The Anchor is the first pub of our Peakland Pub Alphabet and we found it conveniently placed roughly half way along today’s walk at the junction of the A623 and the B6049 at Tideswell Lane End
It’s open from midday everyday and we arrived at around 12.05 having given them just enough time to get the lights on and the cloths off the pumps.
We were instantly made very welcome and spoilt for choice by the menu which offered everything from snacks through sandwiches, light bites to full scale meals.
And as you might expect from a Robinsons pub, the Unicorn bitter was very drinkable, just right after our morning’s walk.
Inside, The Anchor is a deceptively large pub with one long bar and different seating areas which were probably separate rooms at some point in the past but are now all opened up.
There are a lot of really interesting old photos on the walls alongside various snippets of local history together with a collection of old agricultural implements hanging from the old beamed ceiling above our heads.
The Anchor certainly goes back a long way, over 300 years in fact, having been granted its first ale house licence in 1699 when it was still also a working farm.
Nearby Tideswell was a thriving market town and alongside farm workers there would have been thirsty lead miners and frame knitters among the locals back in the day.
Due to the pub’s location on a major crossroads, the popularity of the pub grew during the turnpike era as it became a thriving coaching inn.
Then at the end of the 19th century as early tourists began to discover the wonders of the Peak, the pub continued its popularity.
Since 1964 The Anchor has been a Robinsons pub and it’s been managed for the last 10 or so years by Atlantik Inns a local company who specialises in helping to keep rural pubs vibrant and whose hostelries I feel sure we’re going to be visiting from time to time throughout our alphabet.
It must be quite an achievement for a pub to keep its doors open for over 300 years but it seems as though that’s what has happened here apart from a brief refurbishment closure a few years ago.
For a detailed history of the pub and a VERY long list of landlords stretching back through time see this link!
https://www.atlantikinns.co.uk/anchor-inn-landlords
During our lunch time break today we were the only hikers in the pub, and the other visitors were motorcycle tourers. We got the feeling that the friendly welcome we received would be extended to all, whether local, holiday maker or just passing through and even including those on 4 legs.
All in all this was a very pleasant place to stop and a great place to start to our pub alphabet.
We only have one unanswered question…. Situated in the middle of the country, about as far as possible from the sea as you can get in England, why on earth is it called The Anchor?
Today’s Walk & Transport Information
Today we caught the train out from Sheffield along the Hope Valley line to Hope Station and we returned home from Grindleford on the 65 bus.
(Alternative options would have been taking the 272 bus to Hope and the train home from Grindleford.)
Our walk took us from Hope Station through Brough and Bradwell onwards to our pub stop at The Anchor, just outside Tideswell. After this we passed above Litton and then dropped down to Wardlow Mires, followed by Foolow, Eyam and ending up at Grindleford.
This was an enjoyable walk in classic limestone scenery along mostly well defined paths and quiet lanes. There are quite a few stiles overall and the path above Litton along Litton Edge needs careful navigation as although the stiles are all there it’s not so well marked underfoot. (However it’s worth it for the views!)
Use the link below to access the full route with details of elevation and distance. Download the free Footpath app in order to follow the route showing your location at all times for a hassle free walk. And/Or, for old school navigators, go prepared with an OS Dark Peak & Light Peak leisure map as you will need to use them both.
https://footpathapp.com/routes/CCA16402-CC1A-43C0-A0E8-D0BA5421DC70?units=metric
Enjoy your walk and here’s to your very good health! 🍻
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