Finding Eden and serendipity. A walk through Shining Cliff Woods.

The Derbyshire Dales are known for being a little bit more laid back than the peak district, in some ways they are less well known about which means that secrets can be found and one of those places I rediscovered just last week is the glorious named - “Shining Cliff Woods” which has a certain magical charm just within the name, still I had arrived at the off road car parking for Shining Cliff Woods and crossed the road, in front of me a small information board about the woodlands and the main path lay ahead of me; I say the word path rather loosely as it is more of an unmarked road which all forms part of the curiosities that would eventually be ahead of me, either way for a September’s day the weather was just spectacular and the arched avenue of trees that lay ahead of me looked purely magical with the light seeping through the canopy below onto the path in front of me.

Portals ahead.

A green corridor.

What mystery around the corner.

I carried on walking and the path I was following became more and more mystical, a path forked off to the right, but instead I was curious to carry on - that I did and to the left and the right hidden amongst the trees were the outlines of houses nestled within the woods hiding like lairs from a Bond film.

“Hidden homes like lairs from a James Bond film, for this woodland is curious I thought to myself, surrounded by the tall trees and a sense of mystery made me want to explore further”

Eventually after quite a gentle yet long gradient up the mystical path with the hidden lairs owned by people who prefer a much quieter way of life hidden amongst the calm of the surrounding woodlands I eventually found myself in a natural amphitheater with trees surrounding something that resembled a natural sculpture - the shades of green in the background left me in awe, I paused for a moment and needless to say I was pleased with the following results.

Amphitheatre of trees.

A woodland dream ahead.

Behind me was the more modern path that I had walked on and shortly after that had come to an abrupt end I was now on an old path - riddled with stories and curiosities along with height. Yes trees on all sides and I looked to my right hand side, it was like I was flying through the trees and the canopy of trees reaching towards the light was something to behold.

Flight amongst a woodland canopy.

Along the old ancient pathway I continued to walk, I was in pure serendipity with nothing but silence, the sounds of the woodland was just music of a different kind and ahead of me a right turn that I eventually took, whilst I could have continued walking ahead, this right turn was a route that many years ago I would have been on, but there are some things as you get older that you seemingly forget. Either way I turned right and headed down another ancient pathway with curiosities and stories from times gone by. Each tree was different and each view different but what lay ahead was a location that was like no other and nothing would prepare me for what I would next come across. In the distance a break in the trees and signs of human life. What is this place? I thought to myself was it perhaps some kind of Eden amongst the woods? In front of me a bridge across a small stream, surrounded by greenery perfectly framed made for, and ideal photograph.

A bridge to Eden.

This was truly Eden I had arrived in. Surrounded by the trees of Shining Cliff Woods, I had found myself at a delightful lake, man-made many years ago it was a haven, a lady stood with her golden retriever who was throwing a stick into the water and a ball, for the golden retriever to fetch as long as he swam out into the lake,

A warning sign.

Lost in Eden.

Eden brings us closer.

then collected them before making a circuit back along the side of the lake to his owner - clearly the golden retriever was loving this and enjoying the serenity of this magical location. Although, I had clocked a waterfall, a small waterfall partly man-made to carry the water of Peatpits brook, downstream from the lake.

Autumn drops.

Autumn calls of the waterfall.

In a green dream. 

The wooden bridge over the stream/brook looked just as delightful, this time from a different angle again flanked by greenery and perfectly framed and I paused and just took everything in.

The frame - (Landscape).

The frame - (Portrait).

Within photography very often the best photographs are often the most simple scenes and in front of me was simplicity for need I say anymore? Still though it was time for me to move on from this little slice of Eden with the hidden lake, I continued downhill following the watercourse of Peatpits brook until another little slice of magic appeared, curious I looked back and captured the following photographs of the brook and the cascades of some more hidden waterfalls.

Scenes from a middle earth - (Landscape).

Scenes from a middle earth - (Portrait).

Downstream runs mystery.

