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News Archive (February 2016)

The Ramblers
Sunday 28 February



A selection of images from today’s excellent walk. A Hartington – Longnor circular led by Robert ;

I led a walk from Hartington via Sheen & Brund up beside the river Manifold to Longnor where we all had lunch. Then it was a return beside the river Dove by Pilsbury Castle & back to Hartington.
A beautiful day, ideal for walking with just a gentle breeze.
13 ramblers, including two ladies from Mansfield ramblers (Val & Brenda) and a gentleman from Dronfield who wasn’t a member of the Ramblers but wanted to join us to see what it was like.

The group at Hartington
Looking towards Narrowdale
Gordon and Derek at lunch in Longnor
Looking towards Chrome, Parkhouse and Hollins Hills
Looking back
Pilsbury Castles
On our way back to Hartington

The Ramblers
Saturday 27 February


A group of ten for today’s walk from Ironville – David, Eileen, Kate, Mike, Elaine, Bridgette, Paul, Colin, Pat – and Cathy (who reports) ;

Mel’s walk, but led in his absence by Pat.
Sunny at times but dry and crisp, good company, easy walking.
We started in Ironville by the church, then along the Cromford Canal. The route continued via Ripley, local villages, rolling countryside, Codnor golf course, and Codnor Castle, returning by the Canal.

The Ramblers
Thursday 25 February


We now have details of five 3 night UK taster holidays with Ramblers Holidays ;

1. Classic Sidmouth (Devon) – Sidholme Hotel – Tuesday 24 May to Friday 27 May 2016 – £225.00 per person.
2. Walking the Wye Valley (Gloucestershire) – Lindors Country House Hotel – Tuesday 5 July to Friday 8 July 2016 – £235.00 per person.
3. St Ives and the Cornish Coast (Cornwall) – Treloyhan Manor Hotel – Monday 26 September to Thursday 29 September 2016 – £230.00 per person.
4. Walking the Wye Valley (Gloucestershire) – Lindors Country House Hotel – Tuesday 18 October to Friday 21 October 2016 – £230.00 per person.
5. The Furness Peninsula and Southern Lakes (Grange-Over –Sands, Lake District) – Abbot Hall Hotel – Tuesday 15 November to Friday 18 November 2016 – £247 per person.

Contact our group to book if you are interested.

3 night UK taster holidays

The Ramblers
Wednesday 24 February

A magnificent February day, and 62 walkers took full advantage on three walks.

21 ramblers enjoyed lovely sunny weather and fantastic clear views on a 10 mile walk via Eyam, Stoke Ford, Leadmill Bridge, Grindleford and Froggatt, led by Sue ;

We encountered some ice on the descent from Eyam Moor to Stoke Ford, but no-one came to grief and all were glad that for the most part the low temperatures meant the muddy sections were frozen solid.
A couple of snow showers did nothing to dampen our spirits and we all enjoyed the day.

Passing the Boundary Stone
Avoiding icy ground
Coffee break above Eyam YHA
Towards Hathersage from Eyam Moor

A group of 14, including one welcome non-member, took a route from Creswell across into Nottinghamshire, eastwards to Clumber Park and then north to Worksop.
David was the leader.
After a coffee break at Creswell Crags it was on to part of the Robin Hood Way through the Welbeck Estate to Truman’s Lodge and then through the Manton Forest to recline in luxury waiting for a return on the No 77 Chesterfield bus at Worksop’s magnificent new bus station.

Creswell Crags
Welbeck Lakes
South Lodge Tunnel Entrance, Welbeck
Robin Hood Way, Welbeck
Barbara writes about the Castleton walk ;

An 8 mile medium walk. 27 hardy souls turned out on a beautiful sunny day and took the easier route up Cave Dale (via Goose Hill).
The frost made for a good climb up and the views were stunning.
A stop for lunch near the Blue John mine when we had a flurry of snow !
A bit of a hazardous path to Treak Cliff Cavern and then the muddiest section from the Speedwell Cavern back into Castleton where we had a great deal of slipping and sliding. Several of us went down – should have gone back on the road.

The Ramblers
Saturday 20 February

Not such a good day weather-wise for the monthly walk with the visually impaired.
Kath reports ;

16 of us, which included 4 visually impaired, set off from the meeting point at the Teversal visitor centre in the dry to do roughly 5 miles along the Teversal Trails.
Unfortunately after the half way point at Pit Lane the heavens opened and led to a retreat back to Teversal.
In spite of the weather we enjoyed the walk and of course the company.

The next walk with the visually impaired is from Cromford Meadows on Saturday 19 March.
New helpers are always welcome.

The Ramblers
Friday 19 February


Derbyshire Rights of Way Consultation Report

Will it keep a lid on rights of way problems ? Or will they escalate out of control ?


The greatest disincentive for the public to report problems is the (usually misplaced) feeling that they have already been reported.
Despite financial problems many councils continue to re-invent the wheel rather than specifying a nationally based system where the public can flag and monitor issues.
Current systems are often more geared to council’s rather than public needs.


Councils such as Oxfordshire use systems that enable the public to flag and report rights of way issues, but they are also linked to general footpath issues and updates are not consistently recorded by the Council.



Report a problem to Derbyshire Rights of Way

The Ramblers
Wednesday 17 February



Steady rain did not deter Mel’s group, although numbers braving the day were down ;

Starting from Grindleford Station, 10 members, including a visitor from Sheffield, followed a shortened 9 mile route taking in Padley Gorge, Higger Tor, Burbage Edge, and Houndskirk Moor – before returning to Grindleford via Longshaw.
Low cloud and mist denied the group the excellent views that would normally be enjoyed along the route but all enjoyed the fresh brisk air.

The Ramblers
Sunday 7 February

Thanks to John for photos taken in Tideswell Dale


The Ramblers
Wednesday 3 February

Yet another walk led by Mel ;

Accompanied by glorious winter sunshine and blue skies, 25 members, including guests from Sheffield, Rotherham and Lichfield, enjoyed a 10 mile walk from Grassmoor Country Park taking in Hagg Hill, Pilsley, Hardstoft and Astwith – and making use, at least in part, of the Five Pits Trail.

On a warm and sunny February day Andrew led 14 on a green route through the parks and countryside of South Sheffield.
Starting from Chancet Wood at the bottom of Meadowhead the journey ended at Graves Park at the top, having taken a clockwise route via Beauchief, Millhouses, Brincliffe, and Meersbrook.

Sheffield from Meersbrook Park (after JMW Turner)
A green city
The Bishops’ House