News Archive (February 2015)

Saturday 28 February



The Saturday car walk was led by David ;

There were 13 of us on my 9 mile walk.
We started at Harthill , walked to Woodhall and through Nor Wood to join the Chesterfield Canal towpath.
Lunch stop was at Rother Valley Country Park, where we went on to follow the Sculpture Trail up to the highest point in the park.
En route we passed a large number of Dalmatians ( not 101 though !) taking part in a ‘Dally Rally’ – a regional meeting of owners of the breed.
The weather remained fine but breezy as we continued back to Harthill via ‘Paradise’.

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Wednesday 25 February



Another walk along part of the Monsal Trail today, from Monsal Head to Litton Mill – and then on via Litton to Eyam.
Richard led a group of 18 on a mild, dry day.
The Monsal Trail logo shows a walker, a cycle, and a horse – but will the train ever return to the Trail ?
Even the Peak District National Park do not rule it out.





The track bed is still there, and increased passenger numbers between Derby and Matlock have contributed to a petition to ask for another feasibility study into continuing the line to Buxton – and thence to that proposed northern ‘powerhouse’ of Manchester.
Of course John Ruskin’s 19th century comments are well known. The original railway allowed ‘every fool in Buxton to be in Bakewell in half an hour, and every fool in Bakewell at Buxton’. It’s now possible for this to be achieved by road – although ongoing road links to Manchester are poor.
So will a railway ever be necessary ?
There will be differing views. Just as with HS2.

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A breath of fresh air for the long car walkers today.
Thanks to Mike, who led 22 on an 11 mile walk along five of our nearby Edges – Froggatt, Curbar, Baslow, Birchen, and White.

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Saturday 21 February


The former railway line that forms the Monsal Trail always provides a good, safe walking surface.
This month’s ramble with the visually impaired saw 16, including five VIP’s with dogs, follow a four and a half mile route from Bakewell Old Station along the Trail.
Some good sunshine, but also the occasional snow shower.
Extra volunteers to assist are always welcome on these walks.

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Wednesday 18 February


Thanks to Andrew who took 11 bus walkers to Meadowhall, not for shopping, but for a linear walk to Middlewood, via the Wincobank Hill Fort site and Ecclesfield.
The historic view of Sheffield from Wincobank Wood is not pleasant – but it was painted by Stanley Royle in 1923 and reflects what could be seen at the time.
Now we have fine views of Meadowhall and the rest of the city.
Less industrial landscapes of Derbyshire and Sheffield by Royle are on the BBC ‘Your Paintings’ website – and some can be seen in the current exhibition at the Graves Art Gallery.

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Today’s Monsal Head long car walk (11 miles), led by Graham, via the quaintly named dale
of Water-cum-Jolly. Photos by John.

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Saturday 14 February

A group of eight, again led by Mel, started from Ringwood Park and followed a route through Westwood to the Trans Pennine Trail.
After skirting the villages of Duckmanton and Poolsbrook, it was onwards and upwards to Woodthorpe, before dropping down to the start of the defunct canal at Norbriggs.
Following this short stretch of canal side they then joined the Cuckoo Way and followed this to the Hub at Hollingwood for a well deserved tea and cake stop – here being treated to the sight of the John Varley Canal boat passing through the lock.
Presumably this would have been the ‘love boat’ – the Valentine’s Day 6 hour slow cruise to Staveley ?

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Wednesday 11 February Snow lingers near to Unstone

A bus journey to Barlow with 19 helping to fill the bus on one of the subsidised routes under review – followed by a walk to New Whittington, via Cowley, Unstone, and Hundall. David led the way.
After the previous week’s blue skies, a return to reality with dull February weather.

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Hardwick Twenty members, led by Mel, started from the car park which was formerly the rail station at Pilsley for an 11 mile walk taking in Tibshelf, Teversal and Hardwick Park. Following a good lunch stop at Hardwick Hall the group dropped down the park to pass between the Great and Millers Ponds before ascending to Astwith. After taking in the extensive views of both the old and new Halls from Astwith, the return journey was effected by re-joining the Five Pits Trail just before Locko Lane, and then on back to the old rail station.

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Wednesday 4 February

With Chesterfield having lost much of its snow, 17 of the longer bus walkers travelled to Bakewell – to find plenty of the white stuff on an 8 mile walk to Monyash. A route via Over Haddon, Lathkill Dale, and Ferndale. A trek through crisp snow under azure skies must be the real essence of winter walking. Thanks to Kay and Jean for leading – and congratulations to Frank, 83 years young this week but more than up for a challenge. Bakewell to Monyash (February 2015) Bakewell to Monyash (Frbruary 2015)

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A five and a half mile walk for the ‘shorter bus’ group, devised by Barbara. The 10:05 Bakewell bus to Pineapple Farm led to a route via Rowland and Great Longstone into Bakewell for a return journey. 17 on the walk – which saw welcome frost cover much of the underlying mud.

Pat led a seven and a half mile walk from the Barley Mow in Wingerworth – around Stubbing Pond and up to the Stone Edge Chimney. After lunch it was the ‘Round Chesterfield Walk’ back to Wingerworth. There was plenty of snow on the tops and icy in places. 22 braved the weather.

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Monday 2 February

To step up …. or step down ?

Not everyone wants to do the 34 mile Chesterfield Round Walk.
Not everyone wants to walk 5 miles or more.

There is a gap in the ‘market’.
As a group we provide a wide range of walks throughout the year from 5 miles upwards. But sometimes, due to age or infirmity, 5 miles is a bit too much for some of our members.

The national Walking for Health scheme, which has been run jointly by MacMillan Cancer Support and the Ramblers since April 2012, offers a great opportunity for short walks – but mostly under 90 minutes.

There is an obvious gap for those people who want to do a bit more than 90 minutes and for those members of the Ramblers who want to do a bit less than 5 miles.

Members of the Ramblers already pay a subscription that works out at about £3 a month.
We are now offering Walking for Health members 30% off their first year’s membership with the Ramblers if they want to step up a little.

We need people however, whether in the Ramblers, Walking for Health, or indeed anywhere else, to organise and lead short walks of between 3 and 5 miles which we can add to our walking programme.
If you see the need for this and are willing to join our group and help please contact us.

We’d be delighted to see you.

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