This part of the world rejoices in many "trails". They're usually old railway lines, and they're grit-surfaced for bikes, which means they're way less boggy, at this soggy time of year, than many of the rural footpaths. Plus, there are enough to keep you happy for a good long while.



Today we joined forces with one of our rellies to walk a section of the High Peak trail.

Its railway forerunner was the Cromford and High Peak Railway, one of the first in the world. Built between 1825 and 1830, and running over a distance of 33 miles, it linked the Peak Forest Canal at Whaley Bridge to the Cromford Canal. In its original form it was quite something: "The railway itself was designed like a canal. On the flat sections the wagons were pulled by horses. Large steam powered beam engines in 'engine houses' pulled the wagons up the steep 'inclines' using cables (on a canal the inclines would have been locks)." It became somewhat more conventional over the years, but in 1967, the line succumbed to the fate of many railways in that decade: Closure.

But, phoenix-like, the section south of Buxton was converted into this popular trail.

We walked from Minninglow to Middleton Top (a route carefully designed to have us lolloping down one of the famous inclines instead of toiling up...)

And it was a really good outing. There's lots of interest all along the way, plus wide, sweeping, atmospheric views. The rain stopped just as we started walking, which meant we had all the moody skies without any of the wet stuff.






















And with your walk done, you can round off with lunch down by the Cromford Canal (PT recommends the soup-and-cheese-scone combo...).

Another excellent little expedition.