Journeying | Pilgrimage Holidays | Christian Walking Holidays | Christian Short Breaks

Cost

£795 for a single, ensuite room.

Description

PLEASE NOTE THIS HOLIDAY IS NOW FULL. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN A WAITING LIST IN CASE WE HAVE A CANCELLATION, PLEASE EMAIL THE LEADER (SEE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE FOR CONTACT DETAILS).

The Peak District National Park was established in 1951 and was the first national park to be created in the UK. Our Peak Pilgrimage is a beautiful walk from the village of Ilam in the Manifold Valley to Eyam in the upper Derwent Valley. We will follow the long-distance path created in 2015 (by Bob Jackson and a team from the Eyam and Baslow benefice) and walk through estate villages, beside rivers, over farmland, along gritstone edges and an old railway line, and meander through woodlands and limestone dales. Ilam was a site of pilgrimage for 1,000 years following the death of St Bettelin of Ilam. Very little is known about his life but he is believed to have been an Anglo-Saxon hermit who lived and died in this area and was venerated locally. Eyam has a sense of being a holy place due to the self-sacrifice of the local people who refused to flee when an infected bale of cloth brought plague to the village in 1665. Led by the local rector, and motivated by their Christian faith, they remained within their village and were supplied with provisions from neighbouring villages. Their actions prevented the spread of the disease but almost a third of villagers died.

Walks and Excursions

Thursday 8 April 2027 – A circular walk from Cliff College around Calver (2.5 miles)
After settling in to our college accommodation we’ll take an evening stroll to the village of Calver, passing All Saints church and turning right to walk alongside the Derwent. From here we can see the impressive Calver Mill, a former water powered cotton spinning mill built in 1803. Further along the river we pass Calver Weir, built in the 19th century to provide water to power the spinning mill. We continue through the woodland to New Bridge and cross the Derwent to return on the opposite side.

Friday 9 April 2027 – Ilam to Hartington (9.5 miles)
Our pilgrimage walk begins at the Church of the Holy Cross in the ancient village of Ilam which holds the tomb of Saint Bettelin (also known as Bertram and Bertelin), an Anglo-Saxon hermit and disciple of Saint Guthlac of Croyland. Though historical details are uncertain, tradition holds that Bettelin was of noble Mercian lineage. His life has been preserved through the devotion of the faithful, particularly in Stafford where he is honoured as the town's patron saint. The Anglo-Saxon church was restored in the 17th and 19th centuries, and has a Norman font and some interesting wall panels telling the history of the village. Leaving the church we head towards Dovedale where we join a beautiful riverside walk, crossing the River Dove on stepping stones to reach Milldale. After a short refreshment break we continue along the same path to Wolfscote Dale and emerge from Morson Wood to cross the fields into Hartington. We finish our walk at St Giles church and you will have time to explore the village before returning to Cliff College.

Saturday 10 April 2027 – Hartington to Monyash (8.5 miles)
We recommence our walk on the outskirts of Hartington, climbing gently through farmland criss-crossed with drystone walls until we reach the hamlet of Heathcote and join the Tissington Trail at Hartington Station. Trains first steamed along here in 1899 following the opening of the London and North Western line between Buxton and Ashbourne, and were used predominantly to carry freight such as limestone to quarries, or milk to dairies. Today, however, we will be journeying under our own steam along the trail to enjoy wonderful views from the elevated track on the way to Parsley Hay and Sparklow. The scenery is typical of the White Peak with limestone walled fields and small clumps of broadleaved woodland as we cross Flagg Moor and descend through farmland and over a stone wall into Monyash. Appearing in the Domesday Book as Maneis, the village name is thought to mean 'many ash trees’. It was a market-town in medieval times and has a history of lead mining and farming. Passing the cross, dated circa 1340, on the village green we will finish our walk at St Leonard’s church, founded in the 12th century. There will be an opportunity for light refreshment in the village before we drive to nearby Arbor Low, an impressive prehistoric monument often referred to as `the Stonehenge of the North’.

