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Saturday 22 February

Bakewell

Leader: David   Photo: Mel    

Bracket fungi

Just four of our regular members turned out for today’s walk from Bakewell – perhaps deterred by the heavy rain earlier in the week and an unpromising forecast.
We were joined by a lady originally from Brazil, who has lived in Chesterfield for the past three years.
She proved to be a delightful companion on what was her first ever walk in the Peak District – and was a little surprised by the hills, amazed by the extensive views, and bowled over by the architecture of Edensor.

Kathleen Kennedy grave

Our walk of under nine miles took us up past Bowling Green Farm, over Haddon Hall land through Manners Wood (rather spoiled by the mass of litter from the plastic tree protectors left in place when outgrown by the trees they protected as they were planted).
We crossed onto the Chatsworth Estate and over Calton Pastures, past the Russian Cottage, and over the very wet and slippery parkland – and on to Edensor.
A short detour in the churchyard, colourful with daffodils and snowdrops, for a look at the grave of the Marchioness of of Hartington – Kathleen Kennedy, sister to John F Kennedy.
Then the long drag up the hill to Ball Cross with a gale blowing in our faces, and back down into Bakewell.


Much to our surprise, we managed without a drop of rain throughout the walk.

One of the wetter bits of the Nottingham Canal

Wollaton

Leader: David  

A rare dry morning at the moment for a nine mile walk along the disused Nottingham Canal and the Robin Hood Way – from Ilkeston Rail Station to Wollaton Park in Nottingham – via the 1951 ‘Festival of Britain village’ of Trowell.
A good hardcore towpath kept serious mud to a minimum.
Light rain arrived for a lunch under cover at the 16th century Wollaton Hall – with its similarity to Hardwick, both having been designed by Robert Smythson.
A post-lunch walk through the Park and the adjacent Nottingham University led on to a Skylink bus to Long Eaton and a train return to Chesterfield by 3pm.
Five enjoyed a very flat Nottinghamshire walk at a reasonable pace.

Wednesday 12 February Eckington Leader: Michael   Thirteen ramblers (including one who hadn’t walked with this group before) set off on a 5 mile circular from Eckington – taking in Bramley, Ford, Plumbley, and Mosborough. The weather was fine and the strength of the wind had dropped from the previous day’s storm. There was, though, evidence of the weekend’s storm with a tree almost down and the bridle way littered with twigs and branches. At Bramley it had been my original intention to descend into the valley by way of paths across the hillside. But after the heavy rain of the weekend I decided the better option was to stick with the road which took us down to Ford. This proved to be a convenient lunch stop. Next, we climbed up the road to a bridle way which, though wet in places, took us safely to Plumbley and Mosborough. From there we followed field paths and stiles down into the valley without coping with too much mud. This final stretch along the Sheffield Country Walk took us back to Eckington and a bus back to Chesterfield. With North, South, and East Chesterfield Ways well established, a good route from the town westwards to Chatsworth and the Peak District is overdue.                                                Leader: David Heading across Eastmoor Three members left Chesterfield Rail Station (where a spur of the Trans Pennine Trail ends) to set out on the newly developed cycle path that leads through Queens Park and Walton Dam to Somersall Park. By this stage we had been joined by three more en route. The journey continued across fields to Holymoorside and then over Holy Moor and Eastmoor to Hob Hurst’s House, before descending to Chatsworth House. The route will be repeated on 15 May as part of this year’s Chesterfield Area Walking Festival. Shadows again, this time over Ashford Ashford in the Water Church Dale, Bakewell, Wigger Dale, Over Haddon, Kirk Dale Leader: Graham   Photos: Mike & Mel Ashford without shadows 25 walkers, with three guests from Scunthorpe, on this 10.5 mile circular    The top of Kirk Dale, with a snowy Kinder in the distance

Wednesday 5 February

Hathersage (2)

Leaders: John & Dermot   Photos: John & Mel

31 walkers participated in the second part of the Hathersage Hurtle – a 50% increase on last week!
Such was the success of our first half of the route that the news had travelled, and we had three visitors from Scunthorpe coming to join us.
We left Hathersage Station and walked along Baulk Lane and commenced the steady climb to Dennis Knoll.

