Pub Walks with Chris Morris
Chelmorton

PLEASE REMEMBER: Details accurate at time of writing

Located three miles south east of Buxton, the Peak District village of Chelmorton is a peaceful oasis of calm and countryside views. It also boasts an excellent country pub, selling traditional cask beer of great quality. Despite being off the beaten track, it can be easily reached using the Transpeak bus and a short stroll. For those with more energy to burn, the following scenic walk takes us over the hill to the quaint village of Taddington, where we finish at the Queens Arms for a rewarding pint, before catching the bus back.

Public Transport Information

The Transpeak bus for this walk operates hourly from Buxton, with services running all week until the early evening. If getting the train to Buxton, the Transpeak bus stop is right outside the railway station. If taking the 199 bus to Buxton, the marketplace is a good place to change for the Transpeak. The last bus back through Taddington is just after 5pm, with later buses available on the A6 at the far west of the village, from the Hollow O The Moor stop. For bus times visit www.highpeakbuses.com or check Google Maps for live updates.

The Walk

The walk to Taddington is three miles, which it is advisable to do on a clear day to get the best views of the picturesque surroundings. As well as 100 metres of ascent, there are a number of stone stiles to climb over, where extra care should be taken when wet. Hiking boots are recommended. All pubs are dog friendly.

We leave the bus at the Old Coalpit Lane stop (ask the bus driver if unsure of its location). With the main road behind us and the Chelmorton sign on our left, walk along Common Lane for half a mile. At the end of the road, turn left and walk up the hill through the village. Our first pub stop can be found a further 150 yards on the left.

Church Inn The Church Inn dates from 1742 and boasts an idyllic position in an isolated rural location. It majors on traditional country pub cosiness, with low ceilings and the smell of a wood fire when entering. One side is carpeted, and popular with diners enjoying the excellent home-cooked food. Around the bar and either side of the impressive double-fronted log burner, bench seating and wooden floors are featured – perfect for walkers. In the warmer months, the outdoor terrace takes centre stage with its peaceful setting and fine views of the church opposite, which is the highest in England with a spire. On my last visit, the four cask beers were Storm Force 10, Marston’s Pedigree, Abbeydale Deception and Moonshine, with Buck Derbyshire Cider taking up the final handpump.

On leaving the pub, to walk to Taddington, turn left and walk up the road. This bends to the right after 50 yards and becomes a track. Follow this uphill, which then narrows. After 400 yards, take the right fork and in a further 300 yards exit through a gate. Turn right now to walk a few steps along a lane before turning left through a kissing gate, and please shut all gates behind you.

We now walk across a field, with the road behind us, to another kissing gate. Keep the stone wall on your left through the next two fields passing through two kissing gates, until we reach a track. Walking in the same direction as before, climb over the stone stile and follow the path between a wall and a fence. Over another stone stile, hug the stone wall on your left to another stone stile. Repeat this for the next five fields until the path bends to the right, then left over a stone stile to pass Sough Top reservoir. Diagonally cross the field to the finger post opposite and enter the next field via another stone stile. Diagonally cross this next field down to another finger post and across a collapsed wall. With Taddington now in sight, aim for the far right of the village when walking through the next field, passing through the remains of a wall, across the road beyond by a gate and through a gap in the wall on the other side. Turning right, we pass through another gap in the wall, then straight on down to a stone stile leading to a gap between two houses. Queens Arms Walk straight over the first road to turn right on the second, signposted to Ashford and Bakewell. We now walk through the village of Taddington for 500 yards for our rewarding pint.

Dating from 1736, the Queens Arms is a welcome sight at the end of our walk, with friendly staff and fine cask beers to quench our thirst. Following a recent refurbishment, the pub now feels more up to date, with added light and comfortable seating. A log burner serves each of the two rooms, with the cosy games room, on the left, worth seeking out. The home-cooked food is popular, and a large outdoor seating area can be found at the rear with views of the surrounding countryside. The cask beers were Bradfield Farmers Blonde and Wincle Waller when I last dropped by. The pub is closed on Monday and between 2pm and 5pm Tuesday to Thursday.

The bus stop back to Buxton is located a few yards past the pub. The bus will be travelling in the opposite direction that you have walked through the village.

For full pub details, including opening times, visit camra.org.uk/pubs.

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