We returned to the Tissington Trail today, this time parking at the Tissington car park and walking south towards Ashbourne. As it is half term week it was busier than last week and attracted a wide variety of users; walkers, babies in pushchairs, family groups, cyclists and wheelchair users. Social distancing wasn’t a problem and clearly everyone enjoyed the opportunity to be out in the fresh air. Having said that, I realise there is not a single person in the photographs!
“In autumn, don’t go to jewellers to see gold; go to the parks!” Mehmet Murat ildan
Another bridge over the river Wye. This time the sheep-wash bridge at Ashford-in-the-Water. It must be the most photographed bridge in Derbyshire.
It is a packhorse bridge and the unusual feature is the attached stone sheep-wash to the left of the photo. The river is wider but shallow at this point. This is how sheep were washed in the water before chemical dips were introduced. Lambs were kept in the walled pen on one side which enticed ewes to swim across the river to the opposite side. At a midway point the shepherd would push them underwater to clean their fleeces before being sheared.
We hit the trail again – this time the Tissington Trail which follows the route of the former Ashbourne to Buxton railway. We joined the trail at the picturesque village of Tissington and headed north for about a mile and a half before returning to the car park.
The first part of the walk was through a railway cutting but it soon opened out to reveal spectacular views across the valley.
Part of me wanted to believe this was Postman Pat delivering postcards in Greendale!
John's Postcards 