Stunned and amazed at this cascade of calm I walked downhill, the path in front of me becoming more and more intriguing with the shapes and shades changing all the time, was this some kind of Alice in wonderland I was walking through? No it was a woodland but one that felt as if it could have been wonderland - one which Alice would have felt comfortable in, the trees around me just looked alien in one way or another and each one different, different textures and shapes, colours as well, pure magic and pure silence was all around. Mystical and ethereal the shades and shapes of the trees just paved an interesting path downhill.

Into the unknown.

Natural Towers.

Golden route down - (Portrait).

Golden route down - (Landscape).

Wooden aliens - (Portrait).

Wooden aliens are alive - (Landscape).

Into a woodland bliss - (Portrait).

Into a woodland bliss - (Landscape).

Afterwards I ended up in a location that would be best described as slightly “dystopian and abandoned” where the woodlands had met industry and lurking amongst the abandoned buildings was a Gin Distillery (White Peak Distillery), how amazing is that! I thought to myself, their signature Gin is a nod to the woodland that I had just walked through and is available here: https://www.whitepeakdistillery.co.uk/product/shining-cliff-floral-gin/

Still I had to continue the walk, and having asked someone at the distillery for directions it was now a walk through the abandoned dystopia of old industry, old wireworks forgotten made for interesting compositions and eventually I mounted the camera on my tripod and captured the following scenes of this eerie and spooky location - once it would have been alive, now forgotten but what stories did it have to tell? What was the future going to be for this place I wondered to myself?

Wire rush? - (Portrait).

Wire rush - (Landscape).

Yesterdays ghosts - (Black and White).

Onwards and upwards I left the old abandoned pieces of dystopia, the silence was bliss yet in the air from times gone by the tones of work being carried out could still be heard within the mind, I continued walking and before long I came across an abandoned old set of cottages, ruined they were but somehow a photogenic quality provided a curiosity that I had to capture.

The waiting game - (Black and White).

The waiting game - (Colour).

Abandoned in time - (Black and white).

For what were those cottages and why had they been abandoned? Is what I thought and perhaps a part of me was wanting to imagine what those cottages would look like if they were restored, maybe they were a project in waiting, but either way they provided a final contrast to what had been a stunning walk through Shining Cliff Woods, after I had captured the abandoned cottages it was time to walk back up a hidden incline and join the path that I had started the walk on, in the back of my mind at this stage was why is this woodland full of mystery and why did it hold both a hidden Eden and serendipity? I have no idea, but I do know that I shall be back to discover some more, especially now that it is autumn the woodland will hold even more secrets and things to discover, just in a different way. Still though I shall say thankyou to you lockdown, you have given me the ability and chance to explore the unexplored and get off the beaten track.

Four locations in one day? A photographic voyage around the lesser known.

The path up to Ashover Rock, looked slightly different on the 9th of June 2021, for I had been here in December of 2020 and had told myself back then the following,

“I would love to return to Ashover Rock in the Summer.”

Surely enough here I was, back in December when Lockdown measures were still in place and hospitality largely closed, I was taken to another world and was stunned by just how awe inspiring Ashover Rock truly is. Still though, here I was a number of months later and Ashover Rock still looked majestic and awe inspiring against a delightful cloud free blue sky.

A rock beneath the blue.

Last time I was walking along the path to Ashover Rock, the sky was grey, the weather was cold yet now with a heatwave it was even more magical, I thought to myself as I was walking towards this uniquely hidden derbyshire secret, I soon reached the top, turned slightly left towards a stone picnic bench and a small stone plinth/platform that pointed out the views of just how far you can see, to the right of me now was Ashover Rock - exactly how I had remembered it, yet instead of bleak cold weather, here I was enjoying the surroundings just at the beginning of a heatwave - either way I paused for a moment and immediately turned to my right, the skies above Ashover Rock, looking even more dramatic, almost dreamlike with the contrast of blue skies and on the horizon, white clouds, I just had to take the following photograph.

A Fabrick of a view.

The rock itself is commonly known as “The Fabrick”, why it has that nickname I do not know, but it is quite possibly one of the most magical secrets that Derbyshire holds, below Ashover Rock, is the view overlooking the village, but for the time being, my mind was on capturing the rock in all of its glory and beauty, one with summer instead of the winter, yet somehow the June skies and heat, made it that little more challenging to capture. Either way I was happy with that first rather “oh so simple” shot that I had taken. Either way I just had to explore some more and re-discover a location that I had come to love in December of 2020, now I had turned away from Ashover Rock, and a trig point made for a unique shot, last year I had tried to capture it, but the blue sky and the very few clouds looking east was magical.

