All posts in Meet Reports

SEAN JENNINGS
Feb 7, 2014
Six members met at Bridge End car park on an overcast but fine morning.

A breezy walk across Rowlee Pasture afforded fine views of Kinder Scout and the Woodlands Valley whilst the northern horizon was filled with the vast expanse of Bleaklow. The Eastern edges from Margery Hill to Stanage were all clear.

We admired the view from the Castles into the Alport Valley, and then descended into the calm of the Westend for lunch. A pleasant amble along the side of the reservoirs brought us back to our starting point, just as the rain began to fall. About 9 miles.

Thanks for your company.
Sean.

jmurton94
Jan 31, 2014
A select group of 4 did a high level walk on the ridge bewteen the A6 and Cressbrook Dale, designed to avoid the floods and the mud. Even so, one unavoidable puddle managed to overtop my boots. The walk provided good views all round, and gave us the first proper snow fall of the thursday walk series.after lunch we chose the dry alternatve of the rail track and tunnels, so completed the walk with relativly clean boots

John M

Paul/Vanda
Jan 17, 2014
Actually finding Millthorpe was a challenge for some [it’s not sign-posted at all from Owler Bar] but 6 of us were eventually gathered at the small village green in the centre of Millthorpe for the planned 7 mile anti-clockwise circuit south from there. John M. who knew the area, had decided very wisely to wear wellington boots for what turned out to be the muddiest/most swamp-like walk yet, although we were blessed as usual for these Thursday walks with blue skies and sunshine. Apart from squelchy mud and overfull streams, the theme for the day seemed to be friendly people [a particularly cheery crowd of Chesterfield ramblers who were doing maintenance work on the track through Hollin Wood] quirky stiles and numerous horses. Marion and John had been enrolled to help with map-reading [my grateful thanks to you both] so we safely negotiated Moorhall and Barlow Grange before a lunch-stop, after which Marion peeled off for a shortened walk back to her car. Soon after that when the terrain didn’t quite fit what we were looking at on our maps, an extremely helpful farmer put us right and we were soon heading as planned towards Newgate and then Barlow. The varied and very dilapidated stiles continued to entertain us, and Tom contributed by ‘dismantling’ a few more. We almost went off-route in Common Side but spotted our mistake quite quickly, and then had a well-earned sit-down [we could have had a bench each they were so numerous] beside small lakes after the sewage works[!] Then it was a fairly straightforward and direct line up to Cartledge, appreciating its beautiful old hall with amazingly long stone waterspouts jutting out at gutter level, and then a comfortable downhill stroll back to the cars. Thank you to Caroline, Marion, John, Dave and Tom for your excellent company. Vanda

crowthersheffield
Jan 9, 2014
… dawned clear, unlike the preceding night. 6 of us arrived at the Ronseal factory for the start of the Thursday walk (Hugh gallantly getting there after a night shift) and we set of for a micro-tour of the Chapeltown housing estate to gain our main route. I was glad that I’d spent half an hour on Google streetview to identify the roads and footpaths, so we only made one navigational error in the first kilometre…

Arriving at the older housing estate we found one of the post-WW1 steel-and-concrete houses with a section stripped on the outside to expose the construction materials – interesting.

On passing the football pitches we found a work gang drilling and pumping – not sure if they were after oil or just trying to drain the waterlogged pitches. Onwards took us past a reservoir then grass-covered heaps – the whole area was very industrialised with iron smelting then coal mining, but nature has done pretty well since.

Another minor map-reading error added a k onto the route, but the team didn’t seem to notice, even when walking up the A61 for a hundred yards…

A lunch stop in Tankersley churchyard was suggested, but we pushed on under the M1 to the ruin of Tankersley Old Hall, which featured in the film Kes. A sunny bench provided a nice seat, even if the traffic noise was noticeable. Photos of the assembled Castle wrecks in front of the Hall ruins were taken then it was back under the M1 (after a slight detour into someone’s yard) to the golf course. We avoided flying balls, but also the correct route, as we found out when Tankersley church appeared in front of us for the second time – another k was added, but it was a nice day…

Over the A616 again and along the Trans Pennine Trail I thought we couldn’t go wrong – and didn’t until the final half-k when a footpath suddenly descended at a very steep angle. We also misplaced a Churchill tank, but Hugh was last seen disappearing back into the woods to find it. The rest of us headed home just before the rains came.

Thanks to all who came, and apologies for the navigational errors. A nice social walk on a sunny day. Should anyone else want to do the walk it is described at
http://www.walkingenglishman.com/peakdistrict08.htm

Cheers,
Dave

Linda Mcleish
Dec 22, 2013
On Thursday a big group of 14 met at curbar gap in lovely sunshine and walked along White Edge with fab views. We then met 3 others in the Grouse for a long lunch before heading back along Curbar and Froggatt. A nice easy walk with great views and excellent company = a good way to finish off the Thursday walks of 2013. Look forward to hearing about what you get up to over the winter. We plan to join the Costa Blanca walking group (wed we think) over the winter and explore some new areas. Merry Christmas, Linda.

