Grindleford Village - Peak District
Grindleford is a village divided, spliced in two by the deep, dark waters of the River Derwent which meanders south in the bottom of the valley. On the eastern side of the river are the houses, villas and country retreats which were mainly constructed following the arrival of the Hope Valley railway line at the end of the Victorian era, although hidden in the trees of this sylvan slope beneath the gritstone escarpments of Curbar Edge and White Edge is the little hamlet of Padley which is steeped in history.On the western side of the river you will find Grindleford’s main street with terraces and houses dating from right through the 20th century, but there is also a little cluster of old cottages and character houses near to Grindleford school and chapel on the B6001 that leads north to Hathersage.
Leading steeply up from the Sir William Hotel in Grindleford is Sir William Hill which climbs up to Eyam Moor. This old road was at one time the Buxton to Grindleford turnpike. It reaches a height of over 1400 feet before descending 500 feet to Grindleford in a little over ½-mile. The name Sir William Hill is said to date back to at least 1692 and there are several theories as to the naming of it. Sir William Saville was at that date the Lord of the Manor of Eyam, but Sir William Cavendish owned Stoke Hall. The Sir William Hotel was known as The Commercial Hotel until earlier in the last century but Sir William Bagshawe portrayed on the signboard was not born until 1771, after the road had been established.
From Grindleford there is a superb walk through Padley and on towards Millstone Edge. Every once in a while you will get a clear view of the valley below stretching down to the verdant green of the Derbyshire Dales, whilst at the top of the Hope Valley, the heights of Mam Tor, Lose Hill and Win Hill look dramatic but somewhat menacing and austere when there are dark clouds in the sky.
In springtime fluffy sheep and lambs can be seen dotted about amongst the gritstone boulders and discarded mill stones that look almost as though they had been rolled down the hillside like giant draught pieces, whilst bluebells lie in a sea under the oak, beech and birch trees. In May blossom drips from the hawthorn bushes and fresh foxgloves prepare to bloom, whilst on a crisp winters day when frost clings to the faded bracken, or when a heavy mist clings to the river but the hilltops are exposed beneath a clear blue sky, this is a photographers dream.
Grindleford is surrounded by beautiful scenery, fabulous countryside and a magical landscape - a sheer joy which represents the Peak District at its best.
From Grindleford there is a superb walk through Padley and on towards Millstone Edge. Every once in a while you will get a clear view of the valley below stretching down to the verdant green of the Derbyshire Dales, whilst at the top of the Hope Valley, the heights of Mam Tor, Lose Hill and Win Hill look dramatic but somewhat menacing and austere when there are dark clouds in the sky.
In springtime fluffy sheep and lambs can be seen dotted about amongst the gritstone boulders and discarded mill stones that look almost as though they had been rolled down the hillside like giant draught pieces, whilst bluebells lie in a sea under the oak, beech and birch trees. In May blossom drips from the hawthorn bushes and fresh foxgloves prepare to bloom, whilst on a crisp winters day when frost clings to the faded bracken, or when a heavy mist clings to the river but the hilltops are exposed beneath a clear blue sky, this is a photographers dream.
Grindleford is surrounded by beautiful scenery, fabulous countryside and a magical landscape - a sheer joy which represents the Peak District at its best.
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