News

The Ramblers
Wednesday 15 September

Crossing the Derwent

Eyam. Hazelford Hall, Grindleford, Froggatt Edge, Stoney Middleton

Leader: Isobel

Fourteen of the expected fifteen walkers started the walk from Eyam.
The missing walker being prevented from joining us by blocked roads.
The party was further reduced when two members had to leave because of a potential family emergency. Luckily it turned out to be a false alarm, but it meant they missed a walk in unexpectedly glorious sunshine.
The route climbed out of Eyam on the The Nook and then crossed Eyam Moor to reach Leadmill Bridge.
It followed the Derwent to Coppice Wood and then headed up to Padley Chapel for lunch.
After passing Grindleford Station we climbed up through Nether Padley and Hay Wood to reach Froggatt Edge.
The visibility was superb and the views back across the valley and towards Chatsworth and its Emperor Fountain were excellent.
After a steep descent from the edge, we re-crossed the Derwent and walked across fields to Stoney Middleton via Knouchley Farm.
Stoney Middleton had been taken over by a film crew, making a Bollywood film ; unfortunately we weren’t needed as extras and had missed the day’s filming.
On the way back to Eyam we passed a reminder of the plague at Lydgate Graves.
Distance 10.7 miles.

Wall to wall sunshine on the Lord’s Seat, the high point of Rushup Edge

Wednesday
8 September

Mine to Cross

Odin Mine, Eldon Hill, Perrydale, Sparrowpit, Rushup Edge, Mam Tor,
Hollins Cross

Leaders:
Gavin & Rhona

Silverhill

Silverhill, Teversal

A walk of 3 miles, just over the Nottinghamshire border from Hardwick.
From the Silverhill Wood car park, make the gentle ascent to the ‘Miner’ – on the site of one of many former pits in the area, and widely claimed to be the Nottinghamshire high point of 670 feet.
The sculpture, entitled ‘Testing for Gas’ , was created by artist Antony Dufort as ‘a tribute to the miners of the Nottinghamshire coalfields’.
Hardwick Hall can be seen behind the trees.

Continue along the track around the Wood and after passing between two small lakes take the Silverhill Trail to Teversal village. The old village contains St. Katherine’s Church and, behind it Teversal Manor, the assumed home of Lady Chatterley in the DH Lawrence novel.

Return via the Silverhill Trail and the lower path of the Wood.

The Solitary Rambler ….

Revolution House, Old Whittington

Two Revolutions

Old Whittington, The Handleys, Barrow Hill, River Rother

A local morning walk of 7 miles, passing two ‘revolution’ museums.
The first meaning of ‘revolution’ is ‘a change in the way a country is governed, usually to a different political system and often using violence or war’ and is reflected in Old Whittington’s ‘Revolution House’, with its part in the Glorious Revolution of 1688.
The other meaning is ‘one complete circular movement of something, for example, a wheel’ and can refer to Barrow Hill’s railway ‘Roundhouse’.
(Definitions from the Cambridge Dictionary)

A steady climb from Old Whittington leads to the Handleys, and is followed by a descent to Barrow Hill.

River Rother on the Hollingwood Hoop

The return is via the River Rother, which runs parallel to the Chesterfield Canal here and forms part of the
‘Hollingwood Hoop’.
The Canal Trust hold an annual
Walking Festival each September.

Researching Lost Ways (Peak & Northern Footpath Society)

Cork Stone, Stanton Moor

Saturday 28 August

Rowsley

Congreave, Nine Ladies, Birchover,
Stanton Woodhouse

Leader: Edna Photo: Mel

Sunday 22 August

Monyash

Leaders: Chris & Naomi Photos: Simon & John

A group of eight cheery souls enjoyed fine weather on an 11.5 mile walk out of Monyash.
The route included Lathkill Dale, Alport, Bradford Dale and One Ash Grange.

Descending Cales Dale

Coffee break in Lathkill Dale

Wednesday 18 August

Edge & Moors

Stanage Edge, Hathersage, Burbage Edge

Leader: Sue

18 of us braved the winds and wintry cold along Stanage and Burbage Edges today.
In between the two Edges was a much more tranquil scene and we particularly enjoyed the silver birch landscape of Bole Hill Quarry and the ancient oak woodland above Padley Gorge.
A rewarding 11 miles.

Sunday 15 August

Cutthroat Bridge

Moscar, Stanage Edge, Bamford Edge

Leader: Hilary Photo: John

Bamford Edge, looking towards Win Hill

Bluster Castle

Linacre, Birley, Oxton Rakes, Ingmanthorpe

Another short morning walk of a little over 4 miles, this one requiring more energy than some, as it involves a climb with some hefty wall stiles from the Linacre Reservoirs to Bluster Castle, at virtually 1000 feet.
No evidence of any castle here – the area was probably named after its windswept nature – but it gives fine views over Chesterfield & NE Derbyshire.

Sunday 8 August

Ashover

Littlemoor, Ogston, Brackenfield, Highoredish, Overton

Leaders: John & Tricia Photos: John

Ashover Rock (The Fabrick) between the downpours

Climbing up the Back Tor steps

Wednesday 4 August

Hope

Leader: Mike Photos: Mel & Mike

In my humble opinion,
the Great Ridge is one of the best footpaths in the
Peak District, and on a clear, dry summer day it is hard to beat it.
17 starting from Barber Booth, walked up to it today in just those conditions and enjoyed panoramic views.
At Hollins Cross we were able to sample the repair works recently finished on the path to Back Tor, funded by generous donations (including one from Chesterfield Ramblers).
Restoration works on the Great Ridge

Walking down into Hope from Lose Hill we could see dark clouds and hear rumbles of thunder over Kinder, so an early lunch was taken – just in case the poor weather arrived.
Happy to say it missed us out and apart from a short shower, the walk along the Noe into Castleton and then up to Odin Mine and Hollins Cross was dry.
At Barber Booth there was clear evidence of heavy rain and talking to those who had walked on Kinder it had been torrential. Our band fortunately missed all that.

The path down to Edale from Hollins Cross

Monday 2 August

Norbriggs Cutting

Leader: Isobel

A group of nine met by the Pavilion at Poolsbrook Country Park on a lovely summer evening for the second of four ‘Taster’ walks – a mixture of new, old, and potential members.
The pace was leisurely as the aim is to increase the confidence of new walkers.
The route started on the Trans Pennine trail and then turned onto the Cuckoo Way, before heading along Norbriggs cutting by the edge of Norbriggs Flash Nature Reserve
After crossing the A619 we had a short uphill section by Norbriggs Road before descending Bridle Road back into Poolsbrook Country Park.
Distance 4.6 miles.

Covid-secure group walks are classified by the UK government as ‘organised physical activities’ and can now take place with no participant number limit.

Please consult Walksfinder to pre-book on a particular walk.

For the latest Central Office information ….

Guidance for volunteers ….