A lone explorer approaches High Neb

From there we climbed up onto Stanage Edge, stopping for coffee beside High Neb and continued along the Edge via the trig point to Burbage, where we took lunch.
Then we dropped down towards Longshaw, stopping briefly to look at the bullet holes from WW2 on the rocks opposite Carl Wark.
The return to Hathersage was via Padley Gorge and the banks of the River Derwent.
Like last week, a route of over 11 miles.

Sunday 2 February

Cutthorpe

Old Brampton, Holymoorside, Wigley, Linacre Reservoir

Leaders: Naomi & Chris   Photos: John       

Leaving Linacre Reservoir

Crossing fields at Old Brampton

Crossing the Hipper

Wednesday 29 January

Hathersage

Leaders: Dermot & John:   Photo: Mel       

A fine Hathersage circular – setting out with a Derwent Valley first half via the Thornhill Trail to Ladybower Reservoir, and a return via the ever scenic Bamford Edge.

21 walkers participated in a modified route to that advertised in the published group programme – as the original contained a few too many bits of tarmac!
We left Hathersage Station and walked along the banks of the Derwent and took coffee immediately before Shatton.
From there it was up the Thornhill Trail to Ladybower to cross the Dam Wall and begin the climb up onto Bamford Edge.
The enthusiasm of the leader got the better of him on the initial climb and after a wrong turn in Heatherdene we had a slight detour in the woods.
After lunch we finished the climb onto Bamford Edge and took in the spectacular views from the top on a near perfect day.
It was then back to Hathersage via Bole Hill and Baulk Lane.

Bamford Edge

Sunday 26 January

Lunch at Poolsbrook Country Park

Sutton Scarsdale

Sutton Springs, Arkwright, Poolsbrook, Duckmanton

Leader: Collin   Photos: John


Not the best weather of the weekend for a circular from Sutton Scarsdale Hall

Returning to Sutton Scarsdale

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Saturday 25 January

Middleton by Youlgrave

Leader: Kathleen   Photo: Mel       

Nine local members were joined by four visitors (from Milton Keynes, Scunthorpe, and Derby) to enjoy a 10 mile walk from Middleton by Youlgrave.
Leaving Middleton, the group passed through Hopping Farm to reach Harthill Moor.
After leaving Harthill Moor Farm a short detour from the route was made to allow a visit to the four standing stones of the bronze age circle just north of Robin Hood’s Stride. The detour to the stones was pre-arranged with the local farmer by our walk leader.
Following a photo opportunity at the stones, the group moved on to Robin Hood’s Stride for a coffee break.
On then through Birchover, where the opportunity was taken to explain the significance of Rowtor Rocks and the village’s Druid connection.
After crossing Stanton Moor to reach the Nine Ladies, lunch was taken at this stone circle before returning to Middleton via Stanton in the Peak, Alport, and Bradford Dale.
On return, and during the walk, Thomas Bateman’s association with Middleton was discussed including his connection with local archaeology and the artefacts he discovered that are now held in Sheffield Museum.
The location of Bateman’s Tomb was pointed out as we re-entered the village.

Nine Stones Close

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Wednesday 22 January Monyash Leader: John   Photo: Mel        Lathkill Dale, Alport, Youlgrave Lathkill Dale Derbyshire Gritstone Way (2) Leader: Val      Belper’s Riverside Gardens, with a Strutt Mill in the background The second of Val’s Gritstone Trail walks, this time continuing from Milford, with the route northwards to Ambergate, via Belper ; 11 in the group. Some stiff hills for the Derwent Valley area, beginning with one up Sunny Hill in Milford, appropriately on a sunny morning. A tough stile, even for the fittest, near Heage    Fix My ‘Footpath’ Lunch was in Belper’s Riverside Gardens – where we switched to the eastern side of the Derwent for the second half of the walk. A further Gritstone Trail walk (from Ambergate to Matlock) is scheduled for 11 March.

