The River Dove, without the crowds ...

Friday afternoon I went out to pre-walk the Ramblers' walk I was going to lead the following day. It had been wet in the morning but by early afternoon this had stopped and there was a promise of sun .... and shine it did.

Being an Friday afternoon there were likely to be few walkers about and as I was walking between 3.30pm and 6pm, even fewer.

From Alsop Station on the Tissington Trail I followed the Trail north to Alsop Moor where I left the old railway line and turned left down the valley for Coldeaton Bridge. There were Early Purple Orchids on the left and rabbits on the right as I descended. Then further down the valley there was a thick drift of cowslips on the steep, valley side.

The level of the Dove was higher than normal and the brown, muddy, water was really pouring over the weirs as I walked downstream. Lode Mill looked lovely in the sunlight and I took a few photos which are posted elsewhere.

Then I crossed into Staffordshire to walk down to Milldale. On my way a sole fisherman was looking to cast his fly into the murky waters of the Dove - would the trout actually be able to see anything ?

At Milldale, the National Trust Information 'centre' was closed which was surprising seeing as it was only 4.30pm. Coffee was taken on a seat right beside the river as I watched a duck and her seven ducklings forage for food.

A steady climb up from Viator's Bridge beckoned but this didn't prove too hard and I was able to take the photo shown looking down from the bank above Milldale.

I then proceeded along the rim of the dale and took another shot looking down on the weirs where I'd seen the angler half an hour before.

Nothing much happened on the way back though I did have a look down onto Lode Mill from the access land above it. It's surprising how quickly you can climb up from the valley bottom when you're enjoying the scenery.

Next day of course I was joined by 23 other walkers and it was a very different walk. More sociable, not so sunny, but still very enjoyable .... and they did seem to enjoy it.

Shipley Park, near Ilkeston

I was due to lead a walk from Straw's Bridge, Ilkeston, up to Shipley Park on Sunday. And I would have done - if anyone had turned up .....

I'm putting it down to the heavy rain rather than my lack of popularity.

I decided to walk on my own though, in the rain, and it was a really enjoyable 5 or 6 mile morning stroll.

There is usually plenty of wildlife at Straw's Bridge, including the odd rat. Curiosities on Sunday were a Mandarin Duck and a pair of terns flying round the pond.

The route I followed went along the Nutbrook Trail to Shipley Park itself, passing the American Adventure across the other side of a small lake. Even at 11.00am and in the rain there was a handful of people no doubt enjoying themselves.

I had a stop at Nottingham Lodge and enjoyed the view and my coffee.

A few hundred yards later I passed Derby Lodge where I see you can get a cup of coffee though I don't know whether it's open during the week. I pressed on.

At Mapperley Reservoir I followed the concessionary path through the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Reserve before picking up a bridleway which led me in the direction of the start. After following a few more paths and getting my boots mudded up and then cleaned in the long wet grass I got back to the car.

I really enjoyed walking in the rain !

A walk near Chatsworth

Apologies for not keeping you up to date with what I've been doing. [Too busy on my other blog - that's a more personal, topical and provocative one - let me know if you're interested in looking into The Pit].

Yesterday though we went through the bluebell filled woods above Rowsley. The photos I took were slightly disappointing being rather bleached so instead you've got one of the pond on Calton Pastures.

It was a cloudy day and whilst we were walking between 3 and 5 pm there were very few people about though we did bump into someone we know.

It was a lovely walk from Rowsley up Church Lane passing Bouns Corner before we took the Haddon Estate concessionary path through Manners Wood. This brought us out onto Calton Pastures where we walked across the fields, past the tumulus and into the wood again by the bridleway which drops down into Manners Wood. We had a coffee here and having passed through a couple of farmgates on the bridleway watched a cyclist haul his bike over the ladder stile. We were too tired to climb the stile whilst he said he was too knackered to open two gates !

Then we walked down the bridleway which is much drier than it has been before getting back to the car.

No problems - just a beautiful springtime walk in England admiring the spectacular display of bluebells.

A walk around Melbourne and Stanton by Bridge

In the spring sunshine yesterday I led a walk from Staunton Harold Reservoir. There were eight other walkers there plus a dog named Reg.

We visited Melbourne Church [pictured in the handheld shot taken without flash] which is very impressive with its large columns and Norman features.

We then wound our way through the more modern features of Melbourne and had a tea-stop in the cemetery - well, we were resting too ! Melbourne is of course where Thomas Cook came from and [I believe] where the Australian city got its name from.