Trig point on high.

Then in all of its glory my eyes wandered back over to a mysterious structure, just a stone's throw away from the rock, and whilst last year I had captured this mysterious structure, now was the time to capture it again, this time I positioned the camera and took the following photo.

Listening In.

The structure itself that is rather mysterious holds some secrets, whilst it was abandoned in 1991, it still provides explanation for those wanting to step back in history, for the structure in question that is a mere stone’s throw away from Ashover Rock - is a former “Royal Observer Corps Monitoring Station.” Amazing what secrets can be found in places where you least expect them to be. Now though it was back to capture and attempt to re-create the following, that I had taken last year.

The drama of the landscape - (A photo of Ashover Rock, form December 2020).

Next up came a challenge, and where I had been hoping to capture something that was akin to the photograph from December, from the same location - this time around it was not possible, but that did not stop me, scouring for a suitable location I just had to place my tripod down, the camera attached to it; now though some more “little fluffy clouds” floated overhead and I managed to capture the following on a four minute long exposure.

Ashover Rock Dreams.

Now though it was time to move onwards, I knew I had to explore the village of Ashover below, but next up was the walk back to terra firma. Either way though I managed from another angle to capture these stunning photographs of this majestic rock, which acts as a guardian overlooking this hidden Derbyshire gem.

Oddities of Ashover Rock - (Landscape).

Oddities of Ashover Rock - (Portrait).

The movement of Ashover Rock.

Under Ashover Skies - (Colour).

Under Ashover Skies - (Black and White/Portrait).

Routes to the rock - (Black and White).

Routes to the rock - (Colour).

A short while later I had arrived in Ashover, previously when I had visited, I had been passing through in transit, now though it was different, Ashover itself is like no other village that I have ever visited or explored.

“Ashover is just one of those villages that remains hidden, hidden away in it’s own secret valley that protects it from the outside world, ironic really seeing as it is perhaps one of the most photogenic and prettiest villages that I have ever explored. Here history and community mix together in harmony, yet Ashover itself is like being in a real life painting by Monet, here everything is so alive, so next time you are passing through Ashover, take the time to explore it’s many delights, not just the rock.”

From where I had arrived in Ashover village, it was a short walk to the centre of the village, okay I say centre, but Ashover is more like a ring, the way it is laid out, and the first sight I came across was the following pub.

Down the boozer?

You might be able to recognize that pub, for it appeared in Peak Practice, yes after filming in Crich had finished, “Cardale” was relocated to Ashover, and The Black Swan itself is just one of three pubs in Ashover. And each of the three pubs in Ashover, well they all have history within their own rights. I walked down the road, The Crispin Inn, to the right of me, but I was not heading here, instead I opted to cut through Ashover’s rather impressive churchyard, again the church in Ashover was used many times on Peak Practice. After taking a walk through the Churchyard I looked back at the church, and it had a certain charm about it. The architecture of this delightful pretty church left me amazed, but somehow it seemed so photogenic.

Delights of Ashover church - (Landscape).

Delights of Ashover church - (Portrait).

A route to the village church - (Portrait).

A route to the village church - (Landscape).

After being left rather amazed at just how pretty and picturesque Ashover Church was, I continued on my walk, this time I turned right, at the bottom of the high street of the village and walked by one of the most beautiful and small but perfectly formed gardens, for anyone who has not visited Ashover before, the gardens are truly delightful, I can imagine that sometimes open garden events happen here, but I could be wrong.

A secret Ashover garden.

I then continued down a street until I came across a house - by now it had gone slightly grey, yet the heat remained humid, yet this house was also picturesque, and it more than likely had many stories to tell.

Quiet Ashover Streets - (Portrait).

Quiet Ashover Streets - (Landscape).

Some things in photography need simplicity and this was one of them, I just loved how the road leads down to the house. Either way, it was now time to move onto the next location, bidding farewell to Ashover it was a short trip via Bakewell, to Magpie Mine.

