Grindleford Hathersage RFM Blue Line Walking with Max and Lacey

Grindleford Hathersage 

RFM Blue Line 

Walking with Max and Lacey

07/07/25

This walk beginning in Grindleford promised to be a tough little multi-hill walk through some quiet agricultural areas and along some of the popular Padley Gorge paths and through the Longshaw Estate recently featured on Springwatch on tv. We would cross the River Wye twice and the hill ascents promised to be short and sharp. Another test for Max who is still getting his walking legs but not too difficult for Lacey and me.

The route began along the B6521 at the Church and we quickly crossed the River Wye into Grindleford proper.

We went up the steep snicket next to the school and came out at the war memorial and chapel.

The steepness of the first short sharp hill up a greasy stone path took our breath away. 

Sir William Hill Road up to the turn off into Sherriff Wood looks like nothing on the map but on the ground it is a really tough little hill. 

Sherriff Wood is beautiful although the route through it is an incredible quiet road rather than a path. I wonder who the Sherriff was?  Overhanging trees for some reason always fill me with joy.

Out of the wood at Leam we came to a point where we had joined the road on another route. Lacey and I reminisced about the stone circle we had struggled to find on Eyam moor. We stopped to take in the view over towards Hathersage.

A roadside pretty little bunny was aware of a noise but didn't know we were there so we had a good long view of him. To be honest we had to make a lot of noise before he moved. Told you it was a quiet road. 

The Guernsey cow watched us as we followed the road down the edge of her field. I often wonder what the cows are thinking. I guess its just a change of view for them but they always watch you.

Hazleford Hall is a joy to see. Max and Lacey were loving the architecture. I was thinking of the Brontes and could imagine the Tenant of Wildfell Hall living here.

Next to the hall the farm building were semi derelict and the horizon filled with the heights of  Millstone Edge which was on our route today. This was not to be an edge walk but the paths below the edges. 

We watched some ducklings on the River Wye as we crossed the bridge at Leadmill. The village as the name suggests was a centre for lead mining.

Heading up the hill towards Hathersage Booths we crossed the railway. This was our second hill and I was fully aware that Max was already suffering. Unfortunately the only way to get hiking legs is to do the hills and miles. He'll get there, he has a lot of guts and never gives up or moans.

We paused going up the very straight grassy hill to look back at where we had been and northwards towards the sun over the Hope Valley. We passed the cows near Throstle Nest, what a great name for a hamlet.

Finally we reached Hathersage Booths and the route took us behind and through the house yards rather than on the roadside. It felt a bit intrusive as at times we were walking next to people's windows and doors but I am assuming the path predates the houses.

This was a long hill and the road up the side of Whim Plantation was deceptively steep.

The listed 18th century building at Scraperlow has been visible on many of my walks and I am always please to see it. The Victorians added to it and gave it a castle like aspect but I still love it.

The steep root tangled path along the edge of the plantation next to the wall was wonderful for birdwatching. I saw and heard so many different birds, Flycatchers and Nuthatches, Robins and Dunnocks, Treecreepers and Wrens and many more I didn't identify.

Finally at the base of Millstone Edge the path flattened out and we followed a contour for a while through the woods. Archaeology was above ground and I am sure underground too.

We could just make out Grindleford our final destination in the valley below but we still had a long way to go.

Millstones presumably flawed and left by the quarrymen of the past littered the area.

Their was a long walk though the Silverbirches of Bolehill Quarry. The walls of the quarry were visible through the trees. It was quite a surreal area. I threw a nugget to the kids suggesting that because of the poor soils only Silverbirch were able to colonise the area.

I double checked the map but this was the route down from the quarry. It was a tricky scramble even in the dry conditions.

Then down again on the route last taken with Peter and Katie and a 10 kilo back pack.

We quite quickly dropped down through the woods towards the road. A short ascent through the woods of Padley Gorge and across the road got us to the Longshaw Estate. 

The last time I had walked here was with Peter, Katie and the 10 kilo back pack and I can tell you this slope was a lot easier today.

We passed through the Longshaw Estate pleasant enough but not wild enough and emerged at the top of Nether Padley.

The cute little lamb at the bottom of the style seemed to be in a quandary whether to run away or not. In the end he decided mum was where he should be so he turned and trotted down the path. They both preceded us down the hill as sheep often do until they finally left the path.

The views towards Eyam Moor and Win Hill were brightening with the weather. We were going down our last hill or so we thought.

The sign on the style had warned of a bull and calves in the field. This group of chilled out animals were at the bottom of the field quite a way from us. I am guessing the big one on the left was the bull but they may have all been cows. I don't like these signs left by farmers as a warning. It is not enough, he should have a duty of care to ensure walkers are not endangered by his animals. It just feels like either a get out or just a farmer intimidating the public. 

A couple of woodland sprites. This was near the place Lacey and I had close encounters with a stag and several deer last autumn. Lacey remembered it better than I did. Shared memories are still special.

There was meant to be a turn on our left but we never saw the path so had to re-route at the road. This meant we had a fourth hill for the day, sorry Max. It wasn't too bad a hill but as ever quite sharp and steep. 

The pair of  2CV's had had better days. The new path took us along the back of the top houses at Nether Padley.

Conscious of trying to avoid another big hill I followed a sketchy path through the woods towards the path we should have been on.

Just before we regained the correct path we passed a wood ant nest. The kids were really curious as it was sea of active ants carrying things and moving all over the place. We left them in peace and turned right down the hill. I think they were in awe of such a thing being in the woods. 

It was just a long trail down through the woods to the church at Grindleford where the car was parked and more importantly where tea and cakes awaited us. 

A fantastic walk but with limited views as we spent so long in the woods. We all agreed it had been really good though. Max's legs are still not here but he said it was better than last week. Good.

9.14        miles

1644       feet ascent

4.16        hours mins walking time

2.14        mph

A good total ascent of over 1600 feet and over 9 miles. A good Derbyshire walk with lots of variety of landscape. Next week we will be doing the area above Hathersage all the way to Stanedge Pole so plenty of views and hills to come.