Our youngest son thought he had a long list of maintenance tasks to keep me busy before my return flight home. However I was able to complete them far faster than he expected. With time on my hands I decided to go for a half day walk. One of the criteria was to stay away from the English canal network as I didn’t want to get too nostalgic. Avoiding canals is easier said than done, but I found an 8km walk in the Peak District.
My starting point would be Castleton in the Hope Valley. The road into Castleton from the west is very steep, which triggered a memory. I had previously driven this road! Then I remembered it was near here where Jan and I had a meeting with Dot & Derek (nb Gypsy Rover) after they had sold their boat and bought a motorhome.
The village was my starting point with the circuit to the north.
Castleton Visitor Centre.
To the south and above the village is the ruined Norman Peveril Castle built for William Peverel who was one of William the Conquerors knights. Its strategic position dominates the surrounding countryside.
To the north was a nice ridgeline which would give my legs and lungs a workout.
In the distance to the south was what looked like a ruined factory. Perhaps an old mill?
I was slightly surprised when an hour later I noticed smoke coming from the chimney!
In the valley to the north there appeared to be several former mills. I believe the one in the photo below is Edale Mill. It was built c.1793, and closed as a mill in 1932. In the 1960s, buildings were converted into maisonettes. Originally it was a corn mill and then a tannery before being converted into a cotton mill in 1795.
I’d completed my walk by midday and decided to have lunch in the Bulls Head, Castleton before return to Sale.
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