After following the old winding packhorse lane away from Melbourne we arrived at Stanton by Bridge with Swarkestone Causeway stretching into the distance to reach [and cross] the River Trent.

Before long we had climbed slightly and passed through some of the woods which form part of the National Forest.

We arrived back after just four hours of walking having taken a tea-stop and a lunchstop.

It's out !

The book is out - I saw it for sale at the Firs Bookshop yesterday. There's no turning back now !

I was out walking on Sunday afternoon, in the sunshine, as most walkers were heading back to their cars. We set off from Eyam car park and walked along the old lane [pictured] to Housley. Then across the fields before we reached Silly Dale where we turned round and came back to Foolow where we sat and had a coffee by the village pond.

The sun was still shining and the handful of ducks upended in the pond as we enjoyed the peace of the afternoon.

On the way back we had to do a bit of roadwalking where we made the acquaintance of a fully grown Irish Wolfhound. It came bounding out on the road with a woman shouting "Don't worry, he doesn't bite" [they all say that don't they] before the dog went in and she apologised.

Then we had an uneventful walk back, to reach Eyam at 5.30pm just as the coach took a bunch of walkers from Nottingham back home.

This will be the walk I will lead on Sunday, the 7th May, and an enjoyable one it will be, if it doesn't rain.

Before that though I'm leading a walk this Saturday, from Staunton Harold Reservoir. It's a 7 to 8 mile walk - if you're interested feel free to come along.

Path between Litton and Cressbrook Mills

I hear on the grapevine that after the recent heavy rain this riverside path, which runs through Water Cum Jolly, is a mess. There's mud and deep puddles.

If you're going to use it beware !

I've not written about our trip to Shropshire yet; our six days walking on Offa's Dyke.

In the event we probably didn't cover more than fifteen or twenty miles on the long distance path itself. We were doing circular walks using it and so then followed other footpaths or very quiet country lanes.

This area is a lot quieter than Derbyshire that's for sure. On none of the six days did we see more than ten walkers all day. On one day we saw none. Try and imagine walking in the Peak District and seeing no walkers ....

Pictured here is my walking companion acting as foreground interest whilst enjoying a view of the Clun valley after a heavy hailstorm. This was the first day and we wondered what the next five days would bring - a mixture of weather it has to be said.

If you're thinking of walking Offa's Dyke and have any queries then get in touch. It is fairly tough in places with the dyke tending to go straight up a hill rather than skirt round it. Having walked 5 or 6 other long distance paths I have to say this is my favourite, though I would like to go back and do the Cotswold Way in summertime.

A friendly grouse

I led a walk yesterday from Fairholmes car park beside Ladybower Reservoir for the Derbyshire Dales group. We had five walkers out and a dog.

The walk I followed was one that I had walked on my 55th Birthday last August and which I had considered using in Drive and Stroll in Derbyshire and the Peak District. After climbing up towards Pike Low and realising that if the mist came down people could get lost I soon dumped the idea. Still, it is an excellent walk for people who know how to use a map.

There was an unusual incident on the walk as we encountered a very friendly Red Grouse. As you can see from the picture it came to within a few feet of us. It didn't appear to be trying to draw us away from its nest - it just appeared to want to be near us. It may be that it has been hand fed in the past.

Any theories anyone ?

Away for a few days

Yes, I'm going to be away for a day or two so if you post anything here be prepared for a little wait ...

I'll tell you where I've been, when I've been there.

Bye for now.

Drive and Stroll in Derbyshire & The Peak District

I have just received an advance copy of my latest book - No. 9.

I'm very pleased with it and hopefully so will people who buy it.

There's something of an innovation involved as I've given details of this 'Walking in Derbyshire' blog. It will be interesting to see whether we get much traffic.

There are twenty walks in the book covering a large area but I can honestly say there are some excellent ones.

New paths created at Hardwick Hall

After my short Sunday walk from the Rowthorne Trail succeeded in attracting no takers yesterday I made the most of it by driving to Hardwick Hall and doing a different walk.

I'd noticed the previous day that the National Trust has opened up some new paths mainly in the woodland in the park so I worked out a three mile route and followed it. I didn't see anybody else on it though as can be seen from the photograph taken in one of the woods the paths are getting used.

Perhaps the new open access law has had a knock-on effect with charities such as the National Trust opening up previously unused areas. It's certainly the case with Forest Enterprise.

