BASLOW EDGE WALK
THE WALK
Baslow Edge Walk leaves Goose Green and leads towards Chatsworth Park, passing a row of attractive thatched cottages before going through the fields to the rear of the Cavendish Arms. It is one of the Peak District’s best-known hotels, also famous for the ten miles of trout fishing it offers visitors.
You pass through the old part of the village and St Anne’s Church before the walk crosses the former packhorse bridge. After walking down Bubnell Lane, the path takes you across the fields to join a pleasant riverside walk to Calver.
A long, steep climb up the road through Curbar village, followed by several fields, brings you to Curbar Gap. The effort is worthwhile because of the splendid views obtained over miles of countryside as you walk along Baslow Edge past the Eagle Stone. You then take a short diversion to visit Wellington’s Memorial before dropping down a steep rocky path back to Baslow and the start of the walk.
LOOK OUT FOR
Point 3 – The Old Bridge, built in 1603, close to the church, attracts much interest from visitors with its impressive stone arches. It is the oldest bridge across the Derwent that floods have never destroyed. It replaced a wooden bridge that all non-disabled men in the village were required to watch on a rotating basis to ensure weight restrictions were not broken. The tiny Watchman’s hut remains, no doubt reduced in size by the heightening of the road.
Point 4 – A short distance down Bubnell Lane stands Bubnell Hall, thought to be the oldest building in the parish that, at one time, was a school. The houses at Bridge End, with their handsome riverfrontages, are seen as you look across the weir. Behind them is Baslow Hall, the former home of Sebastian de Ferranti, who was a ‘do it yourself man’ with a passion for electricity. He experimented with central heating, other electrical appliances, and fitting double-glazing. His efforts at battery poultry farming had disastrous consequences for the electrocuted chickens.
Point 6 – The most attractive part of Calver’s little river valley village hides behind the main A623 road. Charming stone cottages and smart modern houses exist in comparative harmony close to the ancient village cross.
Point 8 – Baslow Edge is separated from Curbar Edge by Curbar Gap, where a Roman Road once passed. It later became a vital packhorse route to Chesterfield, and in 1759, the road was turnpiked. Alongside the footpath to Baslow below Curbar Gap are the Cundy Graves. The family of five all died of the Great Plague just over 30 years before the epic struggle of the people of Eyam against the plague.
Point 9 – Standing in solitary confinement on Baslow Edge is a massive boulder called the Eagle Stone. According to legend, it took its name from the god Aigle, who appeared to have a habit of throwing boulders around. In the past, no local lad was considered fit to marry until he had shown his fitness and agility by climbing to the top of the stone.
Point 10 – Wellington’s Monument celebrates the victory at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. The monument was built by Lieutenant Colonel E M Wrench, who took over a medical practice in Baslow in 1862. He was a surgeon who served in the army in Crimea and India and was a great patriot. In 1866, the ten-foot-high cross was constructed and placed on Baslow Edge to be seen over a wide area.
WALK DETAILS
Length: 5 miles
Start: Goose Green Car Park is on the village’s eastern side off the A619 Chesterfield to Buxton Road, near where the A621 from Sheffield and A623 from Whaley Bridge converge.
Terrain: A steep ascent to Curbar Gap and descent back to Baslow. A section of the walk is along a pavementless road. Rocky in places across Baslow Edge. In very wet weather, the path behind the Cavendish Hotel tends to flood, making it advisable to use the road through the village.
Refreshments: There is a good selection of pubs, restaurants and teashops in Baslow and Calver.
THE ROUTE
1. Turn right at the car park entrance, and after crossing a packhorse bridge, go right again past a row of thatched cottages heading towards Chatsworth Park. Before you enter the park, join a footpath on the right.
2. Continue straight across two short fields and down a narrow path, then turn left onto the footpath by the A619. On reaching the roundabout by the Devonshire Bridge, carry straight on along the A623 into the centre of the old village past St Anne’s Church.
3. Turn left across the Old Bridge past the Watchman’s hut, then turn right at the end along Bubnell Road.
4. About half a mile after passing Bubnell Hall, just before the road bends to the left, watch out for a footpath sign on the right. Go through the stile and angle to the left across the field to another stile.
5. Maintain direction before crossing a stile to follow a path through a wood. On leaving the wood, the path remains close to the river as it curves to the right. The route crosses several stiles and a footbridge before passing a group of houses on the left and continuing through a subway.
6. Turn right over the old Calver Bridge and fork left opposite the Bridge Inn up Curbar Lane past the side of All Saints Church, signed ‘Curbar Village’. Avoid Dukes Drive, which runs at a slight angle to the left.
7. Continue up the long hill, carrying straight on at the crossroads as the name changes to Bar Road. When the road bends sharply to the left, keep straight on. To follow a steep, winding footpath which meets the road again as it bends back to the right at Curbar Gap.
8. Turn right along the rough path by the roadside. After about 150 yards, go to the right through a gate stile with an ‘Eastern Moor Estate’ information board onto Baslow Edge.
9. Follow the rough track past a massive boulder on the bracken-clad moor called the Eagle Stone.
10. Follow the track as it starts to descend, but before this, you may wish to take a short detour a few yards northeast to view Wellington’s Monument.
11. Return to the track you were on after the diversion and follow it as it winds downhill. On reaching the outskirts of Baslow, look out for a triangle of grass, where you turn to the left and walk down Eaton Hill. At the bottom of the hill, cross the A619 and Goose Green to return to the walk’s starting point.
Baslow