Andy Smith
Nov 21, 2013
CMC Thursday walk 21 Nov 2013.
Eleven of us started from Monsal Head. The weather was quite
good, with some sunshine, but cold. It was good to have Sean,
a returning member from many years ago. We headed down to
the footbridge and crossed the Wye. Turning left along the
riverside path we reached the first of many muddy sections
encountered during the day. A lot of white water was coming
over the weir; ‘Derbyshire’s Niagara” someone commented.
We soon reached crossed the A6. A coffee and loo stop was
taken at the White Lodge car park. Then it was uphill,
up a path that looked more like a stream. A steep climb
into Shacklow Wood brought us to a path junction, where
we turned left to Ashford-in-the-Water and the path levelled
off. It soon began to descend to river level again. After
a short tarmac section we reached Ashford where we sat
on benches in the sun: very pleasant. Leaving the village,
the route led uphill again to the oddly named Pennyunk Lane.
We enjoyed excellent views to the east over the Derwent
Valley. Eventually the lane lead back to Monsal Head where
it was disappointing to find the cafe closed.
6.3 miles, 1060ft of ascent.

Andy

—
Andy Smith – Bradwell, Derbyshire, England; andy@…

Linda Mcleish
Nov 16, 2013
A record turn out for the walk this week, or was it because of the food after…. 17 of us had a nice sunny walk in an area south of Totley less travelled down to Milthorpe and round. Great views and new footpaths for many. We all piled into our little house and Rosy had made a first anniversary cake- with candle, and everyone brought food to share, so we all got stuck in. Thanks to all for making it such a success. Looking forward to all those offers of leading walks now you are reading this next to your diaries!!!! Jan onwards please. Linda.

Paul/Vanda
Nov 8, 2013
Another sunny Thursday [how does Linda arrange this each time?] for the 7 and 1/2 mile walk from Peak Forest. We started with 12 which soon became 13 and 2 dogs, and headed south towards Dam Dale. As people know, I rarely recce my walks, so I was pleased to safely negotiate the most navigationally challenging part of the walk less than 1/2 mile from the start [the confused confluence of 6 paths and several stiles to choose from]. The next hurdle was the highest stile ever seen [almost HVS if stiles were graded] although some opted out by opening the nearby gate. From then on it was easy walking over Loose Hill [safely avoiding electrocution from the ‘unfriendly’ electric fence strung in front of one stile], along a quiet road and down a track to Hay Dale, where a coffee/tea stop in sunshine was enjoyed. In Peter Dale things started to get somewhat wetter underfoot, but large puddles were skirted and extended sections of sloppy mud safely got through without anyone falling in. Then it was time for our lunch, again on a convenient, warm and sunny slope. Leaving the the dale, still following the Limestone Way but now on tarmac, we climbed steeply before soon turning off northwards on the Pennine Bridleway, passing through Wheston [somewhat smelly!] and along the ridge with stunning views in all directions. Turning down a cobblestone track towards Dam Dale, we then encountered head-on a surprisingly chilly wind, reminding us of the changing seasons, and it was a relief to reach the shelter of Dam Dale and head northwards back towards Peak Forest. On previous walks, and very helpful to this leader unsure of the way, Sue’s dog had been brilliant at following the human scent directly to each stile across huge fields where the stile wasn’t visible until very close by, but he failed me this time [perhaps the recent downpours had washed the scent off the grass] and I found myself having to shout at him and point at the stile myself, as he gave me a bemused look. But we all arrived safely back in Peak Forest after 4 hours, and then rounded off the day very pleasantly with tea/coffee in Tideswell at Lynda and John’s home [recently returned from their summer sailing in the Mediterranean]. The only other thing of note was the ‘nosebleed’, but I suppose if you have to walk along with blood-stained tissues sticking out of your nose, at least it was all colour coordinated with the red top and red rucksack, and the said person was very gracious about having their picture taken for a possible club interest competition later. Vanda

jmurton94
Oct 22 4:05 AM
just found how to join this group (we 70 year olds struggle you know) 11 people and 2 dogs did a very muddy walk arround the Wye and Bradford rivers, taking quite a long time over it, mainly due to the fact that most of us add3ed and extra couple of miles, because of the parking situation, I think most enjoyed itn despite this!!

Linda Mcleish
Oct 11 11:45 AM
10 of us and 3 dogs enjoyed the walk up to Stanton Moor. Cold but dry and great views helped. We managed to get 9 females ( if you count two of the dogs) to the Nine Ladies Stone Circle,Bronze Age, and after half an hour without Andy ( never go for a wee…) met up with him again. My fault as this was my first walk I hadnt reccied and went slightly off route, Andy went the correct way….on his own). The Kings Stone seemed like a very puny lone male- the carved words were debated and apparently say ‘billstumps’ from the 19th Century. Also eyed up hand holds on Earl Tower, and some of us topped out on Cat Stone and Cork Stone. At the end some went round the outlet at Rowsley, and David and I did a few more miles and got back to the car with only 5 mins of rain. Look forward to many more happy sunny walks!
Linda.