Again, Magpie Mine is a location that I had visited last year in December of 2020, but this time around I knew things would be slightly different. Familiarity is what came across me as I walked across the cattle grid, only this time around, young cattle where in the field and they were a little too curious to say the least, needless to say I was relieved when I had eventually crossed the final cattle grid, the young cattle behind me and now I got the camera out and captured the following photographs of this eerie yet stunning location.

Down the track to Magpie Mine - (Landscape).

Down the track to Magpie Mine - (Portrait).

Still in time.

Then I continued walking the short distance towards this strange and eerie abyss, abandoned on the road between Bakewell and Monyash, Magpie Mine, looks like something from Cornwall, whilst it has the appearance of a Cornish Tin Mine, which was intended on by the designer, this is actually an old Lead Mine, now standing still in time, as life orbits around it. An old industrial ghost perhaps is the most accurate way in which I would describe Magpie Mine as - either way with the humidity and the cloud cover it was incredibly dramatic.

My mind was cast back to last year when I was at Magpie Mine; but this time I wanted to try some different photography and shoot this fantastic place with completely different compositions, by now I had crossed over the cattle grid and in front of me, an industrial Amphitheatre of architecture was in front of me, everything exposed and yet so calm, I stopped and captured the following.

In the old heart of the past - (Landscape).

In the old heart of the past - (Portrait).

Then I decided to walk up a brief incline, at the top of the incline the old and small - yet perfectly formed headstock was in front of me, and I had to capture it, the skies looking dramatic and in the distance a break of blue, for this was the sky.

Winding away the years.

I then walked a short distance, and another view came into place, this time the view looked over towards Flagg and Sterndale Moor, grasslands, wild stretching as far as the eyes can see.

Across the Derbyshire landscape.

Somehow the old abandoned buildings added something else to the view, overlooking the Derbyshire countryside in front of me - now though it was time to turn back on myself, back down the incline and this time I turned left, now I was in the shadows of this industrial ghost staring at me.

“Magpie Mine is an old industrial ghost that stands proud, once this site would have been different and now it offers a strange sanctuary, for the photographer it is the perfect place for experimenting as so much happens here and changes so quickly. Yet this building, the structure is keeping you safe with a watchful old set of eyes.”

I walked up a part of the field at the back of the mine, set up my camera and managed to capture the raw beauty of this truly fantastic but hidden landmark. The skies changed constantly; but that made things even more magical and mysterious.

Magpie Mine, Cloud Dance.

Old ghosts come out to play.

Drama in the shadows of ghosts - (Colour).

Drama in the shadows of ghosts - (Black and White).

Now though it was time to head back from this location, the second location of my photography adventure. Instead though a field full of cows on the way to the mine, had meant a detour had to be taken, saying goodbye to Magpie Mine, I managed to get the following photograph.

Leaving behind the old ghost.

Next up, was a walk through some “cow free fields” a safer route, but as I was walking through these fields, magic occurred, the fields full of buttercups intertwined with the grass, and the skies, dramatic with grey clouds - yet so humid it was.

When colours meet.

A lone tree and the mine - (Landscape).

A lone tree and the mine - (Portrait).

“Ashford In The Water” was the next location that I had ended up in after a short journey from Magpie Mine - whilst I had passed Ashford In The Water, many times before I had never stopped to explore this delightful and picturesque Peak District Village, but here I was, lockdown had given me inspiration to explore new locations and a new location I was now at. Sitting on the banks of the River Wye, Ashford In The Water, has a photogenic quality to it, and by now I was opposite the church; immediately I could sense the quirkiness that I was about to find. I walked from the location where I had stopped, to a bridge, closed to traffic but open to pedestrians, on the opposite side of the river, a structure made from stones that looked like the ruins of an old house or cow pen made for something thought provoking - but it was neither, this was the infamous “Sheep Wash” pen located to the bridge that I was now on, called “Sheep Wash Bridge” it is here that in days gone by farmers would have allowed the sheep to cross to the other side of the river - thus have a wash, now it remains silent, yet the river is still used, an angler fishing for trout provides me at this stage with a sense of calm, he is just stood a short distance away from the Sheep Wash pen wading in the shallow depths of this glorious river, a pause to watch him and I decided to continue over the bridge and turned left.

