10/04/19 - Day 3 - Inn Way to Peak District - Youlgrave to Tideswell

Start - Youlgrave
Finish - Tideswell
Distance - 16 Miles
Key Features - Lathkill Dale, Monsal Trail, Tideswell Dale
Geocaches - 6
Pubs - 6 available, 5 visited.
Previous Days - Day 1, Day 2


If I am ever doubt as to why I undertake these solo adventures, confirmation is provided on a walk like this.

Day 3 of the Inn Way is an absolute joy from beginning to end.

After breakfast, where we have the winner of skinniest sausage of the week, I leave Youlgrave behind, lane walking to Alport to pick up Lathkill Dale.

Didn't score highly on RateMyBreakfast - where are the beans?  Ugly Mushrooms

Never heard of Lathkill before, but what a location.   Starts off gently enough along the crystal clear stream, passing mine workings and then into a spectacular gorge with overhanging crags.

Thought it would be a gentle river walk

And then it spectacularly turned into this 

Tremendous stuff which takes me most of the morning but still too early for Monyash's Bulls Head.  There's a licenced cafe next door and I surprise myself by having a mug of tea.   I know that Sheldon is not too far away, even if the most direct route is not taken.   We have the well preserved ruins of Magpie Lead Mine to investigate first.

Isolated and free to wander around

There's usually a pub with a comedy name winner on these Inn Way's.   No contest on the Lake District, where my childish walking partner asked every local in Broughton "how far is the Black Cock Inn?".   He would have probably spontaneously combusted if he had been with me for the Cock and Pullet.

The Cock and Pullett

After yesterday's £4.85, it was a delight to be paying £3.30 for my Timothy Taylor Landlord.  Winner of cheapest pint of the Inn Way. 

Some field systems to navigate.   Not as easy as it sounds - they either have complex steps to get over high walls or gaps in the wall that are a stuggle for a man with a 70l Osprey Rucksack attached to squeeze through.

Who is this man and why does he struggle at the walls?

I thought this morning was superb but it just keeps on delivering.   A steep descent and terrifying crossing of the A6 (who puts the crossing at a bend?) and I am along the banks of the river Wye.  The river is left behind at the weir for a climb through the trees.

River Wye

The Reward for all this effort?   The best view of the whole week and the Stables Bar at the Monsal Head Hotel.

View from a Beer Garden

Stables Bar

Stables Bar provided another new Brewery - The Penine Brewing Co for a Monsal Gold.   More free range kids having a dancing competition.   Don't they know there is an ice cream van outside?

Easy to see where I am going next.   A drop to the valley floor to pick up the Monsal Trail - a former railway line.   The guide suggests that I avoid the tunnels but it shaves a bit of distance off and lets face it, it's quite exciting.   The only time a drop of water landed on my head all week.

Drip Drip Drip in the Tunnel

With a nice bit of symmetry, Tideswell Dale ends the ramble.  It never quite hits the height of Lathkill but provides pleasant walking for me to reach my bed for the night.

Another Derbyshire Dale

There's a big game on the BT Sports tonight, with Manchester Utd playing Barcelona - so I need to see if any of the pubs can provide entertainment.   I've already made my mind up about tea - a budget meal from one of the two chippers in town.

The Horse and Jockey is first discovered on the edge of town.  Inquiries show they are the only pub to have the football on but this is limited to Sky.   Looks like I'll be following the match on Twitter.

Huge Pub providing Stancill Brewery Stainless but no Lionel Messi

Tideswell is also famous for the church - the Cathedral of the Peak - and we'll talk about their bells tomorrow.   It's right next to the George.

My room is above the G

A standard Greene King where the most promising choice was Birra Moretti.

Fish and Chips and an investigation of the final boozer in town - the Star.   A very traditional locals pub with a strange triangular bar serving three rooms.   The barman always seemed to have his back turned to the next customer.

The Star - where Stella Artois was the best drink available

Fed, watered and tired after the second longest walk of the week - I retire early.

But not until I confirm that Utd have it all to do in the Nou Camp next Tuesday.