Gratton Dale & Long Dale

Gratton Dale

Today's trip was to 2 more dales we haven't been to, Gratton Dale & Long Dale. We parked in Dale End and set off along the marked track. After about 10 minutes we thought perhaps we've made a mistake here, because after all that rain this supposed dry dale had a stream running where the footpath should be. We carried on through some very wet long grass and several sections had running water. The track eventually dried out after we got to higher ground.

Parked up in Dale End

the first section was dry

Ike looking at an old Lime Kiln. Limestone burnt with coal  produces quicklime, there were hundreds of these small limekiln's all over the limestone peak district. The quicklime was used for spreading on the fields where the soil was acid, tanning leather and making mortar for buildings.

This was typical of the flooded footpaths.

Geoff lost in the long grass.

Robs trousers are soaking wet up to the knee's.

Rob open's the FLOODGATE

Upper reaches of Gratton Dale

We heard a buzzard calling in this wood

Ike points out a badger track

Rob at the start of Long Dale

After coming through Gratton Dale the path turns into Long Dale which is a very level broad bottomed dale, the sides are covered in wild grasses and its got a look of Tele Tubby Land.

The inscription on this sculpture by Celia Kilner was taken from a Nepalese tea house menu and reads "We meet to create memories and depart to cherish them" Its in a beautiful setting in the Dale.

Breakfast time

Grandad Ike having a cuppa.

View down Long Dale

Geoff lost again in the jungle.

We asked them for a lift but had no takers!!!

We went past Smerrill Grange Farm which is a grade 11 listed building a 16th century medieval Monastic Grange originally built by the Monks of Roche Abbey. A Wellington Bomber RAF No.BJ 652 crashed at Smerrill close to the farm on January 21st, 1944, there is a memorial in the village of Youlgreave not far away.

Smerrill Grange Farm

Ike inspecting the Smerrill Sculpture.

The Smerrill sculpture was crafted by Amanda Wray and took inspiration from the pointing hands on the Derbyshire Guide Stoops. The several sides have inscriptions from William Blake "To see a world in a grain of sand and a heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hand, and eternity in an hour."

The old Gratton Cheese Factory.

The cheese factory was built in 1855 and opened as a cooperative for local dairy farmers. It produced white Stilton until it closed in about 1945 when it became uneconomic to run.

Nice farmyard scene.

Having missed last week i looked forward to this and wasn't disappointed. Just over 4 1/2 miles along mainly  level track it was very pleasant. We didn't meet any people until the 2 horse riders. It looks as though this dale is not walked much which is a real shame. Long Dale has no grazing animals, is full of wild grasses and is the site of a nature reserve.
Just one last thing congratulations to Ike for becoming a grandad for the first time.
Cheers
Jim