Calver Mill - Bramley Farm - Calver Sough - The Goit - Calver Mill
DISTANCE: Approximately 5 miles
A riverside stroll is the main feature of this walk, following the Derwent downstream. After a gentle climb up to St Mary’s Wood from where you can view ‘The Edges’ which dominate the eastern horizon, you will walk through Calver village. Another short climb takes you up Hare Knoll before you descend to New Bridge, walking beside the river again at an area known as The Goit.
1. Park your car at Calver Bridge where there is limited roadside parking by the old bridge, and walk to the Church of All Saints which was consecrated in 1868 and designed by Salvin Junior.
In the churchyard is the grave of George Butcher who died in 1875. He was known as the Izaak Walton of the Peak because of his love of fishing and the countryside, although his trade was carpentry and preaching. George was a practical authority on trout fishing along the Derwent and even into his 80’s could be found walking over 20 miles a day advising fishermen. John Hall wrote a poem about him, part of which is quoted:
“Old Butcher is young, though he’s nigh fourscore
He can tramp twelve miles across a moor
He can fish all day, and wade upstream
And at night as fresh as the morning seem
He knows each pool of the stream about
And every stone that conceals a trout
Some say that he knows the fish as well
Both where they were born and where they dwell
His form and garb will familiar seem
As the guardian deity of the stream
With his oval face and his grizzly locks
And his smile like that of a sly old fox”
2. Walk past the pub to the old bridge with its three segmented arches. It was constructed in the 18th century to replace an earlier bridge which was washed away in the great flood of August 1799. There has been a crossing of the Derwent at this point for many centuries. In 1749 a turnpike road was constructed which ran from Chapel-en-le-Frith through Calver and on to Chesterfield. The cluster of buildings which developed hereabouts took the address of Calver Bridge. Other areas of the village are known as Calver Sough and Calver Low.
3. Walk on the underpass beside the new bridge to avoid crossing the main road by-pass and continue along the path as it follows the Derwent downstream. After about a mile you will come onto a lane. Turn right and walk up to Bramley Farm. Follow the footpath which climbs up to the left of the farm and cross fields and stiles to St Mary’s Wood.
4. Follow the path downhill in the wood and notice up to your left and below the Calver to Hassop road there is a waste area and some old buildings. This was the side of the Red Rake Mine. The Red Rake Sough which drained the mine was constructed in 1851. Cross a spring down in the bottom and then head upwards towards Folds Farm. Many of the old farmhouses and buildings in the village have now been tastefully converted into residential use.
5. At Folds Farm go around the side of the house and then walk along the driveway onto the road. Turn right and walk down into the village. Calver is a quiet little backwater as most of the traffic uses the nearby main roads. There are some interesting buildings to be found including a tall house with mullioned windows which stands set back below Folds Farm.
6. After a walk around the village, take either of the narrow lanes which pass the Derwentwater Arms and then go down the road opposite the car park and pass the sports field. Cross the main road WITH EXTREME CARE and proceed up the narrow track opposite. After a few yards take a path on the left which goes through a wooded area and brings you to a stile on the top of the knoll.
7. This funny mound is like an uplifted island. Over to your left you can see Stoke Hall, the main building of which was built in 1757 for Rev. John Simpson. However an earlier building, parts of which still remain, was the home of William Cavendish. He was the grandson of Bess of Hardwick but found fame when fighting for Charles I at the battle of Marston Moor in 1644. Sir William Hill at Grindleford is said to have been named in his honour.
8. Go straight ahead at the stile and cross over another stile just after some old farm buildings, then follow the footpath signs which lead you down to New Bridge. Turn right and follow the lovely riverside path at an area known as The Goit. After crossing a meadow you will come to a campsite and a range of unusual farm buildings, one of which has a bell tower and round window.
9. Continue, passing Calver Mill which featured as Colditz Castle in the television series. The original water-powered mill was founded in 1785 by John Gardom (Gardom’s Edge was named after him). He was a yarn and cotton merchant of Bakewell and chose this site not only because of the abundance of water obtainable from the Derwent, but also as it stood close by the aforementioned turnpike road which could transport the cotton via Chesterfield to Leicester and via Chapel-en-le-Frith to Manchester.
10. Following a fire in 1804 the mill was rebuilt. It is 7 storeys high and has walls 3-feet thick and was still spinning cotton until 1920. In 1947 Calver Mill was purchased by Sissons and was subsequently used as a factory for the production of stainless steel sink units, although this ceased some years ago and Calver Mill now provides luxury residential apartment accommodation. To the side of the mill are the wheelhouse of 1834 and a 19th century managers house. On returning to the road turn left and cross the metal footbridge to return to your car.
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