Gotham, Longcliffe, Ballidon and Parwich"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Introduction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The snow has gone, the weather is calm and pleasant, and what could be better than a good hike in the White Peak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, in fact, the weather was great – mostly sunny, and just one brief squally shower, through which I sheltered and ate lunch in the porch of Ballidon Church!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s a 1 hour drive to Minninglow Car Park. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a walk of 9.2 miles, but it’s not too arduous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It took 3 hours 45 minutes, plus 15 minutes for lunch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk is good for dog walking, though in spring and summer there would be more livestock in the fields, and more cyclists on The High Peak Trail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I parked in the free car park, postcode is DE4 2PN, or search for Minninglow Car Park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I walked clockwise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk is on OS Explorer Map OL21.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The High Peak Trail<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Joining at Minninglow, a former goods yard near the hamlet of Gotham, I loved this section of the former Cromford and High Peak railway. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It’s almost impossible to imagine steam trains running through this beautiful countryside. Yet the strutures are unmistakeable, even when so tastefully built in local stone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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There are disused quarries at regular intervals on this walk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I suppose once you’ve taken out stone for a cutting, you can quarry some more for other purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Here the National Park Authority and DEFRA are reconstructing a disused, but listed lime kiln that collapsed in 2019. Personally, I can’t see how this can be justified in the current economic climate. Looks nice though. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A little further on, and the views look down onto the current quarrying operations at Ballidon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The embankments and cuttings are delightful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Eventually, I reached Longcliffe and made my way down to the road where a lorry was approaching the new bridge. The original was demolished by a stone lorry in an accident about 5 years ago and the High Peak Trail was closed here for some time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Longcliffe To Ballidon<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I was glad to leave this busy road after a few hundred yards, and soon came across the obligatory tumble down farm building!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I was heading downhill now, and as I did, the clouds were gathering over the craggy outcrops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Pinder’s Rock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The views uphill behind me remained eye-catching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A minor road took me down to the busy road which I crossed and after climbing a bank I was again taken in by the landscape through which I’d just passed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A shower brought a hint of a rainbow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The village of Ballidon is clearly dominated by the massive backdrop of the quarry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I was then surprised by the sight of the tiny church at Ballidon which is strangely isolated from the village.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Parwich<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I’ve never been here before, and Parwich had an affluent feel. Rathbourne Hall looks down onto it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The village map referencing every house is a unique feature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The village centre with its Golden Jubilee commemorative pond and stream is very Cotswold-like!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It has a grander church than its neighbour, Ballidon, and a village pub with fake snowman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It’s a steep climb out of the village, around the back of the hall, with its private, but unfenced, tennis court. Take a good supply of balls on court with you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Return To Minninglow<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I stuck to the very quiet minor road for the last section of the walk. The route omitted some interesting paths which i hope to come back to in the future. The path down to, and through the quarries looks particularly interesting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Here, the rocky outcrops topping the lush fields hinted at some interesting underlying geology, but I couldn’t say what the facts are!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And finally, the High Peak Trail came back into view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This is a beautiful walk, and would surely be even more spectacular in the spring and summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Finally….<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We were at The Ritz on Sunday to see Lucinda Williams. I’d listened to her music, but some artists just do it better live. In this case, an amazing performance, as she had a stroke in 2020, which had affected her mobility and sight, but clearly not her voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She also gave some back stories to the meaning of her songs. This one, she explained, is a metaphor for depression, not what you may have expected. With that knowledge, I find Big Black Train to be a powerful and moving song.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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