We
arrive at Millers Dale Station at 9am to a dull sky and a chilly breeze. The
forecast for the day was fairly good but on our way over from Knutsord we had
driven from Macclesfield to Buxton in very misty conditions so this was a definite
improvement. Millers Dale Station always looks too large for the very small
local populations but in its day it was a major interchange for the Buxton to
Derby and Manchester to Derby railway lines and now as a centre for the peak
park rangers it does have good toilets. 9.15am and we 
were
off . The first part of our walk was along the excellent footpath created from
the old railway line and we crossed over one of the twin iron viaducts crossing
the road and River Wye as we walked towards Monsal Head. Being very chilly
we decided to drop down from the rail track footpath to the quiet road which
runs along the River Wye towards Litton Mill. Joining this road by The Anglers
Rest pub we were now out of the wind and there was even the 
possibility
of sunshine. As we made our way along the road we soon spotted Dippers on the
river and then within a short distance we had a superb view of a Water Vole
on the far river bank which was feeding on the river bank vegetation and seemed
oblivious of our presence. On our left the slopes under the limestone cliff
were facing the sun and would soon be a mass of flowers in bloom with some flowers
petals already open. Passing the track leading up to Ravenstors Youth Hostel
we had great views of Little Grebes at their nest site on the river and I regretted
that I did not have a 
camera
with telephoto lens with me. Ambling along the road with frequent stops for
birds and flowers eventually brought us to Litton Mill where a workman was busy
removing the cement cladding from a building to expose 
the
building stones underneath. For many years the mill has been derelict and an
eyesore, and bearing in mind its history in the 19th century when
the owners were notorious for the way they treated their young labour force
of mainly pauper and orphaned children, this ugly building would probably be
better 
razed
to the ground. As we approached Cressbrook Mill the river became much wider
and many ducks could be soon on its waters. The cliff faces to our left are
favourite practice sites for rock climbers but there were none 
out
today. Immediately before Cressbrook Mill we passed a builders yard full of
stones and rusting scaffolding and then reached the mill itself. After many
years of dereliction the mill is now being converted into apartments and housing
units 
and
is already looking very attractive. Turning to our left we now walked up the
road to the track leading into Cressbrook Dale. Passing the cottages at the
end of the track we entered the Cressbrook Dale national nature reserve which
is a superb example of
the
white peak limestone and full of flowers especially if visited in May or June.
Though much too early for most of the flowers the Cowslips on the open short
turf were very attractive and we stopped to get a 
quick
photo. As we walked up the valley we climbed above the tree line and emerged
into full sun. Now the girls decided that they were too hot and started to
peel off layers but half an hour later the sun had disappeared and all the
layers went back on again. Eventually we reached Litton Village, looking very
attractive with its 
banks
of Daffodils, and though we had brought sandwiches we decided that a quick stop
at the Red Lion pub would not go amiss. This pub is superb having not been
altered and having kept its old 
world
charm. With four different beers and very reasonable prices for food we decided
that on future walks in this area lunch at the Red Lion was definitely on the
menu. On leaving the Red Lion
two of our group had to be put into the stocks. One for drinking my beer (claimed
it was accidental) and the other to keep him company. Leaving Litton behind
we had a short stretch of road before joining the footpath leading into 
Tideswell
Dale. Another lovely valley with many of the tree trunks having been carved
into figures and animals. At the end of Tideswell Dale we came to the road
running along the River Wye and
we were now on the same road as earlier in the day but now going in the opposite
direction back to the Anglers Rest pub. Here we used some odd little footpaths
to take us uphill and then 
to
drop down into the car park at Millers Dale station. The time was 1.30pm and
we had covered 8 miles in 4¼ hours. We ate our sandwiches and
drove back to Knutsford having had an excellent day with some good sightings
of birds, a promise of some great flowers in the coming weeks, and super views
of a water vole.
INDEX
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