If you can persuade a friend to drive you to Monyash and drop you off, or if you manage to catch the Hulley’s bus, then you can walk the length of one of the loveliest rivers in Derbyshire. Some would say one of the loveliest rivers in the country.
Monyash is a small village set round a village green in the White Peak area of Derbyshire. Before you start your walk you can visit the Bull’s head pub or the Smithy café. The buildings in the village are constructed of limestone. Take a close look at the threshold of the pub. It’s grey marble, polished crinoid limestone from Ricklow Quarry, a stone’s throw away. I used to work for the government conservation agency who manage this environmentally important area. Geology underpins the agriculture and the settlements around Lathkilldale, as it does everywhere, but here it’s impossible to ignore. The education officer once explained crinoid limestone to me with the help of polo mints, pipe cleaners and pasta shells. It all made sense. You also have to imagine coral reefs, tropical lagoons and smouldering volcanoes, and that’s difficult on a frosty day in December, but a wonderful image. The Smithy café serves the perfect breakfast to fuel your walk. The small dining room still has Ed Driscoll’s musical instruments hanging on the walls, in memory of a man who died too young, and loved his music, his family, his home and his café. His widow and his boys have kept it going, and bikers, hikers and cyclists appreciate it. There were some memorable folk nights there back in Ed’s day, great food and company and entertainment.
If you can persuade a friend to drive you to Monyash and drop you off, or if you manage to catch the Hulley’s bus, then you can walk the length of one of the loveliest rivers in Derbyshire. Some would say one of the loveliest rivers in the country.
Monyash is a small village set round a village green in the White Peak area of Derbyshire. Before you start your walk you can visit the Bull’s head pub or the Smithy café. The buildings in the village are constructed of limestone. Take a close look at the threshold of the pub. It’s grey marble, polished crinoid limestone from Ricklow Quarry, a stone’s throw away. I used to work for the government conservation agency who manage this environmentally important area. Geology underpins the agriculture and the settlements around Lathkilldale, as it does everywhere, but here it’s impossible to ignore. The education officer once explained crinoid limestone to me with the help of polo mints, pipe cleaners and pasta shells. It all made sense. You also have to imagine coral reefs, tropical lagoons and smouldering volcanoes, and that’s difficult on a frosty day in December, but a wonderful image. The Smithy café serves the perfect breakfast to fuel your walk. The small dining room still has Ed Driscoll’s musical instruments hanging on the walls, in memory of a man who died too young, and loved his music, his family, his home and his café. His widow and his boys have kept it going, and bikers, hikers and cyclists appreciate it. There were some memorable folk nights there back in Ed’s day, great food and company and entertainment.
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