All posts in Meet Reports

Andy Smith
Oct 3 9:56 AM
CMC Thursday Walk 3 Oct 2013.
Nine of us gathered at Shatton. The views on the walk would
have been delightful had there not been thick low mist and
cloud. But at least it was warm and dry. Two cars took
everyone up the steep lane above the village to the end of
the tarmac, in order to avoid a one-mile slog uphill. From
here we first made a detour to the little-known Queen’s Seat,
a grand bench chipped out of the side of a large boulder,
and not visible from the path. A group photo was taken.
Regaining the public footpath we dropped gradually to
Offerton Hall. The lane contouring round above the Derwent
Valley (not visible today) brought us to the reputedly
haunted Highlow Hall, where we paused for a coffee break.

After a brief walk along the road towards Abney, we headed
up past Oaks Farm onto Abney Moor. Near the highest point on
the path we stopped for our picnic. Alas still no views,
except for a few horses in the next field. After a short
stroll we arrived at the junction of Shatton Lane and
Brough Lane. We turned left towards Brough, round the head
of Overdale then downhill past the back side of Bradwell
Edge and Rebellion Knoll. We took a path through Elmore Hill
farmyard and down to the top of Townfield Lane. A path
beside the lane eventually led back to Shatton; we arrived
just as the rain began to fall. After retrieving the cars
from the top of the hill, we gathered in the Scarlet Rose
Cafe in the garden centre for a cups of tea (various types)
etc. 6.8 miles, 680ft of ascent. Andy.
—
Andy Smith – Bradwell, Derbyshire, England; andy@…

Linda Mcleish
Sep 26, 2013
thanks for the company today. 11 of us and a dog, had a great walk in sunshine, round Calver Hassop, Pilsley and then Froggatt Bridge and back. This is the schedule for the next couple of Months- I am ahead of myself for a change thanks to all the volunteering of leading walks. Note anniversary party on 14th Nov at our house is for anyone who has been on a Thurs walk or who is likely to come on one this season.
3rd oct Andy and Rosy from Shatton
10th Oct Linda
17th Oct John M
24th Oct Mike D
31st Oct Chris Kell
7th Nov Vanda
14th Nov Linda- and Party to celebrate 1st anniversary of the Thurs walks after at David and Lindas.
21st Nov Andy and Rosy
28th Nov Dave C
5th Dec Sue Allenby

ps we will be at Stanage from lunch time onwards weather permitting. Linda and David.

marianbirkett
Sep 21, 2013

Seven of us set off from Grindleford station in the rain up the hill, through woods and over some boggy ground through Longshaw before taking advantage of the stone shelter for an early lunch. Then in improving (well slightly) weather, walked over Mother (not Mow) Cap, Mitchell field, Whim wood, under Lawrencefield back to the station where most of us finished with tea at the cafe. Pleasingly, I think everyone went on a path new to them at some point. Thanks to all who came.

Marian

Thanks Andy for mileage and ht gain info – more than I thought!

Andy Smith
Sep 12, 2013
CMC walk 12 Sep 2013
Six of us did this walk from Bradwell, a tour of some of the
local industrial sites, in quite nice weather. After
skirting Outlands Quarry on a somewhat nettle choked path,
we soon arrived at the bottom of Moss Rake, one of the old
lead mining areas, more recently used for the extraction of
fluospar. Several of these parallel rakes stretch across the
moor. We headed up Green Dale, emerging onto Batham Gate,
the line of the old Roman road through Bradwell. It is
thought that the Romans mined lead in the area. At the top
of Moss Rake, old quarry buildings have been demolished and
the area landscaped recently. Our route led us up across
Bradwell Moor and we paused for a coffee break at the top
of a deep mine shaft. It was clear that cavers had recently
been down it. On to the top of the moor and along by the
wall to a 5-way junction with the Limestone Way. We turned
right passing the sites of Hollandtwine Mine and Dirtlow
Rake Pit, which have also been landscaped. A rough
track continued down by the side of Dirtlow Rake to arrive
at the top of Pindale where we stopped for lunch. A descent
into Pindale followed and we passed the Pindale “scrins”
(side lead veins), nationally unique and protected as an
SSSI. The track descended past the disused Pindale Quarry to
arrive at Black Rabbit cottages. Finally we took the public
bridleway and footpath through the cement works back to
Bradwell. Tea and cakes were eagerly consumed, while the
states of the various dodgy knees were examined. 7.1 miles
1180 feet of ascent.
Andy

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

Paul/Vanda
Sep 6, 2013
The first Thursday walk after a break during the month of August. A select group of 3 met at the stile where Bamford Edge climbers now park, and set off in an anti-clockwise loop towards Stanage. The ‘jungle-high’ bracken on my recce of a week ago had now flopped over the path, making it disappear, so the going was even harder for a while, but we soon emerged onto open moorland and successfully found the small stone circle [picture just posted on Facebook] before heading up to the path below Stanage Edge, then contouring round below High Neb and Crow Chin to the A57/Manchester Road, which we followed briefly before a squelchy stream-fording and lunch on the way to Cutthroat Bridge. A good track and then path skirted Bamford Moor, with great views over Ladybower Reservoir, then along the top of Bamford Edge and back to our cars – approx 7 miles in 4 hours. One never quite knows who may turn up on Castle walks, but Hugh was unexpectedly free that day, and Dubbo over in the UK from Germany for a few weeks was a complete surprise – thank you both for your good company and a chance to really catch up with both of you. Vanda

