{"id":1009824,"date":"2025-06-12T18:51:51","date_gmt":"2025-06-12T17:51:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1009824"},"modified":"2025-06-12T19:06:41","modified_gmt":"2025-06-12T18:06:41","slug":"calver-pilsley-and-hassop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1009824","title":{"rendered":"Calver, Pilsley And Hassop"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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

I thought I would take my lead from Springwatch for this walk. Springwatch this year has been based in the nearby Longshaw Estate. The weather forecast indicated thunderstorms from lunchtime onwards, so I was out of the house by 7.30, and walking by 8.30.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I started the walk from Calver on the A623, near to the plague village of Eyam, and the renowned Chatsworth estate. It’s about 50 minutes drive from Cheadle Hulme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk is 7.5 miles with 1000feet of ascent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The weather was sunny and pleasantly warm, the wind increasing as the morning wore on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It took 3 hours 30 minutes to complete and I was back at the car for lunch!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk is good for dog walking, with many well fenced paths and tracks, and no stiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I walked in a clockwise direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk is on OS Explorer Map OL24.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I parked on Hassop Road, the B6001, postcode S32 3XN, What 3 Words driving.hairspray.admits<\/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

Calver To Pilsley<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I wandered down into the centre of Calver, a fairly non-descript place with a Queen Victoria memorial streetlight in the centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Passing the Methodist Chapel, I was soon strolling alongside the peaceful River Derwent down towards The Chatsworth estate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I crossed a few fields and rose away from the river.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

as I approached the minor road between Baslow and Hassop, I spotted a lovely pair of brown hares.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It would be easy to not bother with the detour from the A619 to Pilsley, as it is a bit of a climb up and then back down again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, I’m glad I did it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The view back as I rose up from the main road is lovely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The village is samll, yet has a pub that’s still doing well, being owned by The Duke of Devonshire’s estate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Pilsley To Hassop Common<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I took a No Through Road past the pub, which soon became a track from which I turned right, beholding a magnificent view across the valley below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I took it slowly down the hillside, stopping awhile for a drink and to enjoy the birdsong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back over the main road, a track runs alongside, and then through, the wood in the centre of the photo above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having crossed a small stream, the path rose through a wheat field, where a considerate farmer had cut back the crop to mark the path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I suspect that the hall and hotel at Hassop are quite impressive, but they’re not visible from the road, so I walked on, keeping a steady pace on what is a long uphill march, first by road, then on a path to the hamlet of Rowland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Above Rowland is a water service reservoir, clad in dry stone to blend with its surroundings. Unfortunately part of the stone wall has collapsed, quite dramatically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At Hassop Common, the views down the Derwent valley are spectacular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hassop Common To Calver<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This area is an expanse of former quarry and mine workings, all returning to nature with new shrubs and young trees emerging. It is becoming a haven for wildlife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At this point , I met a couple of parties of walkers – unusual for me!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Looking down into this quarry, I was surprised to see a climber preparing to tackle the rockface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After the quarry, a track meanders over the farmland before heading back down to the village of Calver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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All in all, this walk is classic White Peak country, but not on the classic tourist trail. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thus, an absolute joy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Finally….<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A couple of weeks ago we had the great delight of seeing now 78 year-old Iggy Pop in concert. He played some classic music, with the same vigour and quality as when we last saw him in 1977. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The set included this classic Stooges track<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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