Peak Walks 27. Bakewell, Alport and Over Haddon circuit.

• Map: Ordnance Survey OL 24.
• Time: Allow 4 hours walkking time.
• Distance: 14 km (8.5 miles)
• Ascent: 200m
• Inset: Lathkill Dale

A fine walk crossing both gritstone and limestone scenery, away from the tourist hotspots apart from the delightful Lathkill Dale section. Start at the PAD carpark at the disused Bakewell station at SK222690. Walk round the back of the old station and turn right onto the Monsal Trail, the disused railway track. Follow this for about 1km to where it ends then drop down to the right to a broad track. Turn left then right and along the path opposite. After about 350m take the footpath on the right and cross the field leftwards to a farm track. turn right, do not cross the bridge but take the footpath on the left which runs aling the banks of the river Wye.

After about 600m the path joins the busy A6, turn left, follow the pavement for 300m, cross the road (care) and take the footpath at the right side of the Haddon Hall car park. Pass through the second gate and follow a faint green path diagonally left across the field. At the top of the field cross a stile, take a leftwards path alongside a plantation, pass through two stiles (or a gate), head towards the left side of a small wood and after a small pool join an old quarry track. Turn right the immediately left to skirt round the back of a disused quarry. On arriving at a lane, rurn left and after a few metres turn right and cross a stile. Keeping in the same general direction, traverse pleasant fields until it is possible to drop down to the road by a variable stream. Cross the road and follow the footpath right for 200m to Alport.

Cross the river Lathkill and turn right along a pleasant path, cross a lane leading to Raper Lodge and continue to Quiet Lane. Turn right, cross Conksbury Bridge over the river the turn left along the TLB of the Lathkill. After about 1 km, pass a white house and join a narrow road. Turn right and follow this steeply to the village of Over Haddon where there is a cafe and a pub. In the village turn right, and after about 200m pass the Lathkil Hotel to a stile and footpath. Cross the fields trending leftwards, passing 3 stiles for 300m to join a minor road, turn right and at the T junction by Noton Barn Farm furn left. After about 150m reach a gate and footpath on the right.

Head diagonally left across the fields, the path soon becomes more distinct, cross a stile and soon drop down a bank, cross through a gate, continue than make a sometimes boggy crossing of the rushy stream. Continue up the rise and maintaining the same general direction follow the path until it becomes tarmac. Pass a cemetary and just after a road junction take the pedestrian lane down to the right which leads into Bakewell. Pass through the village, collect a Bakewell pudding, cross the river and take the small road up the hill opposite which will bring you back to your starting point.