Calver via Curbar, Curbar Edge, Baslow Edge and Baslow

Calver, Derbyshire, United Kingdom
Tuesday, 22 November, 2011
Route 41

A circular walk from Calver, by way of Curbar Edge, Curbar Gap, Baslow Edge, Baslow and Bubnell Lane.

Information

Distance (km): 
10.57 km
Distance (miles): 
6.57 miles
Elevation (start point): 
123 metres
Latitude (start point): 
53.2661
Longitude (start point): 
-1.63085
OS Grid Ref (start point): 
SK 24719 74409
Nearest Post Code: 
S32 3YP
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Details

Route notes 

What a day this was. I was taking my wife to a meeting in Chesterfield where the plan was to drop her off in Chesterfield whereupon I would return to the Baslow area for a days walking. I decided to take the scenic route along the Strines road and then onto Bamford, Hathersage, Calver, Baslow and finally Chesterfield.

10 miles into the journey I hit a pothole and the rear exhaust pipe blew! I then drove the rest of the 100 mile round trip in what sounded like a tractor.

The weather decided to match the extremes of the route; it started cold and foggy, turned bright and sunny, gave way to light rain and thick mist before turning into a beautifully sunny winter's afternoon, before once again clouding over.

At the end of the walk when removing my walking boots I noticed that a flap holding the middle section of the lacing system had completely broken away and the boots were now useless.

Rather an expensive day but more than made up for by a wonderful days walking.

Route summary 

This route offers extremes; the mighty wall of gritstone rock that is Curbar Edge, with its spectacular views, and then the tranquillity of the Derwent Valley as it quietly meanders between Calver and and Baslow.

The route climbs from Calver Mill to the beautiful village of Curbar where it is well worth a wander around. Leaving the village of Curbar and the tarmac behind the route heads across fields to the quiet of the ever changing woodland below Curbar Edge where after another few hundred meters of rapid ascent the path joins the track along Curbar Edge. Thus the hardest part of the walk is soon over and one can now regain one's breath while admiring the spectacular views.

The route now follows the easy track along the edge of the rocky escarpment, crosses the road at Curbar Gap and heads for the Eagle Stone where like many others, you can wonder on how the stone came to be there. The path soon joins another track and heads downhill to the village of Baslow where one can spend some time exploring the village and church.

The route now crosses the old pack horse bridge and heads in a northerly direction along Bubnell Lane, following the course of the River Derwent where after a 1km it once again leaves the tarmac behind and heads across fields towards woodland, rejoins the banks of the River Derwent and returns to Calver Mill

Route directions 

The walk starts from the school at Calver Mill and immediately enters the the hardest part of the walk, the climb from Calver Mill to Curbar Edge. Once at Curbar village the route leaves tarmac behind and heads across fields to the beautiful woodland below Curbar Edge.

The route takes a left turn and levels out, headng in a north-westerly direction through woodland, parallel to the edge, on a clearly defined path. After about 1km the path becomes a little less distinct and at Bees Wood swings to the right as it climbs quite steeply to meet the gritstone rocks of Curbar Edge and the clearly defined track that follows the top of the rocky escarpment where on a good day the views are outstanding.

Follows the track along Curbar Edge crosses the road at Curbar Gap and heads southerly direction towards the Eagle Stone, eventually where on meeting a broad track, turns right, descending past an old quarry.

The track descends towards Baslow village eventually becoming a tarmac road and joining the A619 road at Baslow church. Here the route turns right past the church, turns left over the old bridge and then an immediate right heading in a northerly direction along Bubnell Lane.