August 2009 Wapentac News
In this months edition of the Wapentac newsletter
Monsal Trail Walk
New designs for Yorkshire Dales and Lake District National Parks
Wapenmap goes on retail sale at The Famous Sheffield Shop, Sheffield
This months most popular Wapenmap map
Monsal Dale
Walk: Start/Finish Point Grid Ref : SK184714 Monsal Head Car Park
Distance: 13 Kilometers
Terrain: Well Signposted Path, small section of road,easy going with some short climbs
Total Climb: Total Ascent 614m
Total Time: 4-5 Hours
Ordnance Survey Map, Explorer OL24, The Peak District, White Peak, East Sheet
August we explored the Monsal Trail walk in the Peak District National Park, starting at Monsal Head car park. The climb down the steps was a little precarious due to the recent rain but we eventually made it down on to the Monsal Trail and turned left across the Monsal Head viaduct a well known piece of victorian engineering, towards Millers Dale. It must certainly have been one of the great train journeys in Britain when the Monsal Trail was a working rail line. It is an easy walk suitable for all levels of skill. The scenery, flora and fauna are good entertainment and many hours can be spent just looking at the wild flowers and watching the birds. We followed the trail until we reached Cressbrook Mill, recently renovated into apartments. At the mill is a small tea shop serving walkers and anglers who are passing through the area. It is well worth the time to stop and listen to the water come over the weir at Cressbrook Mill pond. Then onwards towards Millers Dale, passing first through Water Cum Jolly, one of the most beautiful spots in the whole of the Peak District White Peak area. After heavy rainfall, the river Wye had run over the banks making the paths very muddy or very wet in places, but this did not detract from the beauty that is abundant in Water Cum Jolly. In Millers Dale wild trout could be seen sitting in the river waiting for the next meal to come along down stream. in the crystal clear water. Arriving at Litton we passed some more mills, once laid derelict for decades, they too have been renovated into apartments. The history of the Litton mills is a fascinating and often gory one and well worth looking up. We stopped at Litton and sat beside the old waterwheel to have lunch, whilst we listened to the river Wye flow past. After lunch it was back on to the Monsal Trail to view the old lime kiln workings, then head back to Monsal Head. Leaving the trail a few hundred yards past the lime kilns, taking a footpath left uphill we came to the hamlet of Brushfield and from their across the hilltop, with views of Monsal Dale, Millers Dale and Water Cum Jolly, then back to Monsal Head.
Click on Monsal Trail to view the Wapenmap with features of this walk.
New Designs
We are just putting the finishing touches to the designs for two new Wapenmap maps, Yorkshire Dales and Lake District National Parks. There is a series of 6 Wapenmap maps in both the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District. All feature areas of outstanding beauty along with well loved walks. The artwork is just being finalised and the production of the Wapenmap maps will begin shortly so that by the autumn the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District Wapenmap will be added to the Peak District Range of Wapenmap.
Retail Outlet
The Peak District range of Wapenmap, featuring Burbage Edge, Monsal Trail, Damflask Agden & Strines, Lathkill Dale, Goyt Valley, Howden & Derwent, Mam Tor & Lose Hill can now all be purchased in Sheffield at the Famous Sheffield Shop, 475 Ecclesall Road, Sheffield, S11 8PP Along with the Wapenmaps The Famous Sheffield Shop stocks a wealth of locally produced knives, giftwares and cutlery.
Most Popular Wapenmap
So far this month the most popular Wapenmap has been Mam Tor & Lose Hill. It seems to be a favourite of walkers and people who live around the Buxton area, outstripping the sales of it's nearest rival by 2:1. The Mam Tor & Lose Hill Wapenmap has a wonderful profile when built, the low land pasture of Castleton and the Hope Valley rising to meet one of the best ridge walks with in the Peak District National Park stretching from Win Hill over Lose Hill and ending at Mam Tor. The walk on the map is a popular circular walk from Castleton that will be featured in later news letters.
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