Thursday walk 2 June 2022 – Report

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    Andy Smith
    Keymaster

    Eight members gathered at our house in Bradwell. Some had
    found it more difficult to find than others! Conditions
    were perfect: warm, sunny and windless. The clear air meant
    we had excellent views all day.

    After a short delay waiting for any latecomers caught in
    the Hope Valley bank holiday traffic congestion, we set off
    down to the village and up Edge Lane. After the tarmac ended
    we passed a gate to join the path zig-zagging up the hillside
    to reach a traversing bush-lined ascent. At the top,
    a short walk along the ridge brought us to Rebellion Knoll,
    an excellent viewpoint, a shoulder of the ridge where the
    ground drops away on three sides, providing a 270 degree
    panorama. The origin of the name is obscure. What rebellion
    had given its name to this place?

    We sat on the grass (interspersed with wildflowers) for our
    coffee break, looking over Bradwell and the parallel ‘rakes’
    running up the hillside above the village, which had been
    quarried for lead and fluorspar in the past. The Hope
    cement works with its huge limestone quarry was conspicuous.
    We also played the ‘Can you spot our house?’ game.

    Break over, we headed south along the ridge of Bradwell
    Edge, often a take-off and landing area for paragliders but
    there were none today. At Robin Hood’s Cross (the cross no
    longer exists), we turned left for Brough Lane and a short
    distance along the lane and over a stile we began the
    delightful track over Abney Moor. As predicted, there not
    many other people about, just a few walkers mostly with
    dogs. In contrast we noted, with the help of binoculars,
    crowds on the top of Mam Tor. After nearly a mile we reached
    the other side of the moor at the road above Abney Grange. A
    path down to the top of Bretton Clough and up the other
    side led to our lunch place with great views of the Eastern
    Edges, Stanage being particularly prominent, and also down
    Bretton Clough. To our left we saw a couple of gliders
    taking off from the Camphill field, while to our right a
    group from the Chesterfield Spire Cycling Club were also
    enjoying their lunch.

    We headed down to Great Hucklow, passing the school and
    joining the rough lane to Little Hucklow. At the bottom a
    drainage failure had resulted in water filling almost the
    whole width of the lane, necessitating the traverse of a
    narrow muddy verge. We passed the newly refurbished Blind
    Bull pub and restaurant which had been a ruin for decades.

    The final leg of the walk was to Coplow Dale and then across
    amazing wildflower meadows and over numerous stiles,
    eventually reaching Top Hole Road which we followed back to
    the start. Cream teas were enjoyed on our terrace, with yet
    more views, this time looking across to Rebellion Knoll and
    Bradwell Edge where we had been earlier.

    A most enjoyable walk: 6.7 miles and 1100ft of ascent.

    Linda’s pictures are attached below.

    Andy & Rosy

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