News Archive (August 2018)

The Ramblers
Thursday 30 August

Agricultural Bill

Changes are afoot.
A new Agriculture Bill is before Parliament and it’s vital that it preserves countryside access and maintenance of our rights of way.
Become a ‘Path Protector’ by emailing your MP.

The Ramblers
Wednesday 29 August

Fox House

Leader: Michael

Fourteen members made their way by bus/car to Fox House for a five mile circular walk.
Among the group were two ladies from Sheffield Ramblers and one gentleman who hadn’t walked with us for some time.
After coffee at Longshaw we set off passing the wooden pole, crossing a road before a gradual ascent on to White Edge Moor.
At the highest point of the walk (1237 feet) we took a path through the heather to Lady’s Cross, a short stone stump marking the intersection of two packhorse trails, one from Tideswell to Sheffield, the other, Hope to Chesterfield.
This made for a good lunch stop which was enjoyed in warm sunshine.
After lunch we returned to the original path, descending through a gate via paths and a bridle way to a road close to the Grouse Inn.
Resisting the temptation to call in here we made our way up the road, branching off onto a stone track leading to Longshaw café.
However, we soon left this track ,climbing a stile and descending along a field where a man was repairing a stone wall to the edge of woodland.
Branching off to the right we followed paths through bracken, part of Granby Wood, open scrub land which eventually led us back to Fox House with time for some well-earned liquid refreshment before catching the bus home.

Lea, Dethick, & Crich

Leader: Bill Photos: Mel

Crich Tower

A fast grass snake

Ramblers at rest

The Ramblers
Saturday 25 August

Bamford Edge & High Neb

Leader: Barbara Photos: Mel

High Neb trig point

Out of the quarry

On Great Tor

Even one with the camera man

The Ramblers
Wednesday 22 August

Kinder Round

Kinder

Lorraine with admirers

Kinder Low

Castles in the Air

Leader: Hilary Photos: John

Coffee on Rowlee Pasture

A nine mile circular from the
Upper Derwent Visitor Centre at Fairholmes to Alport Castles, at over half a mile long said to be the largest landslide in the UK, and back.
19 in the group on a warm if somewhat cloudy day.

Alport Castles

The Ramblers
Saturday 18 August

Rushup Edge

Leader: John

Only 16 miles on another Saturday long walk – with cricket thrown in ;

An excellent walk – bright and breezy weather and not too warm.
Four taking part.
We started from Rushup Edge and proceeded to the small hamlet of Malcoff where we were afforded a view of the Old Hall and its Annex.
From there to Hayfield Road.
Then on to Cracken Edge, Chinley Churn and Hayfield, where we lunched and watched an entertaining local cricket match.
From there it was nearly all climbing to Mount Famine and South Head, the passage of Roych Clough, and a return to our transport.
A grand day out as some would say, with all finishing fit and healthy.

John and Mike on Mount Famine

Onwards, ever up the ridge towards our goal.

John N, Mike, and John H at Chinley Churn Trig Point

Hayfield Cricket Match and Lunch

A view towards Mount Famine and South Head

The Ramblers
Wednesday 15 August

Bamford to Ladybower

Leader: Janet

Eight train walkers headed out from Bamford Station, following the northern bit of the Derwent Valley Heritage Way, with a halt for lunch at Heatherdene.
Then it was a clockwise circuit from the Ladybower Inn via Whinstone Lee Tor, Cutthroat Bridge, and
Ladybower Wood.
Another good day with sunny intervals in this prolonged dry summer.

Ladybower credits

Street View panorama from Whinstone Lee Tor of a diminished Derwent Reservoir

Around Ladybower

Leaders: John & Tricia Photos: Mel

Two of our walks in the Ladybower area today, but the car people didn’t come across those who let the train take the strain.

Panorama from Win Hill ; Lose Hill and the Mam Tor Ridge on the left and the Kinder Plateau in the background

arriving on Win Hill

heading for Hope Cross.

The Ramblers
Tuesday 14 August

‘Ploughing & Cropping’ Campaign

Good countryside access depends on reporting all rights of way problems.
Don’t assume that they have already been reported.
Take a photo if you can and report either by;
Pathwatch, Derbyshire County Council, Fix My Street, or by this website.

County council guidelines on cropping & ploughing

County council guidelines on ploughing & cropping

We are currently concentrating on a ‘Ploughing and Cropping’ campaign and seeking to monitor the significant problems to walkers when meeting blockages or trying to negotiate the line of a right of way.
It is an area where, because problems are relatively temporary (although often recurring), the County Council wrongly gives them little importance.
If you meet a problem relating to ploughing or cropping obstructions to legal rights of way please report it to the
Ploughing & Cropping Campaign

All reports of any sort are forwarded to the County Council Rights of Way Team.
If it’s not reported it’s unlikely to be fixed.

