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Excellent White Peak walk from Tideswell with an improved finish into Chapel. Traffic free tracks and exceptionally quiet roads offer easy navigation plus traditional stone climb and squeeze stiles across pasture where there may be cattle in summer. Limited services half way at Peak Forest.

I started in Tideswell where the parish church, Saint John the Baptist is commonly known as the 'Cathedral of the Peak', being one of the largest and most architecturally interesting churches in the area and Grade I listed. The bus from Bakewell to Castleton had deposited a group of ramblers at Great Longstone before dropping me, its remaining passenger, by the well cared for loo block, essential after a long journey.

Tideswell is a bustling place in the season but today mid morning it was very quiet. I passed through the Market Place now full of cars not stalls even on a Friday. The route climbs out of the town offering views over the attractive rooftops then takes a walled track the first of many on this walk.

Two locals with their dog turned out to be the only other path users I was to see today. Winter offers new vistas, I especially like the skeletal trees in groups or majestic on their own. As I walked along the tarmac of a trafficless road I pondered the builders of the drystone walls. One side the stone had been chosen with care to offer a flat dressed face to the road while opposite this wall was jagged and random looking like it would so easily topple.

The route on OS maps has those diamonds, red or green, highlighting first the route of the Pennine Bridleway then the Limestone Way. Looking at the map I spot Limestone Way Farm, not an old stone built barn I guess.

After walking tracks for over two miles we climb a stile to enter pasture and the path follows the ground above Dam Dale following the contours avoiding Dam Cliff to Dam Dale Farm. There was a point here where OS 1:25,000 confirmed which side of the wall I should walk. Peering down onto the sheds of the farm I wondered why this huge expanse of roof didn’t have solar panels to save taking up fields.

I passed alongside Damside Farm then the road that serves the farm. This passes the recreation ground where there is a seat, bit exposed for a winter break. The track meets the road opposite the Devonshire Arms but I took a gate into the churchyard where I found more seating and for hot summer days a tap.

The road through Peak Forest is busy but it has a pavement. Besides the Inn, seats and tap there is little on offer although it still has a bus between Buxton and Whaley Bridge should you need to bail out. The pavement stops just before we enter fields but there is a verge so no issue. There is then an annoying zig-zag but I can see no way to avoid it as a short cut is not access land and Dove Holes quarry has stolen the direct route.

I should have mentioned earlier that the Slow Way is also the Peak District Boundary Walk (PDBW). Back on a track we pass by or through Barmoor Farms, Middle, Barmoor and Lower, missing only Higher, must be confusing for the postperson.

Meeting a green lane we approach and make and direct crossing of the A6 which has good visibility. The quiet lane beyond crosses the railway with a good view of the tunnel and at the top excellent views northwards across Barmoor Clough which carries the A6.

The path from Paradise Farm drops down to meet a track which is joined by a narrow gate and squeeze stile not the dilapidated bridle gate that is more obvious. Cross the track and take to path directly in front of Higher Eaves Barn. The owner directed me along a different track but the route in front of the house is the right of way, see map from Derbyshire CC.

The track continues to pass under the rail line then turns right before a left turn retunes us to our direction of travel. Chapel is now in view and it’s downhill across what might be wet pasture. A kissing gate leads to a road after which is a quiet urban walk into the town centre and meeting point. A walk I would be happy to do again and again.

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