Above: The view from Bakewell’s 14th century bridge over the Wye with the riverside path on the right.
The weather’s been fairly grim this spring, so I thought I’d take advantage of a rare sunny day to record two shortish walks. First is a four-mile stroll from Hassop Station, down a picturesque track to the popular tourist town of Bakewell, returning along the Monsal Trail.
The route passes Bakewell Station (click for history and photos). Midland Railway went to great lengths to persuade the Dukes of Devonshire and Belvoir to use both Hassop and Bakewell stations, equipping them with first class waiting rooms in the hope they’d be used by their aristocratic friends visiting Chatsworth House and Haddon Hall. But it seems neither duke was suitably impressed!
Above: Click the map to enlarge.
Above: Click the ‘Now’ button – or grag the green slider – to compare this photo of a group of WW1 soldiers outside Bakewell Station with today’s view.
A strange blast of cold air as the walk approaches Bakewell comes from the well-hidden entrance to one of Derbyshire’s last chert mines. The mineral was worked into sharp-edged tools by our Stone Age ancestors. In the 18th century it was used by the famous potter, Josiah Wedgewood, as a whitening agent.
Above: Bakewell’s ‘love lock’ bridge. (Courtesy of Bald Hiker.)
‘Love lock’ bridge
The historic town of Bakewell is well worth exploring, boasting a wide choice of cafes and pubs, as well as bakeries selling the famous Bakewell pudding.
The return to the Monsal Trail is over the ‘love lock’ bridge, festooned with around 10,000 inscribed padlocks. The local council’s announcement that they will be removing the locks to repair the bridge has caused much controversy in the town.
Click below for full step-by-step directions and photos of the walk.
A ‘Relive’ version of the walk. Click to play and use the expand option to view in full-screen. Click here for more Monsal Trail ‘Relives’.