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Wednesday 15 January Bagshawe Cavern Leader: John   Photos: John                                               exit from the short crawl Our first underground walk ? Eleven of us spent three hours underground exploring Bagshawe Cavern, near Bradwell. The natural cavern was discovered in the 19th century when an excavated lead vein gave access. We were led down 90 odd steps to what was for part of the 20th century a show cave. A narrow passage crossed three pools of water but by straddling narrow footholds either side most were able to keep dry feet. Along the way were occasional shiny petrified cascades on the walls and small stalactites on the ceiling. At the end of this section at the Devil’s Organ Loft we made a loop by a short crawl pitch, and then down a short set of steps adjacent to the Dudgeon chasm to a shallow clear water pool. Here ended the show cave section, and we proceeded along a long crawl pitch to the bolder strewn Hippodrome chamber. The highlight of the trip was an half-hour hour return visit to the Glory Hole ; a slippery, slimy scramble as evidenced by the before and after photos of us in our caving attire. We didn’t emerge until after 1:00 pm – so rather than the short proposed walk due to follow, the group retired to the Taste Buds cafe at Bamford Garden centre for coffee and cake. Thanks are due to our guide, Dave Baines. Leaving Baslow Edge and heading for Curbar Edge Baslow Leader: Andrew The withdrawal of bus route 66 meant a revised approach to this Baslow circular. Beginning at Baslow Nether End it headed to the north via Baslow, Curbar, and Froggatt Edges for a lunchtime stop at Grindleford Station, at the end of the Totley Tunnel. Totley Tunnel at Grindleford Station The return followed the Derwent Valley via Froggatt and Calver. A bit wet underfoot in places for the group of nine – but a fine, mild January day.

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Sunday 12 January

Taddington

Millers Dale Station, Tideswell, High Dale

Leaders: Jackie & Alan   Photos: Mike & John

Today’s group, shadows of their former selves

Hammerton Hill from Tideswell Dale

Knotlow from Meadow Lane climb

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Wednesday 8 January Bamford Offerton Hall, Hathersage, Stanage Edge, Bamford Leaders: John & Tricia   Photos: John & Mel Coffee break Approaching the Edge Lunch on the Edge – a cold breeze doesn’t deter shorts Below Callow Barn, looking over to Stanage Edge Lumsdale Lumsdale Leader: Pat Lumsdale Disused quarry near the Cuckoo Stone Combination of Lumsdale and the Cuckoo Stone always makes for an interesting walk and 21 set out from Highfields School to follow a figure of eight route covering just under seven miles. With twenty minutes for a return bus to Chesterfield at the Duke of Wellington, a good chance for a refreshing drink.

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Sunday 5 January

Calver Sough

Leaders: John & Tricia   Photos: John

Bubnell, Pilsley, Great Longstone                             

Highland cattle on Longstone Edge

The descent into Coombs Dale

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Wednesday 1 January

Hope for the New Year

Leader: Mel   Photos: John

Cave Dale

Intending to start the year with a burst of energy, 27 members gathered in Hope for a New Year celebratory walk.
Taking in Castleton, Cave Dale (with a stop for coffee half way up), Rowter Farm, Mam Tor, the Great Ridge, Back Tor, and Wards Piece (Lose Hill) – before returning to Hope via Lose Hill Farm.
Lunch was enjoyed at Mam Tor with a wonderful, if a little misty, view down the Hope Valley.
The group were heartened by the incredible number, several hundred, of other revellers forming a long continuous line of people, with a good many children present
– stretching from Mam Nick to the top of Back Tor.
The majority of our group then congregated, just about filling it, in the Grasshopper Café for tea and coffee.
A very pleasant and invigorating way to start the New Year.

Back Tor

Lose Hill

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