News Archive (January 2017)

The Ramblers
Saturday 28 January

Mel’s comments on the Saturday walk ;

Starting from Henmoor a group of 13 members paid tribute to our heritage by tracing a route through the gentle farmland of Stretton Hall and Handley, in parallel with the Roman Ryknield Street.
After crossing the Roman road at Stretton the group returned to Henmoor via Pilsley, North Wingfield and Tupton – stopping to admire the impressive towers, often hidden by foliage at other times, at the northern entrance to the Clay Cross Tunnel.
Wildlife observed during the walk included a vole, hare and buzzards.

The Ramblers
Wednesday 25 January

Basil led eleven from outside Chesterfield Railway Station on a walk with a difference.
Seven miles exploring options for a Chesterfield Inner Circular walk.
The Chesterfield Round Walk of 34 miles covering the countryside around the town is now in its 12th year but there is a need nationally for more urban walking – to improve health, maintain the environment, and to reduce traffic congestion and pollution.
Sustainable travel funding will hopefully lead to more walking both for travelling to work and for recreation generally.
Derbyshire needs support to encourage walking, both in the Peak District and outside it.
It appears a little lacking at the moment.

Mel in photographic action near Higger Tor

Photos by Mel

Carl Wark and Higger Tor

Bole Hill

Another good January day for weather attracted 27 walkers to Grindleford Station for a mainly moorland circular via White Edge Moor, Totley Moor, and Hathersage Moor.
Excellent views throughout in bright sunshine.
John and Trish in charge.

Upper Padley

The Ramblers
Monday 23 January

A good turnout of 25 for the Monday walk, which included Bruce, visiting from the South Downs.
Joyce took the group from Calton Lees to Chatsworth House, the Hunting Tower, Stand Wood and on to Hell Bank Plantation before completing the circle.
The walk began in dense fog, which cleared on higher ground.

The Ramblers
Friday 20 January

Today’s morning walk was billed as a ‘winter’s day walk’
It turned out to be a spring-like day with warm sunshine, perhaps one of the best January days for some time. Snow seems to have taken residence on Spanish beaches, not the Peak District.
A small, select band led by David made the four mile journey from the Robin Hood to Baslow, via Gardoms and Baslow Edges, enjoying the conditions and putting the world to rights.

Close to Gardoms Edge

Gardoms Edge

A familiar Baslow Edge resident

The Ramblers
Wednesday 18 January

The day’s largest attendance was the 27 who assembled at the Sitwell Arms, Renishaw.
A circular walk of over 8 miles followed, via the extensive Rother Valley Country Park and Killamarsh.
The leader was Eric.

Pleasley Pit

Mel was in action again today, leading the ‘long car’ group ;

Commencing at the Pleasley Pit Country Park, 15 ramblers set out for a leisurely circular walk skirting the edges of Mansfield Woodhouse, Shirebrook Woods, (part of a reclaimed colliery site) and Langwith Junction.
Following lunch the group returned via Langwith and Roseland Wood followed by a short trek by the wetland area of the Country Park.

Ramblers footpath work makes the mud passable (NE2 7/3)

A bus group of 16 followed a linear route from Holmesfield to Holymoorside in very mild and calm January weather.
It was a reasonably direct north to south journey to the west of Chesterfield via Millthorpe, Wilday Green, Pratt Hall, and Old Brampton – with a lunch stop at Linacre Reservoirs.
Conditions as to be expected were rather muddy in places. Some sharp frosts needed.
David was the leader.

The Ramblers
Wednesday 11 January

If signposts had a quality classification, this one would do quite well.
Holmesfield Footpaths and Bridleways Society commissioned and paid for it, and it was manufactured in the workshop of the National Park.
Descriptions of Holmesfield footpaths are regularly featured in the Parish Newsletter.

Mike comments;

I had 18 on my circular walk from Holmesfield.
Although it was only five miles the often muddy terrain and gale force winds made for fairly slow and difficult progress.
Nevertheless, a good walk via Gillfield Wood, Lydgate, Horsleygate, and Millthorpe.

A bright winter’s day for a Calver circular, led by Gordon.
Gusty conditions throughout however made it a tough walk.
23 braved the wind on a route via Pilsley, Hassop, Rowland, Longstone Edge,
and Coombs Dale
A good job we were not in High Bradfield, where gusts of 93 mph were recorded today.

All Saints, Hassop

Fighting the wind on Longstone Edge

A little shelter from the wind on Longstone Edge

The Ramblers
Sunday 8 January

A Wingerworth circular for the last in the current Festival of Winter Walks, led by Mike ;

Local members were joined with visitors from both Mansfield and Sheffield.
A nine mile circular walk passed major footpath improvement work on the way to Stanedge Golf Course.
Local Ramblers volunteers had installed gates adjacent to two cattle grids giving better access and the County Council had finally improved the drainage and surfaced the path through Slate Pit Dale.
This latter path had been virtually closed for the last ten years due to the appalling surface condition. Ramblers’ pressure resulted in a successful outcome.
Following part of the Chesterfield Round Walk took the party to Nether Loads – and Holymoorside was reached via Woodhead and Pocknedge Lane.
The return to Wingerworth on the South Chesterfield Way was by Walton Lodge Farm, Stubbing Pond and Salem Chapel.

The Festival is over but normal winter programme continues, as ever.

Cathole to Holymoorside

Nether Loads industrial archaeology

Coaching route portals at Harper Hill

Photos: John

The Ramblers
Wednesday 4 January

Graves Park

The Bishops’ House in winter shadow

Meersbrook Park overlooking the city of Sheffield

A dozen led by Andrew enjoyed another Sheffield trip with a walk from Dronfield to Heeley, taking in some of Sheffield’s greenery and a few golf courses.

Mike writes about leading today’s circular ;

One of the first walks of the New Year began at a chilly Tapton Lock Visitor Centre where 26 members gathered to begin a local journey of about nine miles.
The route followed the Chesterfield Canal tow path to Chesterfield Railway Station and then on to the Trans Pennine Trail through Tapton Golf Course and Brimington Common.
A loop along part of the Chesterfield Round Walk to Calow was then followed back through the West Wood and Brimington.
Warm winter sunshine and a picnic lunch on the canal bank at Bilby Bridge was enjoyed before a leisurely stroll along the tow path to the starting point.