A623

Route

The A623 is one of the main east-west roads across the Peak District.

Baslow - Chapel en le Frith

The road begins in Baslow at a roundabout with the A619. This is the road's original starting point; however, it was extended south from here in the 1920s, multiplexing with the A619 for a short distance, then taking over the former B6047 past Chatsworth House and Beeley, to reach the A6 in Rowsley. When this route was downgraded (between 1966 and 1975) to become the B6012, it led to a TOTSO on the A619.

Junction with A625 at Calver Sough

Leaving Baslow, we head upstream alongside the River Derwent to Curbar, where the modern Calver Bridge, just south of the old stone arched one, takes us across the river. The new terminus of the A625 meets us shortly afterwards at the Calver crossroads, where the A622 used to cross. A narrow section through Stoney Middleton follows, then an gentle ascent up a limestone gorge, with cottages built right against the cliff walls on either side of the road. Halfway up is the turning for Eyam, the B6521 (old A6010).

The remaining portion of the road is a nice fast run (if not stuck behind a slow truck!) across the hill tops. There's a relatively straight section north of Tideswell before a sweeping left then right bend takes us down the hill into Peak Forest; an even tighter left bend exists in Sparrowpit, where the now-unclassified former B6061 runs off in the direction of Mam Tor. The terminus junction with the A6 is now a roundabout, but I remember travelling this way around 10 years ago when it was a normal give-way. To the right is Chapel en le Frith; to the left, Dove Holes.

Original Author(s): Andy (Coasterjunkie)