Route: Eyam
Area: Derbyshire, Peak District
Date of walk: 11th August 2016
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 4.1 miles
Ascent: 600 feet
Weather: Mist, wind, constant drizzle
We were staying in Baslow during our short walking break in the Peak District and since the weather was too poor for a high level walk we decided to visit nearby Eyam, the famous ‘plague village‘, which is full of historical interest. An outbreak of the bubonic plague occurred here in 1665 and the villagers chose to isolate themselves to prevent the disease spreading further. The plague killed most of the inhabitants, with only 83 surviving out of a population of 350
As we walked through the village there were poignant signposts on some of the cottages where residents had lost whole families to the disease. We followed a path out of the village past the Lydgate Graves and walked through the fields into Stoney Middleton. In 1665 the villagers here had aided their quarantined neighbours in Eyam by providing food and supplies
The climb out of the village included a section along a very overgrown path and it was a relief to reach a wide byway which we followed back to the start
The weather was miserable throughout, with mist obscuring the views and drizzle making it hard to keep the lens dry but in some ways this suited the sombre historical context of this walk
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
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After leaving the car park we walk along Church Street past the Plague Cottages…
The Church of St Lawerence - the rector here in 1665 persuaded the villagers to quarantine themselves to prevent the spread of the plague
The Lydgate Graves on the edge of the village
The gravestone of Mary who died aged 20
Leaving Eyam on the path to Stoney Middleton
Another historical reminder beside this clump of trees…
The Boundary Stone, where money soaked in vinegar (believed to kill the infection) was placed by the villagers of Eyam in exchange for food and medical supplies
The stone ‘symbolising sacrifice and survival’ acted as a marker to separate plague affected Eyam from disease free Stoney Middleton
We descend into Stoney Middleton, the mist obscuring the rest of the countryside around
We weather was foul so we didn’t divert into the village, and left it at its outskirts
We followed a path across the fields to the woodland beyond
Beyond the squeeze stile we climbed up a narrow path overgrown with nettles and brambles
After a short walk along New Road we joined this pleasant path leading back to Eyam
Looking back
We turn left along the byway
Looking across to Dale Side
Yet another sad reminder of the past - the Riley Graves, where all six Hancock family members were buried in August 1666
‘JOHN HANCOCKE JUN BUR AUG 3rd 1666’
We arrive back in Eyam and revisit the churchyard
Not much use on a day like today
The mist and rain throughout this fascinating walk contributed to its moody atmosphere - we were glad we’d persevered
