| The walk starts from the Minninglow Car Park sign
posted from the village and situated about half a mile
south of Pikehall on a small country lane that goes
under the High Peak Trail. Pikehall is on the A5012
road between Cromford and Newhaven. If the car park
is full as is often the case on this popular walk, there
is viable road side parking available on the country
lane. From the Minninglow Car Park follow the signs
for the High Peak Trail in the westerly direction crossing
the road at one side of the car park into what looks
like and is an old railway cutting. The High Peak Trail
is a very popular bridleway catering for horses, cyclists
and walkers alike.
Roystone Grange Valley
|
Minninglow Hill
|
The trail uses the line of the old Cromford & High
Peak Railway which was completed in the 1830's. This
historical line, one of the first in Britain was built
as a link between the the Cromford Canal and the Peak
Forest Canal at Whaley Bridge to allow easier transport
of local goods and minerals. The railway was famous
for having some of the steepest inclines and sharpest
bends in Britain, reflecting the tough task of navigating
the Peak Districts many hills and valleys. When first
built the railway was powered by horses on flat sections
and stationary steam engines would be used to haul the
heavy wagons up and down the steep inclines. Using these
methods was reliable but took a train of wagons two
days to travel just 33 miles. A decade after the line
was completed the first steam engine locomotive arrived,
made by none other than Mr Robert Stephenson and Company.
The line was eventually connected to the national rail
network but after an extremely effective and lengthy
life was closed in 1967.
High Peak Trail
|
Stone Quarry
|
After passing through the first railway cutting from
the car park the path then travels high over the fields
below on the huge and impressive stone embankment of
the old railway. The views now open up over the Roystone
Grange valley as you watch the stone embankment swoop
round to the right. The farmers fields in the valley
below are enclosed by centuries old limestone walls.
If you look right or South East from here you will see
a very distinct hill across the valley topped with a
neat row of trees. Minninglow Hill is steeped in history,
its summit circled by ancient beech trees is the site
of Minninglow Tomb, thought to date back to the Neolithic
people of the area who chose this great view point for
the site. The tomb has been excavated by many people
including the Roman's but has since been carefully restored
by modern archaeologists.
Victorian Lime Kiln
|
Under The High Peak Trail
|
The level trail will bend to the right and then pass
through another cutting before coming out at the site
of the old stone quarry where I highly recommend you
stop and search for the industrial relics that remain.
On the side of the trail you'll find old machinery and
evidence of the old railway. The trail turns right again
just after the old quarry passing high over the fields
again where if you look down on the left you'll catch
a glimpse of an outstanding example of a victorian lime
kiln. After passing the kiln and another small cutting
the path reaches a cross roads where a track goes off
down right to the farms and a track goes left up into
the fields towards Minninglow Hill. Come off the main
trail here and take the road to the left known as Gallowlow
Lane, after only a few hundred yards take a right downhill
at the footpath sign and head towards a tunnel that
passes under the High Peak Trail.
Roystone Grange Valley
|
Roystone Grange Farm
|
After going through the tunnel under the High Peak
Trail follow the hill downwards until you see a stile
in the stone wall on your left. Looking uphill and to
the right from the stile you'll see a round roofed storage
hut that was once the explosives hut for the old stone
quarry. Cross the stile and keep heading downhill keeping
the stone walls to your right and you'll start to see
the modern Roystone Grange farm. You will come to a
small gate in the wall which leads into a small paddock.
If you look closely around the paddock and its surrounding
fields there are many different levels and mounds which
may not seem relevant, however they are actually the
remains of medieval farming. The excavations in this
small area have unearthed many enthralling stories and
items from the medieval Roystone. The spring on the
site is thought to be the reason this site was chosen
by the medieval farmers.
Starlings
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Ancient Woodland
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At the other side of the paddock is a stile in the
high wall. Before crossing the stile and making your
way right to the modern farm, take a look at the almost
church like building to the left which was actually
a pumping house in which a great steam engine sent air
to the pneumatic drills used in the quarry's by the
railway, an innovative system at the time. Pass quietly
and respectfully through the modern working farm, which
is well kept. The farm track then climbs out of the
valley and reaches Minninglow Lane which goes right
down to the other farm in the valley, at this point
turn left and follow this road up to Parwich Lane turning
right which will take you back to the Minninglow Car
Park.
|
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Duration
: 2 Hrs
