Bakewell, Bluebells and the Haddon Ash Tree

With Geoff still in Scotland we 3 went to the old Bakewell railway station and got there about 07:00.
After a brief look around the station we set off down the old track which is now part of the Pennine Bridleway.

Bakewell Station

Bakewell Station

Bakewell Station

Bakewell Station

The station was opened by the Midland Railway on 1 August 1862 During the nationalisation of Britain's railways in 1948 the station was passed on to the London Midland Region of British Railways, and despite escaping the Beeching Axe the station was closed when passenger services ceased a year prior to the line being closed by Labour Minister For Transport Barbara Castle, the station closing on 6 March 1967.

The track goes south as far as the Coombs road viaduct then we carried on up to Coombs farm where one of Ike's old neighbours used to live many years ago. A lovely peaceful area to have a farm, it must have been idyllic when it was a working farm. We backtracked to the viaduct and then headed towards Haddon Park passing Cook Wood which is covered with Bluebells at the minute. We stopped at the bridge on the Haddon Park Farm road for our breakfast.
We varied the route on the way back and followed the lower footpath which went through some beautiful meadows before hitting the Bakewell Sunday Car boot site. From there back up to the trail and the carpark.

This bridge was put in for farming traffic

Bakewell Golf Course

Bakewell Golf Course

Coombs Road Viaduct

Another one of Ike's fishing tales

Sheep on Coombs road

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Walking up the track to Coombs Farm

Whats left of Coombs Farm

Coombs Road Viaduct

Bluebells in the woods just off the track

This is an ancient Ash Tree under the care of Derbyshire Wildlife  Trust, Haddon Estate
and the Peak District National Park Authority  

Rob feeding the geese

This apparently is the gamekeepers house

Old hollowed out tree

Heading back to Bakewell

Rob just had to go and have a look, still don't know what it is.

Sunday car boot 

One of the characters at the car boot

Beautiful Peacock butterfly.

Should've gone to specsavers.

Escape!!

Cracking tree house

Move over the "oldies" are  coming through!!!

The bridge before Bakewell station.

 

Ike found a riding crop, i think Angela had better watch out.

 With a bit of spare time we looked in on some of the fishponds that Rob & Ike visit and got there in time to see a catch. A lovely little site with 3 ponds just off the main road and if you blink you would miss them, just 5 minutes walk from the Railway at Cowers Lane cross roads.

Nice catch down at the fish pond

On the way from the fish pond to the car.

A cracking walk covering 5 1/2 miles with decent weather for a change.
Next week hope to be back to full strength with Geoff rejoining the gang.
Cheers