Elaine's interesting and varied walk explored the limestone country in and north of the Wye Valley. We started at the recently renovated Miller's Dale Station, walking along the Monsal Trail to visit some old lime kilns before descending to the Wye in Chee Dale and then climbing up to the village of Wormhill. After a look at the Brindley Memorial we dropped down to the head of Monks Dale for coffee before going over to Tideswell for lunch in Fountain Square.Passing by Litton, we then dropped down Tansley Dale to Cressbrook Dale and the Wye before climbing back up to the Monsal Trail at Litton Mill and hence back to the start.
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| The start at Miller's Dale Station |
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| Miller's Dale Station built in 1863 by the Midland Railway on its extension of the Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway from Rowsley. |
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| Miller's Dale viaduct, Manchester to London Express, 1952 |
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| The original route was up Monk's Dale - you can see why we changed it |
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| From 1880 until 1944, these impressive lime kilns produced over 50 tonnes of quicklime a day |
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| After leaving the Monsal Trail and dropping down into Chee Dale |
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| Weirs in Chee Dale |
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| Wormhill Hall, a Grade II listed building, built in 1697 for Adam Bagshawe |
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| 2004 and 2019 - wearing well? |
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| James Brindley, pioneer builder of Britain's canals, was born in 1716 in the hamlet of Tunstead within Wormhill parish |
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| John, who else? |
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| On the way to Tideswell |
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| Tideswell |
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| St John the Baptist Church, Tideswell, the Cathedral of the Peak |
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| Litton |
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| Dropping down through the lead mining spoil in Tansley Dale, one of the rarest plant habitats in Europe |
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| Early purple orchids, cowslips and cuckooflower in Tansley Dale |
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| Dried up bed of Cressbrook Dale |
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| Swathes of wild garlic |
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| Ravensdale Cottages deep in Cressbrook Dale - early nineteenth century leadminers' cottages |
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| Cressbrook Mill was built by Sir Richard Arkwright in 1779 but this burnt down in 1785 and was rebuilt by Richard Arkwright Jnr in 1787 |
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| Back on the Wye - Water-cum-Jolly Dale |
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| Run of the river water wheel on the Wye |
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| Litton Cotton Mill, built in 1782 |
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| Signs of lava flows in Miller's Dale from volcanic activity |
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| Looking down at Raven Tor (famous for its very difficult climbing routes) |
