News Archive (November 2014)
Sunday 30 November
Better weather for the last day of November.
Eight members left Corbriggs in glorious sunshine and, after skirting Calow, walked part of the Trans Pennine Trail before arriving for a well-earned lunch stop at Poolsbrook Country Park.
The return was via Duckmanton to the English Heritage ruins of Sutton Scarsdale Hall.
A walk along Postmans Lane brought the group back to the starting point. Thanks to David for leading.
Wednesday 26 November
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Not a great day for walking but it didn’t stop 23 intrepid walkers, led by Gordon, enduring the mist, drizzle, and rain on the longer car ramble. Leaving Calver they followed the secluded Coombs Dale to Longstone Edge via Rowland and Pilsley – before returning to Calver through Bank Wood.  Calver from Bank Wood on a better day |
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Similar poor weather conditions for Arthur, who led 19 ramblers from The Grouse Inn for an 8 mile walk. They made their way onto Curbar and Froggatt Edges before walking by the river to Grindleford and then back to The Grouse. Good exercise and fresh air whatever the weather. |
Saturday 22 November
Starting from Rumbling Street, ten members led by Mel enjoyed a circular walk taking in Barlow Grange, Moorhall, Lydgate and Storth House before returning via Castle Hill, Holmesfield, and Millthorpe.
During the return the group were rewarded with a superbly lit view of the Cordwell Valley just below the Holmesfield Ridge.
A little time was also taken to view the
cruck barn restoration at Barlow Woodseats.
In order to try and protect the services we use on bus rambles the attached letter has been sent to Derbyshire County Council as part of the ‘Derbyshire Challenge’ consultation.
Group members are urged to send in personal questionnaires, whether they are affected as ramblers or in their day to day life.
The deadline is 14 December.
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Wednesday 19 November Eric set out from Calver crossroads with a good turnout of 30, heading for Great Longstone, via Rowland. Good walking conditions and mild weather – not the snow shown here. |
 Hardwick Millers Pond  Stainsby Mill  Doe Lea Not much sign of cold weather so far – so we have to contend with mud. Our Group Secretary, John, led 14 ‘bus’ walkers on a nine mile walk from Calow Church to Doe Lea, via Sutton Spring Wood, Sutton Scarsdale, Heath, Astwith, and Hardwick. Varied scenery and history throughout, and interesting to see how previously industrialised areas have developed over the years. |
Sunday 16 November
Terry and Eileen led a party of seven ramblers from the Odin Mine, Castleton, onto Rushup Edge where the normally spectacular views were obscured by a heavy mist.
Lunch was at the top of Perry Dale, and the superb views over the valley compensated for the misty start.
After a very wet trek down Cave Dale the party reached Castleton, where they encountered a Victorian Market and a brass band playing somewhat early Christmas carols.
The walk which was 10.5 miles in length, was completed in just over five hours.
Saturday 15 November
Pity about the unrelenting foggy conditions for today’s walk.
Thanks to the three K’s – Kath, Kay, and Keith – who took a group of 14, including five visually impaired, from Pleasley Pit to Hardwick Hall, via Rowthorne. The return was through Norwood.
A fine walk nevertheless in the November gloom. Hardwick Hall was nearly seen.
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Wednesday 12 November 14 ramblers set out by bus to Rowsley for a circular walk, led by Michael. After the early rain the weather had cleared by the time the walk started as the party headed for Calton Pastures, a source of some ancient history – via Beeley, Calton Lees (where lunch was taken) and Calton Houses. The track back to Rowsley gave extensive views before descending through attractive woods. |
A wet start but soon turning dry and bright for David, leading 18 on the bus ramble from Corbriggs to Heath, with a lunch stop in Poolsbrook Country Park. The Trans Pennine Trail near Middlecroft  A bench on the Trans Pennine Trail  No doubt where you are here  Sutton Scarsdale Hall The core Trans Pennine Trail is a coast to coast route of 215 miles between Southport and Hornsea, but we walked on a spur that runs between Chesterfield and Leeds. The onward journey to Heath to catch the Pronto bus was through Duckmanton and Sutton Scarsdale. |
Sunday 9 November
The shorter Sunday walk this week was led by David.
Eight members set out from the Revolution House in Old Whittington for a six mile route.
They made their way to the Riverside Garden Centre, then onto Ouzle Bank and over to Unstone, walking up to the Chesterfield Communication Transmitter before returning to Old Whittington.
Walking conditions were poor, with lots of mud and standing water due to the rain – but the sunshine more than made up for this.
Sunday 9 November
After three days of rain a fine sunny day for Edna’s 10 mile Curbar circular, with nine walkers.
Starting from Clod Hall Lane the route was via Big Moor, Froggatt Edge, and the Wellington Monument.
Even in the heart of Big Moor a Remembrance Day 11 am siren brought on extra silence to this barren landscape.
A fishing expedition ? ….
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Monday 3 November No …. not a fishing expedition in any sense of the phrase for 14 of the Monday short walkers, led by David, who left Dronfield Woodhouse for the Barlow fishing ponds. It was a well planned walk. Six miles in fine weather with the return being by Monk Wood. |
Wednesday 5 November The Wednesday medium car ramble had Colin, together with 20 followers, setting out to walk the length of Bradford Dale and up to Robin Hood’s Stride. They continued from there to Birchover and over to Stanton Moor, where only one member braved the climb to the Cork Stone. |
Wednesday 5 November
No local connections with Guy Fawkes.
He did apparently fight for Roman Catholic Spain against the Protestant Dutch, and 83 years after the Gunpowder Plot some local gentlemen met in an Old Whittington Inn to invite William and Mary of Orange over from Holland to replace James II on the throne.
Basil however didn’t need a reason to start and finish a walk at the Revolution House. It’s a good place to walk from any day.
On a day of remarkably blue ‘Spanish’ sky and warmth, he led a dozen of us on a 10 mile circular via the Peak Resort / Ecodome site at Unstone, Ouzle Bank, and the Unstone line nature reserve.
We followed some soon to be diverted footpaths linked with the Ecodome scheme – which has been long in the planning.
…. and we were fed ginger parkin as well !
Sunday 2 November
The Upper Dovedale circular, led by Rob.
Thanks to Gordon for the photo.
Given ongoing problems with the Northern Rail timetables, check with Walksfinder or the walk leader on Hope Valley train times this summer.