Now I was on the other side of the River Wye, and behind me the sounds of traffic on the A6, but this riverbank was a sanctuary, across the river an idyllic calming scene soon unfolded of the simple life by the river, and I was immediately transported into some form of Alice in wonderland environment, calm and to some extent I was away with the fairies, I suppose that is the effect that a river and a glorious location can have on the mind. I stopped and glanced over at a majestic willow tree in the garden of Riverside Cottage.

Riverside Willow.

Soothing it was and magical, still though the cottage itself looked like something from a fairy tale as well, and I just had to take the following photographs of this simplicity and of what I can imagine would be a simple life.

Riverside simplicity.

The idyllic riverside life.

I then continued along the river bank to come across a series of benches, all overlooking the serene River Wye, sat down and pondered on the discovery of Ashford In The Water, that I had come across, positioning my camera in front of me I set it up to capture the bridge in front of me along with Riverside Cottage, needless to say that I was impressed with the result.

Ashford Serenity.

The oasis of calm, where I was on the banks had enveloped me, and asked me to stay a little longer, so naturally I did, but behind me an old abandoned farmhouse of some kind just asked to be photographed.

Abandoned in Ashford - (Landscape).

Abandoned in Ashford - (Portrait). 

Now it was time to reluctantly move on, I walked back towards the bridge, crossed over the bridge and retraced my footsteps only this time I decided to walk clockwise around Ashford In The Water, curiosities everywhere and just a short distance away from Bakewell, yet somehow this village seemed a million miles away from anything tourist like, an idyllic gem in the Peak District that envelopes anyone who visits. Returning to the location where I had started my exploration of Ashford In The Water, I came across another delightful church, and just had to pause, I took the camera out and took the following photographs.

The Ashford Chimes.

Sadly it was time to leave Ashford In The Water (but I will return), and heading out of Ashford a dramatic route took me down into Monsal Dale, descending down a glorious road into somewhere that I had never been to before, like little Switzerland it felt like and again I hope to return to this part of the world and explore it some more, the road now winded to Cressbrook, a short distance away from Monsal Dale, and now I was heading back up to the tops above Cressbrook, through towards Litton and back down towards Stoney Middleton, now though was one last stop I had to make and that was the delightful town of Bakewell.

The chances are is that you have more than likely heard of Bakewell, it is a town well known for tarts, of the pastry kind which are just delightful, but again it is on the banks of The River Wye, a short distance downstream from Ashford In The Water - Bakewell though is another place of curiosities and fantastic shops to explore and cafes to unwind in thus observe life at a slower pace over a cup of tea or coffee, yet I was here for the fantastic river.

Now I was in Bakewell, and the River Wye beckoned. I had visited this location some years ago and captured a photograph of the river that I just loved, it was autumnal but magical at the same time.

Already in my mind was the composition that I wanted to get but this time things were different and whilst I had not got the autumnal tones, the grey skies added drama to what I had in mind, firstly I stood next to the river on the footpath that graces the sides of the River Wye, and managed to capture the following.

Serenity of Bakewell.

Besides the Wye.

Needless to say that I was incredibly impressed, the weir looked stunning, but now I just had to get onto the infamous bridge, with locks on it, and opted for the middle of the bridge. I set my camera up and managed to capture these three photographs.

Bakewell river charms.

Weir and the weather - (Landscape).

Weir and the weather - (Portrait).

Purely magical, Bakewell is just one of those places that still has “lesser known” locations to explore and discover despite it being on first glances a tourist trap, does that matter? Well know, because if you go off the beaten track you are likely to come across something different, even somewhere that attracts tourists. Either way I just loved the photographs from the Bridge of the river when I looked at them and it just summed up everything that I already knew and loved about Bakewell. Its stunning location and charm again envelopes those who visit it. But sadly it was now the end of my photographic voyage around the lesser known. Yet the lesser known just proves that if you go off the beaten track you will surely come across places of discovery that tell stories and for any landscape photographer, try going off the beaten track and visiting these lesser known locations as you will come across something different and unique that offers so much more for your own photography.