It’s exactly 125 years since the grand opening of a Victorian folly that stands high over Buxton with terrific views over large parts of Derbyshire. But Solomon’s Temple, officially known as Grinlow Tower, wasn’t the first building to grace the top of the hill just over a mile south of the town centre. A structure erected by local landowner Solomon Mycock earlier in the 19th century to provide work for the unemployed lost its long-running battle with the worst of the High Peak weather some time in between.
I’ve parked on Devonshire Road to walk to the hilltop landmark which was restored just over 30 years ago by public subscription and take in some of Buxton’s finest attractions en route. First up is the amazing Devonshire Dome, once the world’s largest unsupported dome with a diameter of 145ft. I can’t miss it because I’ve parked right opposite and for the last few years it’s been possible to marvel at it from inside as well since the University of Derby developed it as a visitor attraction.
Walk this way.
Head downhill and straight across the roundabout onto Terrace Road then swing right after Cavendish Arcade to land at The Crescent. Newly reopened, it took 17 years and £70m to bring this architectural beauty back to its best so people can bob about in its mineral-rich thermal waters much as their ancestors might have done in its 1850s heyday. A bit further on is the beautiful Edwardian opera house, restored to its former glory 20 years ago.
Whistlestop town centre tour over, head into the adjacent Pavilion Gardens and follow the path by the river. It will take you straight across Burlington Road into the Serpentine Walk and up to St John’s Road. Turn left then almost immediately left again onto a path over a field then down a ginnel onto Macclesfield Road. Go left then almost immediately right into another ginnel. Head right then first left onto Hargate Road, left at the top then right into a final ginnel that takes you up to Green Lane.
View over Buxton from top of Solomon’s Tower.
After your brief flirtation with suburbia it’s time to head into open country. Go left, take the track on your right opposite 108 then turn right again at the steps following the sign marked Burbage, Grinlow Caravan Site and Ladmanlow (pictured above). You’re on a well marked path that goes reasonably steadily uphill although some bits are less reasonable than others. Take a second when you emerge from the woods to watch the cars skirting Axe Edge straight ahead. A bit further on you’ll see Burbage Edge if you look over your right shoulder. You’ll spot the folly soon after.
Tower from the north.
Stick to the high ground with the quarry away to your left and you’ll eventually come to a belt of trees with a path through the middle. Bear right to avoid the riff-raff and approach the tower from the south west. Enjoy the 360 degree views from the top. You can pick out the mast on Brown Edge on the other side of town for starters. If you’re lucky with the weather you’ll then be panning right for Mam Tor and Kinder Scout.
Broad Walk.
Head downhill on the path opposite the entrance to the tower aiming for that mast on Brown Edge. Bear right through the woods and you’ll eventually spill out onto some playing fields. Go straight down tree-lined College Road and across Macclesfield Road for a final stroll down the edge of the Pavilion Gardens along the magnificent Broad Walk. You’ll spot The Crescent when you get to the end from which point you should be able to retrace your steps to the start. Some place that Buxton.
Start: Devonshire Road, Buxton (but you only get two hours).
Highlight: Views from top of folly.
Lunch: Plenty of options in Buxton. The Cheshire Cheese is a decent boozer.
Music: A few days before Art Garfunkel’s 80th, here’s Bridge Over Troubled Water.
Distance/map: 5.3 miles. OS Explorer OL24 The Peak District/White Peak Area.
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Walks with welf 