aliwalks

Tuesday, November 10, 2026

2026 - April 9th - Monsal Dale and Ashford in the Water

Friday 9th April

We walked from Monsal Head car park with its view of the viaduct, down a steep wooded path which flattened out to arrive at the weir.

We crossed the Wye and followed the footpath downstream along the river, through Monsal Dale. This is like a slightly lesser-known Dovedale, though less narrow.

It was resplendent with spring flowers -

wood anenomes, celandine, bluebells, violets, primroses, dandelions.

We had to cross the A6 at Lees Bottom, then the path went steeply uphill through Deepdale - more trees and lots of wild garlic, not yet in flower. We passed an old watermill with two wheels.

Our route lay across the A6 once more and over the old bridge into Ashford in the Water.

We lunched there on a sunny bench not far from the church.

The route back to Monsal Head climbs quite gently but steadily, along a footpath from Vicarage Lane, over a field.

We passed this typical ‘dew pond’.

We followed Pennyunk Lane which became a footpath.

And so with a glimpse of the viaduct through the trees, we arrived back at Monsal Head car park. Just over 6 miles and about 650 feet of uphill.

2026 - April 9th - Leek

Thursday 9th April 2026

We were both in need of a recovery day after our two more strenuous walks!

The sunrise was stunning.

After a leisurely breakfast we went to Leek for coffee and a bit of shopping.

We had a coffee in #1, with lots of space, and interesting customers and information on the walls about Bess Bowyer and the Roaches.

We had sandwiches for lunch in Lawson’s Pie shop, then bought some excellent bread from Live Love Loaf.

Unfortunately we don’t have the funds to turn this into an arts We bought a load of veg from a stall near the market building, which is close to the central pedestrianised area.

2026 - April 8th - Shining Tor

Wednesday 8th April 2026

We set off early (before 10) to park at Errwood Reservoir.

Shining Tor walk anti-clockwise, more or less the route we took last September.

The weather began warm and ended up hot.

The views were rather hazy today.

As it was close to Easter there were lots of people out.

The summit was quite busy, so we walked down to the dip along the path and lunched sitting on a broken down wall.

Then we joined the path from Errwood to the Cat and Fiddle.

We turned left and made our way down past the remains of Errwood Hall, and back to the car park.

6.2 miles and 970 feet of climbing.

Monday, November 9, 2026

2026 - April 7th - Gradbach to Three Shires Head

Tuesday 7th April

As the weather was more promising after the cold and windy Easter weekend, we got up and out of the house to Gradbach car park.

We started walking at 9.45, and did the walk to Three Shires Head clockwise, which involves the steep ascent early on, and a more gentle descent later.

For some reason three different people asked us for help with directions - a woman with kids at the car park , then a couple more women high up, and later two women from Leeds, who were on entirely the wrong track, looking for Lud’s church but heading for Three Shires Head.