News
Pooch pilgrimage at The Maynard
28th May 2010
Celebrated Peak District hotel and restaurant The Maynard in Grindleford is announcing the latest in its series of new dog walks. Designed exclusively by Peak legend Sally Mosley in conjunction with George, ‘Pilgrimage, plague and a pot of tea’ is a fitting finale for this mini series of three, to be followed by further new Maynard walks, soon. ‘Pilgrimage, plague and a pot of tea’ is a lengthy walk covering some of the most historic sites in the area; all Maynard walks start and finish at the hotel, so once your car is parked at The Maynard, you and your dog can relax and unwind in the knowledge that the only transport you will need is your feet (and paws!).
All the walks can be downloaded free of charge at www.themaynard.co.uk or from The Maynard’s reception.
Known as ‘George’s Walks’ after Maynard director Paul Downing’s Labrador George, the series of walks has been designed so there is something for all abilities. The walks vary in distance and difficulty, ranging from a gentle 3.5 miles, to this more demanding 8.5 mile route for the fitter dog and owner! Taking in many principal local landmarks, this final walk includes Grindleford, Froggatt and Leadmill bridges, Stoke and Hazelford Halls and a stopover in the plague village of Eyam.
“This is a wonderful walk and certainly a firm favourite of both George and me,” said Maynard director Paul Downing. “If you are fit enough, this route has got everything - fantastic views, woodland walks, riverside paths, a hike over the moors and Eyam itself. It’s simply a great introduction to those hidden gems our district has to offer and there is nothing quite like discovering them on foot.”
The walk descends from the Maynard to Grindleford Bridge before ultimately turning up the hillside en route for Eyam, the fascinating former plague village. From here, the ascent to the moors affords far reaching views (on a clear day!) towards the forbidding silhouette of the Dark Peak hills in the north; and the ascent back to the hotel takes in Padley Chapel, which due to a tragic occurrence centuries ago, remains the setting for an annual pilgrimage honoured to this day.
Undoubtedly Eyam is the centrepiece of this walk. Struck by an offshoot of the Great Plague in 1666, three quarters of the village were wiped out and the route takes in many poignant reminders of these tragic events, including the site where Elizabeth Hancock buried her husband and six children over a period of eight days.
The return to The Maynard takes in historic Padley Chapel. Raided in 1588 on suspicion of harbouring Catholic Priests, the men were discovered in a ‘priest hole’ and ultimately hung, drawn and quartered. The first Catholic Mass was held again in the Chapel in 1933 after a break of 345 years and now on every Thursday closest to the 12 July, an annual pilgrimage attended by priests and public remembers the martyrs of Padley.
In addition to the picturesque and historic ‘Pilgrimage and Plague’ walk, two other new walks by George and Sally are available and include the shorter 3.5 mile ‘Gorge Walk’ via the Longshaw Estate to Padley Gorge, and ‘Over the edges on packhorse paths’, a more challenging route which encompasses Hay Wood and Froggartt Edge.
To those who know and love the Peaks, Sally Mosley needs no introduction. A well known local figure, her unrivalled knowledge and experience of the region made her the natural choice to help George in compiling these new routes to and from the Maynard.
The Maynard prides itself on being both dog and walker friendly and these latest walks have been developed to help ramblers and their pooches get the most out of the stunning countryside on The Maynard’s doorstep and is one reason why the hotel remains a magnet for walkers and ramblers and one of the regions best-kept secrets. The other reason is the all new menus and with all dishes reasonably priced, dining at one of the few restaurants in the whole of South Yorkshire and north Derbyshire with two AA rosettes has never been so affordable.
Details of the services Sally Mosley offers can be found by visiting her website at www.sallymosley.co.uk To book a table at The Maynard or book into the hotel, telephone 01433 630321 or email restaurant@themaynard.co.uk For general information, log on to www.themaynard.co.uk
Further information on sister venue Whirlowbrook Hall can be found on the website at www.whirlowbrookhall.co.uk.
ENDS
Photographs and captions
Medium resolution images of individual walks, taken by Sally Mosley are available from BeyondPR.
Press enquiries: BeyondPR. www.beyondpr.co.uk
Tel 0114 275 6996. Mobile 07930 697773. E-mail info@beyondpr.co.uk
Ref: MAY234 – Maynard Dog Walk 3 - Pooches Pilgrimage 2010
