Saturday January 24th

 Tideswell to Cressbrook

After a week of windy weather, Sunday looked calmer and we opted to go to Tideswell to do a new walk. The first section seemed to be a little complicated, but we made our way to the head of Tideswell Dale.

Stoical sheep on the way to Tideswell Dale

From there the route heads towards the Field Study Centre and after negotiating some cottages, emerges at Litton Mill, notorious in the 19th century for its use of pauper child labour. The mill is in an isolated spot and was never very profitable in comparison with other textile mills nearby. Entering Miller's Dale, the route passes through the Cramside Wood Nature Reserve,  with a pleasant meander along the river Wye. We decided to stop for lunch here, next to a small, derelict water wheel.

The remains of a water wheel with a good perch for lunch

This lunch break was good preparation as it turned out for the flooded sections of the trail which followed. It was passable, but very wet and muddy, especially towards Water-cum-Jolly and its impressive weir surrounded by limestone cliffs.

We reached Cressbrook Mill and  then climbed up to Cressbrook Hall, the first real climb of the day. It then remained to make our way to Litton, across the fields with excellent views around, over towards Cressbrook Dale. From Litton, it is a quick walk back to Tideswell Church and village. We treated ourselves to a drink at the Tideswell Lounge, a nice little cafe in the centre of the village.

A walk of 6.6 miles with 250m ascent.



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