Mable journeys from Foolow To Eyam
Time Taken – 2 hours
I love this almost linear walk and Mable and I have done it on many occasions, in both directions, being ex-Eyam residents and with our best friends living in Foolow. Its gentle and easy yet still scenic, offering some gorgeous Peak District views up to Bretton and across to Wardlow and Cressbrook Dale , as you progress in both directions. It is also nearly all off road, apart from the very start and finish, in Foolow, so Mable can spend the majority of it off lead (so long as the cows are not in the fields)
The walk starts at The Bulls Head in Foolow – yet another pub start and finish, which may surprise you! Crossing the road and walking a little along on the Eyam Road there is a stile that gives access to the field on the right hand side. Drop down over the walled stile and follow the beaten path across the field to a duo of small gates – at this stage Mable quite often has already found her chosen big stick and we often then struggle to get her through as she insists on hitting the gates face on. A Mable argument can often ensue as I have to extract said stick from her mouth and shove her through the gates, to collect the prized stick again on the other side.
The walk continues along the fields until you get to some stone and carved steps that take you into a lovely small clough with a gate at the base. Go through the kissing gate (with Mable’s stick!!) before then ascending into the cow fields above where you need to cross the upper field to reach the next gate over in the wall. I would advise that in winter, or after wet weather, not unusual in the Peak District, surprisingly, the following section of fields can get very boggy and waterproof boots are a godsend making things a lot more pleasant for the rest of the walk, if you have chosen a wet day to try this walk.Continue walking through the fields and over stiles straight ahead, remembering to take in the scenery as you go toget the most out of your journey. You are never too far from the Eyam road, but you will feel that you are out in full country side at this stage as the road remains hidden away behind the grey stone walls away to the left.
As you near the outskirts of Eyam, the pasture changes to meadow and the cows change to sheep and horses until you get to Tideswell Lane.At this stage you have a decision to make – are you wanting to go into Eyam and enjoy a look around the famous Peak District Plaque Village possibly enjoying a cup of tea at the Tea Rooms or Peak Pantry at the same time? We normally do, to be honest, allowing us to watch the world go by on a summer’s day, or in winter, allowing us to warm back up before the journey back.
If you choose to go into the village, just continue over Tideswell Lane, across a small green which brings you to an enclosed lane, leading into houses opposite Eyam Hall. Once at The Eyam Hall Buttery take a right at the roadside, which will lead you into the centre of the village. If you decide to continue back, you just need follow Tideswell Lane up to the right.You rarely meet anyone on the lane, which is walled either side and is partially gravelled, rutted and pot holed, so it still makes for a safe environment for Mable to be off lead. Also, being pot holed, it is often full of muddy puddles, much to Mable’s delight as she insists on wading through them or trying to drown her stick in them.The lane wends its way all the way back to Foolow bringing you out at the junction of the A623 and the road that takes you into Foolow. The A623 is a busy main road so it is normally time for Mable to go back on her lead to walk back into the village, turning right for a short bit of “pawdicure”, until we return to The Bull at Foolow, ahead.
This is such a simple walk but a very pleasant one and one that doesn’t need much thought, concentration or planning. I have walked it in all weathers and with friends and their children as well as their dogs. The halfway stopover in Eyam is great for kiddies and dogs alike, allowing for a little stop for refreshments before the walk back and it is just long enough to feel that you have had some exercise and fresh air without exhausting you. It comes heartily recommended by us both.