Five walkers gathered outside Church on the 4th December on an overcast damp cold afternoon. We parked on Eaton Hill in Baslow to have our packed lunch before starting the walk.
We walked up Bar Lane before taking a left hand turn up Gorse Bank Lane, passing the entrance to Baslow Hydro. Opened in 1881 and demolished in 1936 this was the 19th century equivalent of a luxury spa hotel with gardens and a golf course and was meant to be a local competitor to the spa towns of Matlock and Buxton. It was a successful venture until after World War 1 when it suffered from a lack of investment.
We continued along the lane, passing through a farmyard where a farm dog watched us warily but left us to continue on our way. We walked through rock strewn fields below Baslow Edge before passing through a gate and walking downhill passing a group of walkers from Nottinghamshire. Ahead of us we could see somebody dressed as Santa Claus but we never caught up with them to find out why.
After passing a small stone lined pool we passed through a gate, turning right to walk up a muddy path alongside a narrow stream. At the top of the path we reached a tarmac drive, here we paused to look at a conical roofed stone building, trying to decide its use. It may have been an old dovecot originally but now it looked more like a trulli house – similar to those found in the Apulian region of Italy. Continuing up the drive we reached the village of Curbar.
We turned left then right, walking downhill into the village, meandering through the stone houses, reaching the old well along with its millstones and horse trough at a junction in the centre of the village.
Continuing we walked out of Curbar along narrow lanes, passing properties with views across to Calver and Stoney Middleton. Starting to go downhill again we walked through the buildings of Cliff College. It is a Christian theological college teaching biblical theology at the undergraduate level along with postgraduate mission courses. The original buildings were purchased by the Wesleyan Methodist Church in 1903.
On reaching the A623 at the bottom of the hill we turned left, walking on the footpath alongside the busy road.
Shortly we branched off, walking up a narrow lane. At one point an electric car came up behind us, all we could hear was a hum. We soon reached the outskirts of Baslow, walking along Over Road until we reached School Lane. Turning left we passed a large stone house up on our left ‘The Alma’ – built in 1854 and originally a beer house.
Continuing up the lane we reached Overend Cross Roads marking the meeting of four important old routes from Calver, Chesterfield, Sheffield and the old bridge across the Derwent before returning to our cars and making our way back to Chesterfield.
If anyone wishes to join us then meet us outside church at 12pm with a packed lunch on Sunday 1st January 2023. You will be made very welcome.
Steve Franks