Back to full strength this week with all 4 of us and starting on time at 06:00. We set off up the A6 into the Peak District and parked up an hour later at the junction of Monks Dale and Peters Dale. We did Monks Dale a few weeks ago and parked in the same spot. Peters Dale started OK then we encountered some uneven limestone rocks and had to watch where your feet landed. We had to negotiate a large number of cattle to get through to Hay Dale, it made me slightly nervous and i was glad to get past them. Hay Dale is lovely and lush and quite wide in places. It was a steady climb through these dales until we got to the tarmac farm track where the signpost was. Walking along this track we saw a quad bike coming up the road followed by a huge herd of cows. We couldn't get past them so we thought wait till they get past and have breakfast. I get nervous around beasts like this but at the back of the herd was 2 kids driving them on!!
From there it was into the hamlet of Wheston with a hall and an ancient cross. then just a mile or so back to the car.
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| This weeks route through Peters Dale and Hay Dale |
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| Ike was watching a Raven high up in a tree |
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| Limestone crag in Peters Dale |
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| Rob & Ike |
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| Geoff |
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| Hay Dale |
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| Me and Geoff |
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| A couple of hares chasing each other |
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| Ike and Rob |
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| Geoff Rob & Ike |
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| A herd of cows blocking the road |
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| 2 kids driving on the herd. |
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| Breakfast |
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| Calves |
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Wheston Cross
Wheston Cross dates back to
medieval times and stands in a little sheltered copse of trees. It was moved
here earlier this century from a position close to the manor house. The cross
which stands on four steps is 12 feet tall and is carved to the east with the
Crucifixion of Christ. On the west are the Virgin and Child. Wheston Cross
probably dates from the 14th century when it marked the way leading from
Tideswell to Buxton on the Forest road. This route lead down Wheston Bank and
was known as Kirkgate or Crossgate. This era of the middle ages is referred to
as the ‘Age of Faith’ because no traveller would have passed a cross without
offering a prayer for their safe journey.
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Wheston Hall
Wheston Hall was
originally built in the late 16th century. At that time the property consisted
of a tower three storeys in height but ungabled. For many years Wheston Hall was held in the Alleyne family
who were staunch Catholics. In 1592 Edward Alleyne and his brother Henry were
arrested for being Roman Catholics and holding secret mass and were heavily fined.
The family seat was
eventually lost due to debt and passed to Thomas Freeman who in 1727 added a
new 3-storey, 9-bay range to the north, giving Wheston Hall a Georgian façade. Two further
gables were created to the east, and the land around was transformed into a
country estate with an avenue of trees, ending in a fine pair of gate piers
with pineapple finials. In the next century Wheston Hall passed through several families
but fell into disrepair, and the west wing became disused. In 1952 the west
wing and north front collapsed in a gale and parts of n Hall were then
demolished to reduce it to a more manageable size. Over the years the
beautifully set out estate with lawns and trees has returned to farmland where
sheep and cattle once again graze.
Wheston Hall is
more often referred to for its ghosts. One is known as the ‘Old Woman of
Wheston’ who is said to appear dressed in poke bonnet and crinoline dress. She
passes around the house barefoot, shrieking and tearing out her golden hair.
Apparently The Old Woman of Wheston had once been married to a man she hated,
but in typical ghostly tradition, was parted from the real man that she loved.
Murder was said to have been committed by her husband, and her lover’s grave
reputedly lies in the former orchard. The lady died at Wheston Hall of a broken
heart and was buried at Tideswell.
The other ghost at
Wheston Hall is of ‘Soldier Dick’, apparently being a life-size military figure
that once stood in the entrance hall. It was reputed that if he was moved from
this place, bad luck fell on the residents of the Hall. It is said that he was finally
laid to rest in the cellar of Wheston Hall.
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| You don't see many fields full of cows these days |
A cracking walk just over 4 1/2 miles and ascent of over 400 feet through some great scenery. Finding the cross was a real bonus and that's another 2 dales crossed off the list.
See you next week.