Mike Doyle
Jul 19, 2013
A total of 5 members did the walk including Dave C who volunteered to be the”lost leader” to cover the section I avoided in the interests of my knee.
By 11 am the sun and the temperature were well up ,so gearing up involved shorts for some and sun hats for all.I relied on my trusted “Foreign Legion” hat with integrated neck flap,Dave C used a more English approach with hankerchief attachment and the rest used standard apparel.
Passing 5.5 feet high thistles we headed into Backside Wood and so gained the entrance to Jagger’s Clough where a preliminary lunch stop was taken.After lunch the party split with the 2 knee sufferers taking a short cut to the path junction near Hope Cross and the remainder ascending Jagger’s Clough and completing the full round-no mean feat in the conditions.
Re-united the “famous five” descended to Bagshawe Bridge and the walk back to the cars by the river Noe.
Sadly the inviting “Cheshire Cheese” with prominent ice cream sign was not open as we arrived at the start and it had closed when we called with tongues hanging out at the end!
However “the Old Hall” at Hope provided the necessary long drinks and even a scone enabling the party to rehydrate sufficiently to complete the drive home.
A good walk,but a bit of an effort in the heat!
Mike

paulgibsonforest
Jun 27, 2013
A repeat of my walk I’d done with Linda a month ago, but going the other way round [clockwise] as a change. Six of us set off from Monsal Head [some bravely wearing shorts – some of the paths were quite narrow and the nettles tall and numerous], gently climbing from Little Longstone up to and then along Longstone Edge, and after a brief refreshment stop on a convenient bench, descended to Great Longstone and on through fields of buttercups, under the Monsal Trail railway line, past Churchdale Hall to Ashford in the Water. It was just beginning to ‘spot’ with rain, but a very welcome shelter by the sheep-wash bridge provided a dry spot for our lunch. Then, having donned jackets, it was off again in slight drizzle for the final third of the 7 and 1/2 mile walk back to Monsal Head, where the café provided tea and scones, and the excellent and informative conversation continued. Thank you all for your good company, and I’m pleased that some of the paths were new to you. Vanda

Linda Mcleish
Jun 20, 2013
8 of us and one dog had a love dry and warm day’s walk, so thanks to all for the pleasant company. The woods and flowers were very pleasant and we saw a water vole by the river. There was only one boggy bit, which I had meant to miss out but managed to go straight through that section…. After lunch 6 of us continued up stream and then Steve hared off ahead and missed out the pub stop due to having to pick Sue up! Hernia man did both loops, as did foot operation woman. Knee man did longest walk since his operation too. So the Castle Ruins did well!! cheers Linda.
ps next weeks walk is Vandas starting at Monsal Head at 11am, I think she is back at the weekend from sailing. ps We are out of email for the next week.

legaleagle65
Jun 7, 2013
Unsure whether any members would be attending,I travelled out to Calver accompanied by deputy leader Gill.On arrival I recognised and parked alongside the Smiths’ car occupied by Rosey only as Andy was attending hospital for tests.
As if on cue the grey sky lifted and the sun shone just as the 3 of us started walking.A pleasant day ensued with all round views in delightful late spring/early summer conditions.The higlight was the stunning blue bell and rhodadendrum display in the Bankside and Bramley Woods.
Best of all,however,I managed the full 7.5 mile round with only the descent down the final steep bank causing my knee any difficulties.
A great day in the Peak District in lovely conditions.
Mike

paulgibsonforest
May 30, 2013
Not a very promising start to the day with rain outside in Sheffield, and 3 people had already contacted me with their reasons/excuses for not coming along. But I had Linda in the car, so at least one person for company, and having waited in case anyone else turned up at Monsal Head, the two of us set off in sunshine [and remained warm and dry all day] looping south to Ashford in the Water, where quite unexpectedly, we discovered the village festooned with banners, to welcome visitors to their beautiful well dressings and stunning flower show in the church [eat your heart out Chelsea!] We visited 5 of the available 6 well dressings, which celebrated and marked various anniversaries this year – so many years of Dr Who, the Good Life, children’s cartoon characters such as Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse etc. One of the church wardens explained some of the hard work and careful timing which goes into making a well dressing, and the floral displays in the church told a story of past occupations and activities that had flourished in this village in earlier times. Then it was time to leave, heading north past Churchdale Hall towards Great Longstone, stopping in a buttercup-filled meadow for our picnic lunch on the way, and then up past swathes of dandelions and cowslips to Longstone Edge, with an easy contouring track to follow and stunning views over typical limestone scenery, before descending through more lush meadows to Little Longstone and the car home. Since Linda is away on 27th June and is looking for a volunteer, I have offered to do this walk again, but perhaps as a variation, to do it anti-clockwise instead. Hopefully the weather will be just as fine as today. Vanda Boyd