Sunday 11 April 2027 – Monyash to Bakewell (6.5 miles)
Leaving Monyash we walk down a grassy kerb to enter Lathkill Dale, one of the country’s finest limestone valleys and part of the Derbyshire Dales National Nature Reserve. The steep sides enclose a world of crystal clear streams, mossy rocks, woodlands and grasslands making it a haven for wildlife and wildflowers. This limestone dale becomes increasingly more spectacular as we follow the underground river, but if there has been heavy rain in the days preceding our walk we may be fortunate to see it overflow from the Lathkill Head Cave to form the start of the River Lathkill. Please note: as we join the valley floor we will encounter sections of rocky paths for which walking boots and poles are strongly recommended. The track levels as we enter Palmerston Wood and continues beside the river, passing weirs and old lead mine workings, and perhaps spotting nesting dippers, water voles or other inhabitants of the riverbank. On leaving the valley we walk up into Over Haddon and will stop at St Anne’s Church and enjoy spectacular views over the valley below. Passing through several gated styles at the end of the village, we cross farmland to join a lane leading to fields on the outskirts of Bakewell. Our walk finishes at All Saints Church which was founded in 920 and, having undergone 12th, 13th and 19th century rebuilding, contains a number of interesting artefacts which we can view prior to returning to Cliff College for lunch.

Optional afternoon prayer walk (3.5-4 miles)
Walking in the spirit of pilgrimage may for some be as much about the encounters along the Way: with God, with others and with self, as it is about reaching a destination. After lunch you may enjoy some quiet time to ponder whilst meandering around the grounds, listening to the birds and watching the awakening of Spring whilst reflecting on the encounters on your journey so far. For those who would like to explore a little more of this beautiful area, there will be an optional walk from Cliff College to Curbar Woods with one or two invitations along the way to pause, pray and reflect.

Monday 12 April 2027 – Baslow to Eyam (9 Miles)
From Cliff College we take a local footpath to Baslow and meet a lane which weaves up to Baslow Edge and Curbar Gap. This is our steepest ascent of the week but we’ll take it slowly and pause often to enjoy the views of the Derwent Valley behind us! Once we’ve caught our breath we’ll cross the road on to Curbar Edge, a wonderful vantage point from which to appreciate the spectacular landscape of the Derwent Valley and the villages of Curbar, Calver and Stoney Middleton. Continuing along Froggatt Edge we come to a path that descends to the A625. Crossing a stream on the other side, we climb up to Hay Wood before snaking gently downhill into Grindleford. We’ll take a break at St Helen’s Church before continuing towards Froggatt, where we cross the River Derwent and take the path to Stoney Middleton. Here we will visit the wonderful octagonal church of St Martin, one of only two churches of this shape in the country. On leaving Stoney Middleton we walk up to Eyam, passing the boundary stone that was so significant for the people of Eyam in the plague years, and through the village to the church of St Lawrence. You will have time to look at the Celtic cross and church, the museum and tea shops before we return to Cliff College.

Tuesday 13 April 2027 – Departure from Cliff College, and optional morning walk from Bakewell to Baslow (4.5 miles):
We need to vacate our accommodation at Cliff College by 9.30 am at the latest. If the pilgrim group would like an additional walk from Bakewell, via Manners Wood, across Calton Pastures and through the grounds of Chatsworth and Edensor to Baslow before commencing their return journey home, Jane and Jo would be very happy to lead the walk.

Accommodation

We will stay in fully catered accommodation at Cliff College in Calver. All bedrooms are single and ensuite, and there is a private lounge for our morning and evening gatherings. Our breakfasts and evening meals will be taken in the college restaurant and packed lunches will be provided for our walks. The college lies within the Peak District National Park and enjoys glorious views of Baslow Edge, Curbar Gap and the Derwent Valley.

Please note:The leaders will transport the entire group to/from the start/end of each walk daily. If we can follow the planned linear sequence of walks the commute time will gradually decrease from approximately 45 minutes on the first day. However, for you to experience the highlights of this pilgrim route at their best the sequence of walks may change in accordance with daily weather forecasts!

Getting there

Please arrive at Cliff College at 4pm on Thursday 8 April 2027 to meet your leaders and fellow pilgrims and enjoy a cuppa together before settling into your room.

By Car: There is a large car park at Cliff College (S32 3XG) which is on the A623 between Baslow and Curbar.
By Rail: The nearest railway station is Grindleford, 3.8 miles from Cliff College. The leaders will make one collection from this station at approximately 3.30pm. If you plan to arrive at any other time you will need to book a taxi.
By Bus: There are regular bus services from Sheffield, Chesterfield and Buxton to Calver.

Contact & Booking Form

Jo Reed: 07928 590155 - joannereed05@gmail.com
Jane Moffett: 07798 747234- moffettjane5@gmail.com

After you have contacted the leader to check that a place is still available please complete the details on the Booking Form