The Ramblers
Saturday 11 August

Monsal Head

Leader: Dawn Photo: Mel

The group walking down Cressbrook Dale – en route for a Bradwell’s ice cream

The Ramblers
Friday 10 August

Silverhill Wood & The Miner

Leader: David

The Ramblers
Wednesday 8 August

Around the Quarry

Leader: Graham Photo: Mel

Chrome Hill and Parkhouse from above Earl Sterndale

Pleasley to Teversal

Leader: Kath

The ‘shorter’ bus group took the Pronto bus to Pleasley Pit for a 6.5 mile fairly flat walk to Teversal.
A route along the Rowthorne Trail into Hardwick Park, before heading south from Norwood Lodge to the Teversal Visitor Centre – and a return to Chesterfield on the Spira bus.
15 in the party, including a guest from Brighton, enjoyed a more pleasant day for walking after recent heat.

A shelter from heat or rain in Hardwick Park ?

Hardwick Hall in the distance

Sutton in Ashfield FP11 – south of Norwood Lodge

The Ramblers
Sunday 5 August

Kinder

Leaders: Gavin & Rhona Photos: John

Below Mill Hill looking up to the western end of the Edge on the Pennine Way

River that supplies the Downfall completely dry

Near Kinder Downfall with Hayfield Reservoir in the distance

Descent route down Fair Brook

The Ramblers
Saturday 4 August

Hartington

Leader: John

John, Diane, and Simon at Ilam Rock

Simon and Diane leaving the cave

John and Diane on Narrowdale Hill making our way to Hartington

Looking down the way from Bunster Hill

Thorpe Cloud from Ilam Rock

A great walk today in our series of summer strenuous outings.
21 miles and a lot of ascent, probably in excess of 3000 feet.
A select band of three started at 9:00 and made its way past the Youth Hostel in Hartington en route to Biggin Dale – where we happened upon a lamb trapped in a wire fence from which (after some effort) we extricated it.
It appeared slightly injured from its struggles, but limped all the way back to its mother.
On to Milldale, and then to Ilam Rock – where we ascended to Ilam Tops via Dovedale Woods and then Bunster Hill.
Ilam Cross followed, and then up to Musden Low for lunch, Musden Wood, and Castern Hall.
Next on to Alstonefield and the ‘George’ for extremely welcome refreshments.
A traverse of Narrowdale and Beresford Dale completed the walk back to the Hartington Duck Pond.
Overall this took 9 hours with all in good spirits.

The Ramblers
Thursday 2 August

Pilsley to Bakewell

A good ‘step’ walk from Pilsley to Bakewell, down the quiet Handley Lane and on to Edensor ; then the southerly track through the Chatsworth Estate to New Piece Wood ; westwards to Ballcross Farm and down into Bakewell.
The warm weather continued, although the skies varied from bright sunshine to ominous looking clouds.
Unfortunately the two planned bus journeys suffered from either delay or cancellation.
Over 90 minutes waiting clueless at bus-stops is not acceptable for bus walks in the Peak.

No wonder Bakewell car parks were heaving. The slow death of rural buses

The Ramblers
Wednesday 1 August

Walk to Discover

Leaders: Gavin & Rhona Photos: Mel

An evening walk covering part of the Chesterfield Art Trail

Chesterfield Art Trail

Highbrake Photography

Edale to Bamford

Leader: Val

Another train walk, using the popular Hope Valley line.

Eight people took the trip on a day of good weather – not too hot.
From Edale station we climbed up to Mam Tor via Mam Nick, replenished our energy with (home made) cake, and walked the Ridge to Lose Hill for lunch.
It was then a descent to Hope, crossing the road and river, to follow field paths to Bamford, via Brough.
Just in time for the 15.42 return train.

Rocky Edges & Heather Covered Moors

Leader: Sue Photos: Mel

A pleasant day for a walk after the oppressive heat of the last few weeks.
From Redmires Reservoirs 16 keen ramblers set off up to Stanage Pole, over Stanage Edge and down into Hathersage – before ascending again via Mitchell Field Farm to cross Burbage Edge.
From there it was along Houndkirk Road and across the moors back to our starting point.
Good views throughout the day, although the cloud thickened ominously as the afternoon wore on.
12 miles and 1800 feet of ascent.