Buxton – 22nd August 2021

Strenuous Leader : Malcolm                                                     Distance : 10.00 miles

We head south out of Buxton through the woodland of the country park to the car park at Grinlow. We then head west to Axe Edge Moor before dropping down to Derbyshire Bridge where we stop for lunch. We take the road through Goyt’s Moss towards Errwood Reservoir before crossing Wild Moor and dropping back down to Buxton across the golf course. There are no long steep climbs on this walk, but some of the paths will be boggy on the higher ground.

Leisurely Leader: Pamela                                                               Distance : 8.00 miles

We will leave Buxton town centre and through the country park via Grinlow and head across Stanley Moor and up to Anthony Hill.  We will move towards Diamond Hill and descend, and climb once again to the outer reaches of the country park again.  We will make our way back into Buxton the semi scenic / urban way before returning to the coach via the Museum and the Pavilion Gardens.  The paths are mainly good, fields will be muddy under foot and the stiles are rickety.

Easy Leader : Jackie                                                                   Distance 4-5.00 miles

We leave the coach park at Buxton to walk through the town, past the crescent and St Anne’s Well, to the entrance to the Pavilion Gardens.  Along the edge of the Gardens and along a pleasant residential street to reach Pooles Cavern where we can indulge in tea or coffee if anyone wishes. From here, suitably refreshed, we climb up through Buxton Country Park (woodland) to reach open land with views of Solomon’s Temple up on the hill.  We turn right here to reach a picnic site with hopefully (if they are open) toilets, where we can have our lunch.

After lunch, we will retrace our steps to climb up to Solomon’s Temple from where we should enjoy wide ranging views of the surrounding countryside.  Back down through the woods to, through the Pavilion Gardens and back into Buxton town.

Good paths, a stretch of climbing which we can take as slowly as necessary, lovely views, and good company.

NOTES ON THE AREA

Buxton lies at the heart of the Peak District National Park which includes some of the most beautiful and dramatic scenery in Britain and at over 1000ft is the highest market town in England.  When there is snow about Buxton gets it. On June the 1st in 1975, a week before the hot summer arrived snow, nor rain, stopped play at the cricket.

For centuries Buxton has been a spa town, popular with visitors from around the world. The Romans first took the waters, drinking and bathing in the thermal springs which they declared very beneficial. They called the town Aquae Arnemetiae, The Spa of the Goddess of the Grove. These warm thermal waters, at 28 degrees centigrade, still flow freely from St Ann’s Well in the centre of the town, fill the indoor swimming pool in Pavilion Gardens, and is bottled to provide the famous Buxton Spring Water.

This beautiful 18th market town has a wealth of historical and architectural heritage mostly due to its popularity as a Spa town. As well as its architectural heritage, Buxton is home to a host of artists and artistic events at the Opera House as well as a lively tradition of live music in the pubs through the year.

The 100 acre woodland around Grin Low was planted by the 6th Duke of Devonshire around 1820 to hide the eyesore caused by quarrying and lime burning, and is now a mature woodland, with mixed broad leaf trees and some conifers. The area is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to the rich variety of plant life, with many wild animals and birds. The level open glades are the remains of waste ash from 17th and 18th century lime burning kilns and are carefully managed to prevent the growth of invading plants.

The viewpoint tower of Solomon’s Temple was built in 1896.  It is on the site of a tumulus, a neolithic burial mound. It replaced an earlier structure which was probably used as a shelter in times of bad weather, and probably gets its name from Solomon Mycock who rented the land in the early 1800’s. 

The nearby Cat & Fiddle Inn is the second highest inn in England, 1,690 ft above sea level.