Country Walks in the Peak District with Leo & Sally

 Country Walks in the Peak District

Our first major walk took us from Bakewell along the Monsal Trail, following the route of the old railway towards the magnificent Monsal Head Viaduct. Along the way we discovered fascinating wildlife, plants, geology and railway history, including the impressive Headstone Tunnel. After lunch and plenty of interesting conversations, we eventually reached the viaduct and were rewarded with spectacular views across the Peak District. A well-earned ice cream stop followed before the walk back, with everyone delighted to discover they had covered nearly 10 kilometres.

Sunday brought another memorable adventure at the Heights of Abraham in Matlock Bath. We travelled high above the Derwent Valley by cable car before descending into Masson Cavern for a fascinating guided tour. Learning about the geological history of the caves and the harsh lives of the miners who once worked underground really brought the past to life. We then enjoyed lunch with beautiful valley views, explored the site with Victorian guides and wandered through Matlock Bath, stopping for riverside ice creams. 

The following day we headed to Ladybower Reservoir, where another peaceful 7-kilometre walk took us through stunning scenery alongside the water. Despite the cloudy skies, the views were beautiful, and there was plenty of wildlife spotting and laughter along the way. Lunch in Hope provided a welcome break before we stopped to admire Monsal Viaduct from another viewpoint. A visit to Bakewell followed, where everyone agreed that no trip to the area would be complete without an authentic Bakewell Tart!

Tuesday offered a change of pace as we stepped back in time at Crich Tramway Village. Vintage trams, recreated streets and fascinating exhibitions gave us a glimpse into transport and everyday life from years gone by. 

We enjoyed a nostalgic tram ride before exploring the woodland sculpture trail, where giant snails, wizards, fairy-tale bridges and even a giant Mr Potato Head provided plenty of laughs. We then visited historic Cromford Mill, learning about Sir Richard Arkwright and the beginnings of the Industrial Revolution.

When the weather put a stop to our planned countryside walk on Wednesday, we simply swapped walking boots for bowling shoes! A lively morning of ten-pin bowling saw Gary crowned the overall winner, followed by lunch at a lovely community café. We then settled into reclining cinema seats for Sheep Detectives, which provided plenty of laughs. Our final evening at The Foresters Inn was filled with stories, jokes, card tricks and memories from the week, followed by more friendly competition in the games room, where John managed to defeat Gary at pool!

Our final morning was extra special as we celebrated Terry’s birthday with cake, presents and plenty of birthday wishes. We finished the holiday with one last 3.75-kilometre woodland walk around Darwin Forest – a wonderfully fitting way to round off a week surrounded by nature.