News Archive (January 2015)

Thursday 29 January

We were in Chesterfield Library today promoting the Ramblers as part of the ‘…. more than books’ event.
A taste of what is on offer to library customers from local voluntary organisations.

However there were probably more people on Kinder today than in Chesterfield Library – given the morning’s heavy snow.

Ramblers information has been left on display until next Monday.

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Wednesday 28 January


The May 2015 Chesterfield Area Walking Festival programme is now out.

There are 59 walks, of which we are set to lead 9.
You can book online for any walk on the Festival website.

The walks vary from half a mile to 34 miles in length, with the longest one, the Chesterfield Round Walk, now in its 10th anniversary year.
If you’re not doing the walk (or any other that date) come to the brief celebration at lunchtime outside the Peak Edge Hotel (Red Lion) at Stone Edge on Sunday 10th May as the walkers pass through.
The Mayor of Chesterfield has promised to be there to celebrate the occasion.

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Graham and Edna led 24 to ‘greet the ladies’ today. An 11 mile route from Rowsley Old Station to Stanton in the Peak, Birchover, and Stanton Woodhouse – encompassing the Nine Ladies Stone Circle on Stanton Moor. A legend from days before ‘Strictly Come Dancing.’ A fine but windy day with the inevitable mud in places. A return to Rowsley at 2:40 pm.

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Val reports ; 24 ‘long bus walkers’ took the bus to Baslow Nether End – planning a walk along Baslow, Curbar and Froggatt Edges with a return on the lower slopes. We climbed up the lane and emerged onto the open moor near the Eagle Stone and set off across Baslow Edge. The very strong wind made walking difficult and consequently when we reached Curbar Gap we left the Edge and descended to a lower path – and walked through Froggatt and Hay Wood to Grindleford for a lunch stop. The way back was initially on the Derwent Valley Way – then back to Nether End via Curbar Village. On these lower paths the wind was light, we had a few hail showers and some sunny intervals, but our only problem was the inevitable mud !

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Sunday 25 January

The Sunday walk saw Gordon leading a group of 11 on a mainly sunny day from Calver to Longstone Edge, Rowland and Hassop.
There was a stop for lunch at Pilsley – before the return to Calver via Bank Wood. An 11 mile route in all.
Photos by John.

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Saturday 24 January


A 10 mile Wingerworth circular from Mike, via the Salem Chapel
and Stanedge Golf Club.
15 did the walk, including welcome visitors from Nottingham and London.

Instead of the usual golf balls there was a pheasant shoot to negotiate on the golf course.
Is shooting permitted around public footpaths ?
According to the BASC (British Association for Shooting & Conservation) guidelines, we have equal rights of access and should not disrupt each other.
Basic safety procedures must however be followed and footpath users must be allowed to exercise their rights to ‘pass and re-pass’.

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Wednesday 21 January

Sadly, all four walks cancelled today because of snow and ice.
Looking on the bright side, it gives a chance for a quiz ….


Thanks to ‘openstreetmap’ on the web for providing the questions.
Any answers will be passed back to them.

Unknown local footpath signs

Latest: ‘Openstreetmap’ page now edited a bit with answers, thanks to Basil and Val’s local knowledge.

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Tuesday 20 January


David led this morning’s walk from Dronfield ;

17 of us , including friends from the Dronfield Footpaths and Bridleways Society, walked from Dronfield Woodhouse, through Monk Wood to Barlow Lees and Cowley – 4.5 miles in all.
We had ideal weather – a bright crisp morning, with just enough frost to harden the worst of the mud.
We stopped and admired the newish and long flight of steps , leading up from Barlow fish ponds towards Barlow Lees.
I reminded the group that the steps had been built by Ramblers volunteers .

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Saturday 17 January


17, of which five were visually impaired, set off from Hassop Old Station along the Monsal Trail before making their way, via Cracknowl Wood, into Bakewell for lunch.
Many thanks to Keith for leading.
Volunteers to help with our monthly walks with the visually impaired are always welcome.
The next one is on Saturday 21 February from Bakewell Old Station.

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Wednesday 14 January

We all need sunlight in the winter months, so we are told, and today provided yet another tonic. A beautiful crisp, sunny day coming as it did in the middle of a week of Atlantic rain and gales. Rex took 15 on the Matlock bound X17 bus. They alighted in Kelstedge and completed the journey via Ashover, Tansley, and Riber Castle. Well done to Ashover for not only continuing to provide public conveniences (rare these days) but combining them with an information ‘centre.’

19 of the Wednesday car group, led by Mel, followed a route that encircled a section of the river Rother. Starting from the Poolsbrook Country Park Visitors Centre the walk included sections of the Trans Pennine Trail, Foxstone Dam and the Cuckoo Way – where the group were treated to an extended sighting of a kingfisher.

Eric meanwhile led 26 from another unique tourist attraction in this part of the county, Creswell Crags, on an eight mile circular.

Heres to more sunny Wednesdays, our most popular walking day, in the weeks ahead.

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Monday 5 January



Many thanks to Barbara who led 14 of us and two dogs on a 6 mile walk from Tapton Lock today – to remove any new year cobwebs.

Along the Chesterfield Canal to the Hollingwood Hub and then through Ringwood Park and the Westwood before dropping back down through Tapton Park.

What comes after Christmas and New Year ? Valentine’s Day of course.
From Tapton Lock you could plan a long walk to the exotic orient…. or treat a loved one to a slow boat to Staveley.

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