News Archive (December 2016)

Wednesday 28 December

Many thanks to Gwen for her post-Christmas Chesterfield Canal walk. 18 turned out for a gentle four mile amble for her birthday and were greeted at Staveley by her family with tea, coffee, hot chocolate, and more cake than anyone could eat. Friends, family, and ramblers raised a useful £115 for the Air Ambulance

There’s nothing quite like a good walk on a fine day between Christmas and New Year. The last scheduled Wednesday walk of 2016. A happy and prosperous New Year to the group – and walkers everywhere. Bolsover Castle Langwith Wood Stockley Trail Bolsover Castle Bolsover Castle                                      Leader: Bill      Photos: John and Mel

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Monday 26 December

Almendres Cromlech, Alentejo, Portugal                   Catch a more local megalith walk in next summer’s programme.

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Wednesday 21 December



A photo from Mel, taken just below Turner locks at Shireoaks ;

They are all full of flapjack, stollen cake, fruit cake, mince pies and chocolate.
It is a wonder they could move after lunch.
I made the bridge creak just crossing to take the picture.

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Saturday 17 December




Kath writes ;

As it is Christmas we had our usual sherry and cake to fortify us before we set off on the walk with the visually impaired.
From Unstone we went over to Ouzel Bank, into Monkwood and then down to the
Barlow Fishing Ponds for lunch, with bacon butties and sausage sandwiches all round.
After lunch we continued via Lees Plantation, Lees Common and then back into Monkwood before returning to Unstone.
A small group of only twelve which included three visually impaired and their trusty guide dogs.

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Friday 16 December



Basil led today’s Chesterfield ‘greenway’ urban walk from the railway station – to access 16 art works along the three mile route to Walton.
They form part of a collection of over 60 items dotted around the borough which have been funded by the ‘percent for art’ scheme. where developers of capital projects of over £1 million are invited to include a work of art to the value of 1% of the total expense.
Schemes on a similar principle exist throughout the world.
Most people are aware of the George Stephenson statue outside Chesterfield railway station, but how many know of the large numbers of art contributions elsewhere ?
The Chesterfield Art Trail provides information, but, as our group discovered, the quality and condition of some of the works leaves a bit to be desired.
Perhaps the money is spread too widely and thinly ? Quantity rather than quality ? Collecting it up for more substantive and visual works such as ‘gateway enhancements’ might be a better strategy ?
Or even improving walking routes in the town ? There’s a thought.

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Wednesday 14 December

Good traditions die hard and the Christmas sherry walk is one of them. Kath led a short Bakewell walk of about 4 miles starting from Pineapple Farm (just above the old station) on the Monsal Trail. It was then down to Coombs Lane and on to Bowling Green Farm before making their way back to Bakewell by the River Wye. A turn out of 18 enjoyed sherry and biscuits on a lovely sunny day. Perfect.

The start of a car walk Ecclesall Woods Limb Brook Another warm December day with plenty of sunshine and Christmas refreshments, liquid and otherwise, for the ‘long car’ group. Gavin and Rhona led 18 from Whirlow Brook on a ten mile countryside circular within the city of Sheffield. A truly green city, in spite of some recent controversial tree-felling. The route took in Ecclesall Woods, Millhouses Park, Beauchief Abbey, and the Limb Brook.

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Tuesday 13 December

David describes the Tuesday morning walk with the Dronfield Paths and Bridleways Society ; We gathered at St Andrew’s Church in Dronfield Woodhouse for coffee and toasted teacakes before 19 of us set out on our 4.5 mile morning walk. Weather was bright at first, but turned to drizzle later on. Our route took us through Kitchen Wood and past the splendid old halls at Cartledge, then down the fields to Brindwoodgate – though the usual wide ranging views were hidden in the mist. We continued to Peakley Hill and then took the steep path up the steps to Barlow Lees. This group would not have been able to use the path until relatively recently, but thanks to the work of Ramblers’ volunteers, there’s now a long flight of sturdy steps up the previously very slippery bank. On to Cowley and back to Dronfield Woodhouse in time for lunch. Our next Tuesday walk is on 13 January. We shall gather at Coal Aston Wesley Reform Church on Cross Lane from 9.30am, where drinks and toasted teacakes will again be available before we commence our walk at 10am. All are welcome.

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Saturday 10 December

Cathy led the last Saturday walk before Christmas ;

14 of us enjoyed a leisurely walk from the No 10 Tea Rooms in Chesterfield – after some of us had bacon butties to start the day.
The route took us out past the Rail Station, past the Snail, up through Tapton Golf Course and past the Royal Hospital.
Mulled wine and mince pie refreshments were on the menu for a coffee break.
Our walk then took us through the Westwood and to the Hub at Hollingwood, where we saw Santa on the canal and partook of lunch.
Then a pleasant walk back along the Canal into town.
Some of us finished by joining the staff of No 10 for tea and cake.
Extremely mild weather for our pre – Christmas walk.
Merry Christmas and the best for 2017 to all of our ramblers.

Photos by Mel

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Wednesday 7 December

There are quite a few ways of walking from Bolsover to Chesterfield. One of them is listed on Ramblers Routes. Basil today led nine on an 11 mile version via Carr Vale, Heath, the Five Pits Trail, Calow Brook, and Spital. A path through Spital Cemetery allowed a visit to the grave of the remarkable William Coffey, awarded the VC in the Crimean War, but forgotten for many years. Seasonal mince pies were available for sustenance en route.

A footpath near Norwood is always a model for good reinstatement A remarkably mild and bright December day for Mel’s 11 mile circular, starting and finishing on the Five Pits Trail at Pilsley. A fairly flat route, across the M1 motorway to Stanley and on towards Teversal before branching off to Norwood and Hardwick. A lunch by the Hardwick visitor centre in warmish sunshine was followed by the return to Pilsley via Astwith. 24 in the group.

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Sunday 4 December



An Ogston circular of 11 miles today, via Wessington, Moorwood Moor, Crich, South Wingfield, and Brackenfield.

Leaders: Rhona and Gavin ; Photo by John

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Friday 2 December

A mild December day for the latest morning short walk.
The 10:00 16A bus from Chesterfield takes in Linacre Reservoirs and it is then an attractive four mile walk around the reservoirs and then down to Holme Hall – with its regular bus services back to Chesterfield.

A 90 minute steady pace, mainly on the flat or downhill.           Leader: David

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