A run in the peaks

One of the high points!

We caught the 8:06 Manchester - Sheffield train from Marple, picking up a few of the more hill-billyish members of the squad on route. A few got on in far flung places such as New Mills and Chinley. It was a cold morning but all had warm clothes and running backpacks in which to discard the surplus clothing once a sweat had built up. The backpacks also contained some usual and some unusual runners supplies such as Wagon Wheels, Wine Gums, Energy Gels and liquids. The train journey was very pleasant, as far as the views go, although we did have to put up with a group of Manchester City supporters on their way to an away game in Nottingham. They weren't so pleasant. No-one was brave enough to ask them if they should get off when the train stopped at Hope but it wasn't long before we arrived at Grindleford and we were off and away with five hours to play with before we were due to catch our train home.

The first leg of the route was Grindleford - Eyam. The going was good. A cold morning meant firm footing and very little mud. We picked our way through woodland on a stoney path and crossed the River Derwent before tackling quite a steep climb over open countryside and then dropping down into Eyam. We arrived in the "Plague Village" (The plague was discovered there in 1665, thought to have arrived via the fleas in a parcel of fabric that had been sent up from London). Eyam where all was quiet. I guess most sensible people would be having a lie-in at that time on a Sunday! After a brief pit-stop we were climbing out of the other side of the village. After a roller coaster route over moorland we dropped over Longstone Edge and into the village of Great Longstone. We figured we had covered about eight miles at this point.

Now, I haven't run more than around eight miles since October and, although I felt that I was going okay I decided at this point to take a three mile road trip straight over to Baslow whilst the others headed off along the Monsal Trail, through the quirky village of Edensor and the Chatsworth Estate. This was going to take them about an hour and so I thought that I could dawdle leisurely and probably find myself a cafe in Baslow to have a cup of tea and a Wagon Wheel!

However, after running out of Great Longstone, I noticed a bridge over the road ahead of me and as I glanced behind I saw the rest of the group running along a path (The Monsal Trail) that would cross the bridge. I had taken the wrong road out of the village and so set off on a circular route to get onto the right road. My route took me through Hassop where I passed the surprising looking church that was built the early 1800s and designed in the Classical Revival Style. It has an impressive Etruscan pillared portico and Grecian side windows. (I wouldn't have known that, by the way, I looked it up on the internet!) For a split second I took a second look and wondered if I had been transported to another land rather than running through the Peak District on a winter's day!

I got myself to Baslow and spent a bit of time running around the wrong side of the town, looking for the green where we had arranged to meet. By the time I asked a local for advice and crossed the roundabout and busy main road that essentially splits the town in two I got to the green just after the rest of the group arrived.

One member of the group, who really should have come with me on the short cut as he has been struggling with sciatica, had got about as far as he could go and realised that he would need to either catch a bus or get a taxi back to the station if he was to make the scheduled train. I decided to keep him company and so we went into Baslow Sweet Shop that is just by the car park and to enquire about buses. The shop is run by a wonderful couple, who went one better than advising us on public transport but offered to take us to the station in the car! I have to say at this point that anyone travelling through Baslow should stop in at this shop and treat themselves to a bag of 70s style sweets (they have a great selection!), a pie, local ice cream or a drink of hot Bovril! I will certainly frequent it whenever I am travelling through on my way to Chesterfield!

© Copyright Roger Temple and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Our lift got us safely back to the station in great time to be able to make the most of Grindleford Station Cafe! We needed some time too! The cafe is clearly a big hit with all outdoor types as the station car park was full - not with people taking a train but with people eating at the cafe. The queue was pretty big too and gave me time to read all the little signs pinned up stating things such as "Hot drinks are made when you place your order so don't expect us to bring them to you" "Would members of staff please ask me before helping yourselves to a can" "Tell us if you want your tea or coffee black. We don't read minds"!

We ordered tea and a chip butty and had just enough time to consume it before heading down to the platform.

A couple of minutes before the train was due to leave the rest of the group minus our best navigator, Paul, came running down the slope to the platform. "Paul's never going to make it" they cried, "He's miles behind and we couldn't wait for him or we would all miss it!" I was feeling sorry for him as I realised that the next train wasn't for another two hours when, just as the train came through Totley Tunnel, Paul came into view sprinting down the slope. "We said you'd make it!" they all cried! What they had been forgetting is that Paul is a pretty special navigator. As soon as he realised he would be tight for time he consulted his map and found a route through somebody's garden that shaved enough off the route to save him at least ten minutes!