B6001

This article is about the present B6001 in the Peak District.
For the original B6001 from Spondon to Ilkeston, see B6001 (Spondon- Ilkeston).

The B6001 is a useful route for travelling between the White Peak and Derbyshire Dales to the Dark Peak, owing to the lack of decent north-south routes in the area. It was originally numbered A622 but gained its number in the 1960s, with a short section in Calver being taken over by the A625 in 2000.

Hassop

Starting from the northern edge of Bakewell, the road heads left away from the A619. Shortly the road crosses over the Monsal Trail (formerly the Midland Railway line from London to Manchester) at Hassop station and almost immediately reaches a roundabout with the A6020, which forms a rudimentary northwestern bypass of Bakewell. Passing through open farmland, the road reaches Hassop village a mile or so after the roundabout. The road bends a bit through the village, but maintains two lanes for the duration. Beyond Hassop, there's more farmland, and a quarry to the side of a minor crossroads, but nothing else of note until the road reaches Calver.

At Calver, the B6001 disappears at a signalised crossroads with the A623. We must carry straight on at the crossroads, and onto the A625, which was rerouted this way since the Mam Tor route was abandoned. After about a quarter of a mile, the A625 heads off to the right at a TOTSO, and the B6001 reappears again. The road threads its way along the west bank of the Derwent Valley, passing the turning for Eyam (the B6521) on the left, before reaching the village of Grindleford. Most maps claim this section is now part of the B6521 but signs disagree.

Just into the village, we reach another TOTSO. The B6521 now carriess on through the village and on to the Fox House PH (with the border with Yorkshire), whilst our road turns left and up a steep hill. This hill was marked on the downhill side as a 12.5% for a long while, until it was replaced with a more standard 12% sign. The terrain changes on leaving Grindleford: it still follows the Derwent, but has to find a route along a steep sided valley. The river is often visible through the dense woodland, often with a steep drop to the valley floor, protected by only old-fashioned railings.

After a couple of miles of what could be described as "good driving roads", the road drops to the same level as the river again, and the woodland peters out. It then passes through the small hamlet of Leadmill and over the Derwent at Leadmill Bridge. For those heading south, the bend immediately after the hump backed bridge is known to catch out the unwary motorist!

On the last leg of the journey now, the road climbs up out of the valley, and under a railway bridge carrying the Hope Valley Line. We are now in Hathersage, and the road can get a bit narrow in places with parked cars. The road ends at the George Hotel, at the junction with the A6187, which was originally the A625. Turn left here for Bamford (and the road to Ladybower), Hope and Castleton.