Eyam, Stoney Middleton, Grindleford

Parked in the new 'free' car park in Eyam (behind the Pay and Display one - go figure!) and met with the others - Pete, Paul, Ray, Jill, Rich, Phil and Dave. We walked down the road past Flower Pot etc and picked up the 'Climbers' Path' that runs along a terrace half way up the valley side.

Jill, Peter, Ray and Paul on the Climbers' Path above Stoney Middleton Dale

This took us straight past Carlswark and various other small caves in Stoney Middleton Dale and on into Stoney Middleton itself, where we stopped by the stream for a quick cuppa.  From there we continued on past the 'Roman Baths' (that aren't, but Robbie (Rich's collie) approved of the water coming from the thermal stream) and across the fields to the Calver/Grindleford road.  I believe Paul's original plan was to drop down to the river into Grindleford, but Pete suggested that we follow the road and he then pointed out Stoke Sough, shortly after Stoke Hall.

Trees growing on the mound formed by the lowest shaft above the sough tail
with another shaft at the top of the field

After peering down through the trees to where the sough tail is down at river level, we continued on to New Road, the back lane into Eyam and picked up a path running broadly parallel to Goatscliff Farm Lane.  At the edge of the small wood we emerged into a small clearing and found Flora, goddess of flowers, or at least a life-size statue of her.

Statue of Flora, goddess of flowers, in the woods above
the A625 between Calver and Grindleford

Pete told us that the story goes that the statue once belonged to Chatsworth and was given as a present to the owners of Stoke Hall.  Sadly they had a run of bad luck soon after Flora's arrival and deciding that it was her fault that things were going wrong, they banished her to the hillside, where she now resides - poor Flora!!  It was nice to see that someone has been cutting back the undergrowth to reveal her in all her glory - someone cares.


We continued across the fields, stopping to find a guide stoop that Peter said he'd looked before on a previous occasion and couldn't find.  Not surprising really as it's now being used as a gatepost in someone's garden!!

 A guide stoop (ancient signpost) being used as a gatepost in someone's garden

Continuing across the fields we entered the southwest corner of Grindleford via a footpath next to a house with a wall made of rather splendid small mill stones. Rich and Ray had a few thoughts on what they might have been used for, but clearly not your normal flour mill.

The wall of a Grindleford house made of small mill stones

Dropping down the lane we emerged at the lower end of Sir William Hill Lane and headed uphill.  Stopping just above the village to admire the view across the valley to the east (a good way to catch one's breath!!), Ray pointed out an inclined plane on the hill opposite, which was used to transport stone from Bolehill Quarry (also known as Lawrencefield Quarry by climbers) down to the main Manchester to Sheffield railway line, which transported it to the Derwent Valley where it was used to build the dams for the Howden and Derwent Reservoirs.

The inclined plane on Bole Hill down which stone was brought
from Bolehill Quarry

Continuing up the hill, we followed the Sir William Hill road up out of the village onto the lane proper and then cut across the field above Ladywash Mine and back to Eyam.