The Public Inquiry in respect of Backdale Quarry on Longstone Edge has been cancelled ! It seems hard to believe when you see what damage is being done to this hillside.
Go to http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/index/news/news-display-page.htm?id=11942 for more information.
I wonder what happens now ?
[Please note that since I posted the original blog the image has been changed. I went back today, the 2nd April, and took another photograph in the April sunshine, in between the showers.]
It was great to get out and enjoy some warm sunshine yesterday. I led a walk with ten other Derbyshire Dales group members from Grassmoor Country Park. It's not an area we walk in that often which is a shame because it's an interesting area. Many walkers only want to walk in the Peak District but not me.
We followed the Five Pits Trail initially [with me taking the wrong turn at one point]. This brought us into Heath which if I'm not mistaken [judging by the shade of blue paint on some of the houses] includes some Chatsworth Estate properties. We crossed the bridge over the road leading from Chesterfield to Junction 29 on the M1 as the cars ground to a standstill below.
Half an hour later we enjoyed lunch [in the sunshine] at Sutton Scarsdale Hall - the ruin of an 18th century Hall which apparently rivalled Chatsworth in terms of grandeur. In the 1920s though it was stripped bare of roof, interior decor and most everything else so that all that is left is a shell.
Sutton Springs Wood is an interesting area where there are rather large bungalows in a woodland setting - we followed a track [that is also a footpath] through the wood having to get out of the way of the odd car as we went.
We finished at 2.30pm having kicked off at 10am.
The two of us then went to Hardwick Hall where we paid a visit to the tearoom and had a walk round the garden which is just beginning to show signs of life. The photograph shows the front of the Hall - I should perhaps have held the camera slightly leveller ! My apologies.
This is a view of High Tor, Matlock. I spent the first year or so of married life enjoying this view from a picture window in one of the houses shown at the bottom of the photograph. It was interesting to go back yesterday and walk some of the paths that I've not been on for a couple of years.
Firstly I wanted to see what had been done in Hall Leys Park, Matlock. It lies between the town and the River Derwent and has always been one of my favourite parks probably because it is so well known to me. I used to walk to work through the park beside the river for three or four years when I was in my late teens/early twenties. The money that has been spent there recently seems to be largely cosmetic though a skate board area has been built and seemed popular with 20 or 30 kids who were riding their bikes and skateboards as I passed by.
I then followed the river round to cross the A6 and climb up St. John's Road where I took the photograph shown.
Passing behind The Rocks I walked up through the fields to the top of Masson Hill where I had a coffee on Geoff's Seat. Geoff was Geoff Wildgoose [no relation] was a Matlock Solicitor who died in his 50s 15 years or so ago. It's a lovely view of Matlock from here.
Coming out on Salters Lane I followed the steep bridleway down the hillside to reach Snitterton [in Charlie's Blog there's a picture of the bullring there].
Then I followed the riverside path back into Matlock. As usual this path is spoilt by the amount of litter. We'll have to see if we can do something about it.
It seems unlikely that we're going to get any snow this weekend, which is a shame if you're walking.
Last weekend though I led a walk which started at Firestone Hill and followed ancient North Lane [pictured here]. It must be at least two thousand years old, probably much older, running as it does along the ridge above Belper.
Next Saturday, the 25th March 2006, I'm leading an eight to nine mile walk from Grassmoor Country Park near Chesterfield. We'll be visiting the ruin of Sutton Scarsdale Hall and following an unusual woodland path. If you're interested get in touch.
This is Hazelwood Spring, south west of Belper.
The sign at the side reads :
Briefly, before I set off for work, let me upload an image I captured on Sunday, the 5th March 2006.
It was taken on Longstone Edge, near Calver. It was a near cloudless sky with a cold, cold wind blowing along the top of the Edge - straight into my face.
There were few people about - just the odd walker, a few mountain bikers and about ten 4x4s using the old lanes and tracks that criss cross the hillside.
I walked about five miles and enjoyed the sight of the catkins on the trees and the promise of Springtime which is presumably soon to be with us.
A lovely day and a nice change to enjoy some 'winter' walking.
It sounds as though we're chopping down hawthorn again tomorrow - up at Taxal - between Buxton and Whaley Bridge.
There are three of us going from the Derbyshire Dales group and we'll be working with some Peak Park volunteers before a Venture Scout group go in on Sunday and carry on the work.
No doubt pictures will follow hereabouts !