There was a lot of activity in the countryside with a couple of wood pigeons 'canoodling', a jay foraging for food, a long tailed tit and a robin having a scrap, a green woodpecker calling in the nearby woodland and a pair of tree creepers chasing each other up a tree. Then there was a hare running across the other side of the field as I got about halfway round.

All in all worth exploring - and the woods will get more interesting once the wild garlic and the bluebells flower - and the trees turn green.

A lovely walk.

Save Longstone Edge ?

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 ?

A walk to Sutton Scarsdale Hall

[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.

High Tor, Matlock

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.

On North Lane, Belper

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 :

This spout was erected to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897. It is fed from a spring which has never been known to fail.

Until 1952 it was the main water supply for local people who collected the water in buckets suspended from a yoke. Water could also be discharged straight into a churn or a cart. This was done by blocking up the main spout and diverting the water into the upper pipe.

What always fascinates me is the length of time the spring has been there. Potentially it is thousands of years. A running supply of water for all that time .... quite amazing.

Up on Longstone Edge in the snow

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.

Working party : 4th March 2006

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 !

From White Lodge Picnic Site to Sheldon - and back - with the Group.

Yesterday I led twelve members of the Derbyshire Dales Group of the Ramblers's Association [plus Hedley's dog, Jess,] on a five mile walk.

There was a cold wind blowing and the open nature of the countryside, especially on the first half of the walk meant that it was best we kept on the move, though we did shelter underneath a wall for our coffee stop just before 11am.

Deep Dale was muddy and as we tramped up it we got nearer to the snowline. A hare ran across the hillside above us but other than this and some blackbirds there was little wildlife about in the dale itself.

At the top of the dale we reached Wheal Lane, an unsurfaced track, where we turned left. Coffee was taken in the shelter of the wall. Away to our right five Fieldfares flew into a tree as a flock of rooks fed on a field 50 or 60 yards ahead of us. After 15 minutes we had to stick our heads up into the cold air and walk across the fields, into the wind, to Sheldon. We kept moving as fast as we could and eventually enjoyed some respite in the bus shelter at the top of the village.

It was nice walking down through the village, past The Cock and Pullet [it was open as we passed though the open fire viewed through the windows looked inviting].

We turned left on a path at the bottom of the village leading into Little Shacklow Wood. Don and I were saying that it's an uninviting wood though it was a favourite with someone who later ended his life there [and to whom flowers are left by the entrance to a cave in the wood].

The path leading down from the wood to the River Wye was slippery and muddy and some of them walked through the dead undergrowth at the side of it.

We turned left beside the river, with me at that point leading from the back. Then we headed back to White Lodge meeting a few more walkers now, two groups of them following a guidebook and looking underdressed without rucksacks or provisions presumably.

Don left us to walk back along the road but the remaining 12 and Jess followed the path through Great Shacklow Wood to get back to the start. It seems that all enjoyed the walk .... and I was looking forward to whupping the Scots in the Six Nations .... ah well, at least Derby County won.

Pity we didn't go out on Saturday rather than yesterday. Saturday was sunny [we spent the day in Meadowhall] whilst Sunday was overcast with the sun peeping through just very occasionally.

We parked at Upperdale just below Monsal Head and then walked along the Monsal Trail. Someone [the Peak Park Rangers presumably] have been cutting back the trees beside the Trail and so this opens it out more.

We got to Cressbrook Mill and even on a cold day D's Brew Stop was busy with people sitting outside sampling the drinks and hot vegetable soup. It's good to see the Mill now full of apartments. If nothing had been done who knows what would have become of this historic old mill.

We pressed on, rising up the hill before bearing right to Ravensdale Cottages - by the way English Nature have posted a notice that no ravens have been seen of late looking for nesting sites in the tor you can see in the background in the photo. I'm never sure who owns these cottages - are they part of the Chatsworth Estate or private ?

We climbed up through the Cressbrook Dale Nature Reserve. Here the walls and even some of the old trees are covered with moss which adds to the feeling of dankness.

Eventually we came out into the open and turned right to head onto the access land where we eventually reached Wardlow Hay Cop - a trig point seen from miles around. A trig point we hope to paint in due course. It was good to use some access land. So far we've not been out on it much.

After that we followed the concessionary path down into Hay Dale where we walked down the quiet lane back to the car.

I've not worked out how far we'd gone - probably less than five miles - but it was an enjoyable walk on someone special's birthday.