News Archive (June 2015)
Saturday 27 June
David writes about the Saturday walk ;
We had warm and sunny weather for our 10 mile walk in a delightful area we only visit infrequently.
10 of us set off from the Loxley Valley and walked through Holdsworth and up on to White Lee Moor , where we lunched overlooking the splendidly named hamlet of Wigtwizzle (not Wightwizzle, as shown on the ancient milepost), returning through High Bradfield – and on to a stop for ice cream.
We had splendid views from the high ground and looked down on several of the large reservoirs in the valleys, including Broomhead, Agden, Strines, and Dale Dike. The last was the scene of a disaster in 1864, when the dam collapsed and over 3 billion litres of water swept down the valley, killing at least 240 people.
Part of our route was on roads used by last year’s Tour de France, including the ‘Cote de Bradfield’ ; it would have presented much less of a challenge to the riders than some of the roads encountered later as the tour continued on through the mountains of southern France !
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Friday 26 June A short spot for us today towards the end of Toby Foster’s Radio Sheffield Breakfast Show. Love Where You Live from Chesterfield’s Pomegranate Theatre, sharing a stage with, among others, the Edale Mountain Rescue Team. |
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Someone once said that everywhere is within walking distance if you have the time. Group members often do find the time to walk outside our county. Congratulations to Jean, Anne, and Pat, who recently tackled the Worcestershire Way.
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Wednesday 24 June
| The ‘medium car walkers’ parked today at Fairholmes in the Derwent Valley, and Arthur led 19 on a well worn 8 mile route to Alport’s ‘Castles in the Clouds’ – a huge landslide that has produced castle-like features. |
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Mid-summer is a great time for Hope Valley train rambles. This week it was John’s turn to lead 13 – this time on the high-level route between Hope and Edale. Leaving Hope Station there was a steady climb through Aston and Twitchill Farm to Wooler and Crookstone Knolls. On to Nether and Upper Tors with superb views, and eventually descending Grindsbrook (always tough on the knees) to catch the 4:33 pm train back from Edale.    |
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Today’s ‘long car walk’ led by Rob up to the Barrow and Grinah Stones, via the embryonic River Derwent. A brilliant walk of roughly 10 miles with 23 taking part. Generally great weather and good humour throughout the day.  A pre-walk briefing  Rob’s dog Edie – boundless energy and great fun  Tea break  The embryonic Derwent  |
Sunday 21 June
A Sunday walk on the longest day from Cutthroat Bridge on the A57 Snake Pass road – via Derwent Edge, Grindle Barn, Ladybower Reservoir, Fairholmes, Lockerbrook Farm, and Bridge End Pastures.
Ten people on the walk of 10.5 miles, led by Edna.
Windy but minimal rain and really good views from the tops.
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Saturday 20 June Reg led 6 visually impaired, 4 guide dogs and 14 guides on a four and a half mile mystery tour around Shipley Country Park. The walk was rounded off by a delicious cream tea in the Visitor Centre café , where they were joined by two more members who are unable to walk with us at the moment. |
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Another long summer Saturday walk from John Newrick. An ‘Edges’ walk of 18.7 miles completed by six people in around eight hours.
 Stormy skies over the Hope Valley  Andrea, Margaret, Graham, Jim, and John H on Froggatt Edge |
Wednesday 17 June
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It’s often a different climate in the Peak – as the ‘long car’ walk featuring Derwent Edge and Dale Dike Reservoir showed. It was dry in Chesterfield, but Sue led 23 good-humoured walkers on an 11 mile walk through mist and increasingly heavy rain. Nothing though compared with the Great Flood of 1864. |
This evening’s five mile walk, starting at 18:15, took advantage of being on the eve of the 200th anniversary of Waterloo – and included a visit to the Wellington Monument on Baslow Edge. It was a walk remembering not just the Duke of Wellington but the man who erected the monument, Dr Edward Mason Wrench – who, like Wellington, combined two careers – being both a soldier and after that a doctor in Baslow for a full 50 years. We were pleased to have Melody, the great grand-daughter of Dr Wrench, and friend Marion join us for part of the route to the Wellington Monument. The view from the Monument over Chatsworth is now blocked by trees. They perhaps need to be cut down a bit. |
Saturday 13 June
Ward’s Piece
‘A Rambler made is a man (and woman) improved’
A rather damp day for the Saturday walk, which was changed slightly due to the weather.
It started in Hope with a walk along the river into Castleton, and on to Odin Sitch.
Then, following a significant improvement in the weather, a visit to Ward’s Piece via Back Tor and a descent via Lose Hill farm.
Slightly shorter than originally planned, but still 6.5 miles and 1200 ft of ascent.
Pat & Cathy the leaders.
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Tuesday 9 June David writes ;
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A sunny day for sixteen on the Hope Valley train ramble from Bamford to Hathersage, led by David. A climb from Bamford to Stanage Edge with glorious views under an azure sky. The descent to the train at Hathersage, caught with just a minute to spare, was via Higger Tor and Mitchell Field.
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Sunday 7 June
Views from Eileen & Terry’s 11 mile Monsal Head walk – via Millers Dale, Blackwell, and Priestcliffe.
Photos by John.
Saturday 6 June
Some walks are easy and others not so easy.
John’s routes fall into the latter category, none more so than his Edale Round.
Six started this walk and five completed.
This is an extremely challenging walk of 21 miles and 3,500 feet of ascent, mainly over rough terrain.
Tough at anytime, but it was blowing a gale and at times difficult to keep our feet. Time taken was 8.5 hours including stops.
With clear skies some magnificent views over Edale and beyond. Brilliant !
Wednesday 3 June
      Pauline & Clive led the ‘long car’ walkers on a scenic 12.5 mile circular from Buxworth. Photos by John. |
 David led the Wednesday evening walk ;
In the case of rights of way blocked by ploughing and cropping, Derbyshire County Council say they take a pro-active approach to ensuring that paths are reinstated in accordance with the statutory requirements. |
 There is always something going off at Chatsworth. Today it was Gun Dog training by the Kennel Club as Gill led 18 bus walkers on a walk through the woods above the House for a glimpse of the famous Chatsworth waterworks.
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Chesterfield Area Walking Festival 
