News

The Ramblers
Wednesday 28 September

A group of 12 led by Ellis took the X17 bus to Matlock Green, climbed to Riber Castle, and then down to the High Peak Junction, the Cromford Canal, and continued past Gullivers Kingdom theme park back to Matlock.
A lovely fine day.

Stoney Middleton

Sue led the ‘long car’ walkers today ;

A delightfully warm and sunny day for our circular walk from Stoney Middleton.
24 of us climbed steeply up first of all to Eyam, and then to Sir William Hill, before crossing Eyam Moor and descending to Stoke Ford.
The only hazard we encountered was mud making the descent a bit slippery.
We continued to Leadmill Bridge, along the river, stopping to watch a dipper, to Grindleford and Froggatt, and up and over
a final hill back to Stoney.
11 miles in total.

The Ramblers
Saturday 24 September

David led one of today’s walks ;

There were 13 of us on the walk I led today.
We started at Eckington, walked into Rother Valley Country Park and then through Norwood and around the fringes of Killamarsh.
We explored some of the canal and railway history that abounds in the area.
10 miles overall.

The Ramblers
Wednesday 21 September

Duke of Portland’s Flood Meadows

A warm September day with sunny intervals for the ‘long bus’ walkers on a visit to Nottinghamshire.
Andrew led a group of seven on a ten mile route from Church Warsop to Clipstone, calling at the Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre for a lunch stop.
The afternoon journey continued via the
Duke of Portland’s Flood Meadows
and Vicar Water.

Vicar Water, Clipstone

Eric meanwhile led 28 ‘medium car’ walkers to the new Stanage Pole on an 8 mile route from the Upper Burbage Bridge.
Facebook photo by Patricia

Mel led 17 on a route from Ladybower, with the theme of searching for fungi, taking in Crook Hill and Rowlee Ford before lunching at Hope Cross.
The onwards route to Wooler Knoll provided numerous sightings of various fungi before the return via Hope Brink, Aston and Yorkshire Bridge.

The northern end of Hope Brink with the Kinder Plateau in the background

The Ramblers
Tuesday 20 September

David writes ;

The final Tuesday morning walk in the summer programme began in Dronfield, crossing Hallowes Golf Course and on to Ouzle Bank Farm.
A party of 14 then took the bridleway down towards Sheepbridge before looping round to join a path through Monk Wood.
It is expected that work on the major hotel and leisure complex planned for this area will start soon and this could be the last time we walk these particular paths.
Almost 5km are due to be diverted around the site, with a new bridleway and footpath route now agreed.
The proposed diversionary routes were pointed out.
From Monk Wood, walk leader Richard took the group back to Dronfield over field paths via Cowley to complete the 6 mile circuit.

Walks in the Dronfield area will continue throughout autumn and winter, with a programme of shorter walks organised by our partners at Dronfield Footpaths and Bridleways Society.

The Ramblers
Wednesday 14 September

The group negotiate footpath NE 24 25/2, near Woodthorpe Grange

The group negotiate a ploughed footpath NE 24 25/2,
near Woodthorpe Grange

Yesterday was the warmest September day for a century in many parts, and today followed the same trend after a cloudy start.
Liz led 23 on an Ashover circular.
An anti-clockwise direction via Cocking Tor, Ashover Hay, Ogston Reservoir, and Ashover Rock (known also as the Fabrick).
Over 11 miles at a steady pace, given the warm weather.
More than 1800 feet of ascent and descent.

A stop at Ashover Fabrick

The Ramblers
Sunday 11 September

John led a group of six on his annual walking trip to northern parts, this year to Settle,
in the Yorkshire Dales ;

Favourable weather and 70 miles covered in four days.

Day 1 was from Settle to Attermire Scar, Langwith, and Stainforth – on to Helwith Bridge, Stainforth Force, and a return to Settle via Penny Bridge.
Day 2 from Settle to Churn Milk Hole (beside Pen y Ghent), onto Fountains Fell and Malham via Malham Tarn, and Watlowes and then back over Kirby Fell (Nappa Cross) to Settle.
Day 3 to Victoria Cave, Jubilee Cave, on Brent Scar – over to Gorbeck and Stockdale Lane and a return to Settle.
The final day saw a walk fromm Malham, Janet’s Foss, Gordale Scar and the Waterfall (which unfortunately we did not climb, too much water), Mastiles Lane to Kilnsey Crag, Litton Dale to Arncliffe and the Falcon Inn over the Monks Trod – to return to Malham.

A great week of walking with good company and lots of laughs.

Next year’s venue will be a repeat of Rothbury, Northumberland – the second week in September 2017.

Churn Milk Hole, Pen-y-Ghent

On our way to Churn Milk Hole

Lime kilns

Pen-y-Ghent

At Victoria Cave

The boys

Painted Lady on a thistle

Towards Attermire Scar

Jubilee Cave

The Ramblers
Saturday 10 September

Pat led a train walk as part of the ‘Walkabout’ week ;

A group of nine set off from Rowsley South station and enjoyed an eight and a half mile walk to Matlock.
We walked through woods, along quiet lanes and followed footpaths across fields, stopping for lunch beside the River Derwent.
After lunch we followed the river into Matlock and then headed up to High Tor with views of Riber Castle as we climbed.
Once at the top, those with a head for heights looked down from the Tor at the traffic far below whilst others concentrated on the view of the cable cars crossing the valley.
We descended from High Tor and followed the road back into Matlock to the station and then enjoyed a trip on the heritage train on Peak Rail back to Rowsley South.

Closer to home, how did Walkabout Creek get its name ?
It sounds a bit more romantic than Footpath NE8 9/1 for an evening stroll.

The Ramblers
Wednesday 7 September

A ‘walkabout’ for the ‘long car group’, led by Edna.
19 left Bamford for a circular which took in Aston, Win Hill, Edale End, Hope, and the Navio Roman Fort on an 11 mile route with 1700 feet of ascent.

Thanks to Cath and Eric for organising the annual coach trip to give us land-locked walkers a breath of sea air.
46 took the coach to Bridlington on a superb day for weather.
Kath and John led the longer walk from the North Landing for 13.
The shorter walk from Flamborough for 28 was led by Eric.
5 settled for a restful day by the sea.

Ramsley Reservoir

A very warm and humid September day, although with little sun, saw the ‘long bus’ walkers take the 16A to Holmesfield as part of the Ramblers Walkabout Festival.
14, led by David, followed a south-westerly linear route of nearly 8 miles via Cordwell and the Wellington Monument to Baslow, pausing for lunch at Ramsley Reservoir.