Thursday walk 2 June 2022 – Report

[Andy Smith]

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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