News Archive (August 2016)

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.

Grey Heron in Dovedale

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

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.

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.

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.