Bakche two

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I walked this route from Chesterfield at the end of April 2024. I enjoyed it thoughout the journey. The route begins through Chesterfield market place and then after Markham Road roundabout follows a quiet footpath that cuts between housing and links parks and woodland. After passing through the woodland surrounding Linacre reservoirs the route follows field paths as it climbs northwards. This is now undulating coutry, cutting across to Sudbrook and Crowhole brook before climbing to the hamlet of Moorhall. After this the route turns westward along quiet lanes. There are some cars but plenty of room on the verges to be able to walk safely. After crossing the A621 I avoided the boggy footpath and kept to the roadside verges. Plenty of room to avoid traffic even alongside the A road. From Clodhall Lane we follow the bridleway south-westwards to Wellingtons Monument and past the Eagle Stone (worth a detour) before descending the lane known as Bar Road into Baslow. There are tea-shops and pubs here. From here we cross Chatsworth park and the river Derwent to reach Edensor. The lane climbs steadily to cross over the ridge. The wind damaged trees in Manners Wood appear to have been cleared, but the path is muddy. After the Golf Course crossing we emerge into the residential streets of Bakewell, a few hundred metres from the centre.

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Summary:
I walked from Chesterfield after winter storms. The route itself is lovely with a mix of woodland, fields, and moors, but because of the bad weather a small part of it is impassable, so I've added a detour with Bakche3. Use Bakchei three if you are walking after rain.

I began the walk from the church and through Market Square before walking alongside Holme brook along a quiet back lane footpath. Nothing to worry about however and I was soon walking into woodland to get to Holmebrook Valley Park. It was a bit wet under foot but I only met my first problem towards the end of the park. Crossing the culvert over the brook I could see that the path was less well defined and impassable, so I continued on to the residential street and onto Benchfield St and found a path to get me back on track (see Bakche 3 for that detour).

From here I was back into woodland walking to Linacre reservoir. This is a lovely area but boggy paths and fallen trees made for very slow going (there are toilets just a few metres off the track here should you need them). I then left the woodland to cross a set of stepping stones into fields and a lane that led me uphill to get onto the high peak at the junction with the B6050 - what a view!

I walked just a 100 metres or so to get to the quiet Barlow Grange Lane, which after a couple of km crossed and became what Barlow Grange Lane had originally been from time immemorial - a drover lane. More field and stiles (that you can clearly see from one side of the field to the other), and footbridges and I reached Moorhall.

The small road from Moorhall opened out onto moorland . It doesn’t have pavements and cars do use it and so I had to keep my eyes open and occasionally switch sides as the westerly verge disappeared once or twice, but it is very quiet in winter.

A short walk along the covered pavement on the A621 (it was too boggy to use the footpath) and a short walk up Clodhall Lane and I was on the path to Baslow, passing Wellington’s Monument and going to the top of Bar Road. Bar Road took me into Baslow, where a small shop, café (unused but open) and toilets allowed for a short break.

I had to end my walk at this point as storm damage and fading winter light had beaten me, but in October I walked the exact path from here to the top of Manner Wood above Bakewell and so the rest of the review is from Bakdro 2.

From Baslow I walked straight into Chatsworth where there were sheep for as far as the eye could see. No special events were taking place on this day, but the huge fountain was working and I could see in plainly as I walked past Chatsworth House.

It was a straightforward walk into Edensor, past the church and up the lane that turned into a hollow way – a steady but gentle climb to the top of the hill where I came upon an inscribed 18th Century guidestone, showing the way to Bakewell, Chesterfield and Sheffield.

The humpback road that I had to walk was a slight worry but no cars appeared on the lane and so I walked onward until I got to the woodland where the lane turned right. This is the lane to take into Bakewell. It is quiet and much better than the storm damaged paths through Manner Wood. I would just suggest using a torch at this point just in case a car does appear as it can get a little shady/dark (the car will be slow, the lane isn’t very car friendly!).

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