L2L Day 33 Bakewell to Buxton - 13 miles

Bakewell was having a two day Food and Drink fest. I'd decided that I'd have a Bakewell Pie for breakfast.


It had lots of melted butter but not really what I needed before a long walk. I even went one better in the market by sampling an 'Old Fashioned' Dandelion whisky cocktail! 


 Lesson #1 - Always have a proper breakfast.


Passing All Souls Church I fell into step with John and his family who were out for a walk celebrating his eldest son's 29th birthday. John is in training for the Coast to Coast in a couple of months so was keen to get in some miles.


Apart from his other interest, John is a drummer in a local band and they'd been performing last night. John and his family were going to have a fun day.

It was another day of attentive cattle - sometimes below me on the path, sometimes (more concerningly) above me on the path.



The route had some significant uphill and down Dale sections throughout the day.


After a warm walking day yesterday, I'd developed a few blisters so decided on a change of apparel for today....bliss!


Bliss!


I think I'm developing a fondness for dandelions......


- they look fantastic in the sunshine.

There seems to be a lot of Prime beef on these farms.


And this could be the Prime suspect!


At Dirtlow Farm ìt looked as though these guys were earning their keep. 


Particularly this one!


At The Cock & Pullet in Sheldon I got talking to John, a keen cyclist from Rutland Hall Cycling club in Sheffield. He'd cycled 20 miles this morning and was enjoying his second pint before gently meandering back. He and his wife had visited the Outer Hebrides by camper van and loved it. His favourite though was Muckle Flugga on the Shetlands.


Nourished with a half and a packet of crisps, I set off and just beyond Wheal Farm, met Keith and Otto.


Otto had been carrying a very large stick and I was ready to take avoiding action.


With the children having left home, Keith and his wife, last October, moved to Derbyshire from near Heathrow. With  great walks on their doorstep, they're both pleased with their decision to move North. Keith hails from Exeter and I noticed he was proudly wearing an Exeter Chiefs shirt.  He and Otto were on their way home to watch the 14:30 kick-off of the Gloucester v Exeter game.


Perversely, no sooner had the route I'd chosen dropped down to Taddington, it then climbed the 150 feet back up on to Sough Top on Taddington Moor. Having decided not to stop at the pub, I promised myself I'd stop at Chelmorton. The Church Inn was perfect. A sunny area outside and the glorious smell of roast Sunday lunches and mint sauce. I was getting hungry.

As I was finishing my half, a thin cloud covered the sun and it felt cooler so time to move.
I caught up with Debbie and Bunty - a very soft something related to a King Charles.


Originally from Surrey Debbie and her husband moved to Leeds and then more recently moved back to his home area in Derbyshire. She was on her way to deliver a recomended book to her neighbour - 'Remarkably Bright Creatures' by Shelby Van Pelt.

I was now on Midshires Way for the last 4 miles into Buxton. In the way was Deep Dale. And it is deep, with a vertiginous zig zag footpath which drops almost 200 feet before climbing back up the other side.



Finally, I arrived in Buxton knackered and hungry but still had a long walk through the centre of the town.


I'd found myself fantasising about mashed potato this afternoon but tonight, couldn't find a restaurant or pub nearby with an appropriate menu. Noodles didn't quite do it!

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