News Archive (August 2016)

The Ramblers
Wednesday 31 August

A strong turnout of 32 for Tony’s seven mile walk from Crich Market Place.
The route passed the Tramway Museum on its way up to Crich Stand – and then down the valley to the Cromford Canal towards Ambergate – before climbing up Crich Chase and back to base.

August came to an end with a fine 14 mile circuit of Dronfield on a good walking day, following much of the
Dronfield 2000 Rotary Walk.
Margaret led 13 on a circular from Coal Aston Village Hall in a clockwise direction via Troway, Summerley, Holmesfield, and Bowshaw.

Photos by Mel

The Ramblers
Wednesday 24 August

Lunch on the Lower Dove

Ten took a walk on the northern part of the Staffordshire Way from Uttoxeter to Rocester.
From the train at Uttoxeter Racecourse the route headed under the busy A50 and up the Lower Dove Valley, past the Doveridge Clay Shooting Club having a very active day.
Most of the path followed the Derbyshire side of the Dove as far as Abbotsholme School, before crossing back into Staffordshire at Rocester, and finishing with a walk around the impressive JCB Factory Lakes.

The JCB Lakes

Longdale

Coming back to Youlgrave

On the way back to Youlgrave

Robin Hood’s Stride

Photos by John and Mel of today’s Youlgrave circular

There are encouraging local moves throughout our group area to develop walking, particularly in Eckington, Barrow Hill, and Dronfield.
David writes;

It’s a while since I last reported on the Dronfield Heritage Trust’s Walks at the Barn project, so here’s an update.
We have had a quiet summer as the focus has been on making rapid progress in the garden area.
However , the first two family rambles have been held successfully earlier in the month. We aim to only organise walks where there is a gap ; generally the aim is to partner other waking groups.
Things on the walking front are now moving up a gear. There will be a large exhibition between 22 September and 2 October and walking will feature prominently in an ‘Introduction to Walks at the Barn’ display.

We are looking for material for the display and if possible I would like to have 50 or so copies of the Frith Wood walk leaflet, plus a couple of copies of the other Derbyshire County Council walks in the area.
The Moss Valley OS map will also feature in the display and I wonder if I might have a dozen copies on a sale or return basis ?
The display will also feature a demonstration of our touch screen map table ( a first for the area ?) and quite a lot about the Dronfield Rotary walk ( now the responsibility of the Barn) as we plan to produce a new leaflet quite soon.
Now the garden is well advanced , we shall be looking at how some from that team might help with simple maintenance and clearance tasks around the route.
We also want to involve people in creating new family walk routes – which will then be available in leaflet form or as a print off from the map table. We have an initial grant , but will be expected to be self sufficient.

Hopefully we will also manage a reprint of the still popular North Chesterfield Way , whilst the Old Dronfield Society is well advanced with a new and updated history trail leaflet.

I have alerted our (very) small team to next years walking festival timetable and we hope to be able to offer three walks – the Old Dronfield trail, a family walk, plus a walk to Unstone and back, hopefully with a visit to the new Drone Valley brewery If that’s not on, perhaps a tasting at the end of the walk back at the Barn.

If you get the opportunity , I hope you will come along and have look at our display and perhaps encourage us too.

Saturday 20 August

Grey Heron in Dovedale

John led an 18 mile walk for five yesterday from Ilam, deferring to common sense and altering the route because of the very high wind speed at high levels.
A route via Dovedale, Biggin Dale, Narrowdale, Alstonefield, and Castern Hall.

Fortunately we only got caught out by (very) heavy showers between Castern Hall and Ilam, otherwise the weather was OK, although not much in the way of views because of the cloud cover.
The walk was endowed with the usual good humour and all finished reasonably happy.

Maggie, Lorraine, Graham and Margaret

Maggie, Lorraine, John and Margaret leaving Narrowdale – before we got rained on – heavily.

A happier picture

Two reports from Kath ;

Saturday 20 August

A small but select band for today’s walk with the visually impaired.
Just ten of us, including two guests from the Derby Group who were the leaders.
A gentle six mile stroll around the Amber Valley from Heage Mill.
The leaders were Mick and Sarah, along with Keith.

Wednesday 17 August

17 of us had a lovely five mile amble in brilliant sunshine around Bakewell.
We took the 10:05 bus from Chesterfield and went over to Lathkill Dale to walk by the river.
Then it was up to Over Haddon and back over the fields to Bakewell.

The Ramblers
Saturday 13 August

Mel was one of seven on today’s circular from the Barrel Inn at Bretton ;

A route taking in the expansive views from Sir William Hill before descending to Hazelford Hall for a morning coffee break.
Then westward to follow the Bretton Brook, and a gentle climb to Smelting Hill, which gave the group access to Abney Moor for lunch.
The return to the Barrel was via Robin Hoods Cross and Hucklow Edge.
Bright sunshine provided excellent views into Bretton Clough and Stanley Moor during the walk back along the Hucklow and Eyam Edges.

The Ramblers
Wednesday 10 August

Ringwood Park

Staveley Town Lock

13 takers for a local Calow circular of 10 miles, led by David.
The route began and ended at Calow Church and proceeded via the Westwood, Ringwood Park, the Chesterfield Canal and the developing Staveley Town Lock before a lunch stop at Poolsbrook Country Park, full of families enjoying good weather in the August holidays, and a return via Duckmanton.

The Ramblers
Tuesday 9 August

David reports ;

There were 18 on today’s six mile Tuesday morning walk with the Dronfield Footpaths and Bridleways Society on an historical theme, led by Ruth.
It began at Coal Aston and went through Frith Wood to the old centre of Dronfield, exploring some old industrial sites including a newly opened footpath and bridge on a former mill site.
Damstead Works made spindles for the textile industry and in 1856 was subject to a ‘rattenning’ where the mill was damaged as part of widespread industrial unrest in the Sheffield area at the time. In this instance gunpowder was dropped down the chimney, with the perpetrator sentenced to four years hard labour.
‘This mischief had been accomplished by lowering down the chimney a garden water can, filled with gunpowder, and plugged at the apertures with wood, so as to form an explosive shell’.

Railway history in the town was then explored and the group also looked at the recently restored 16th century Dronfield Barn Heritage Centre.

The walk continued over field paths to Stubley Hollow and Bowshaw and then back to Coal Aston.

The Ramblers
Saturday 6 August

Edensor from the Hunting Tower

The Saturday long walkers have had their fair share of rough weather this summer.
Happy that today was bright and warm.
Gordon led a group of nine over 17.5 miles and approximately 1500 feet of ascent from Calver Sough.
Good views wherever they looked, lots of smiles and poor jokes (?) All finished in good spirits.

Paul, Hilde, Gordon, Lyn, Philip, Andrea, Elaine, Beverly

Herd of Fallow Deer stags in Chatsworth Park

A view towards Shatton

The group in Chatsworth Park

Wednesday 3 August

With the sun now setting before 9 pm, this week unfortunately saw the last of the Wednesday evening walks for 2016.
Led by David, 10 joined a final walk of just under 4 miles on a fine but gloomy and breezy evening.
A circular route from Dronfield Woodhouse which took in Monk Wood and Cowley.
Thanks to Pat and Cathy for organising the evening programme, which will resume in May next year.

Fairholmes was a popular destination today.
Val writes ;

A group of eight took the popular bus from Sheffield to Fairholmes today on a fine, bright morning – sharing the journey with two other walking groups as well as some individuals.
From the visitor centre we climbed steeply through the woods passing Lockerbrook Farm onto the open moor and followed the clear, and now in places flagged, path to Alport Castles with wide views in all directions.
The strong winds made this quite difficult, and we were glad to descend for a more sheltered lunch stop.
After reaching Alport Castles Farm we followed the river Alport down the valley to meet and cross the river Ashop.
We then soon re-crossed the river and the A57 to climb again past Rowlee Farm to the ridge.
A descent to the road via Hagg Side followed to finish with a gentle walk beside the reservoir back to Fairholmes and the bus.

There was 12 miles of great weather for the long car walkers, taking a circular route along Derwent Edge and then down to Fairholmes via Lost Lad and up to Crook Hill via Lockerbrook Farm.
A group of 13, led by Mike. Photo by Mel.

Below Crook Hill, heading back to Ashopton Viaduct

A strong turnout of 26 for the short bus walk today, led by Barry.
Perhaps the absence of hills helped, since the walk started in the centre of Bolsover, followed the path to Palterton, and then along the Stockley Trail to the foot of Bolsover’s hill for a return bus to Chesterfield.
A short diversion took the group through the Model Village, still sadly a neglected gem but with Heritage Lottery funding on the way.