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

davidcrowther45
May 18, 2013
Apologies to our working members, who are sadly unable to join these sociable little leg-stretchers each Thursday….
A decent day saw 4 of us (Linda, John M, Martin and self) warm up by ascending Fairbrook Naze, then head west along Ashop edge. A sunny lunch stop let us watch the Lancaster come up from the south and fly over the Derwent edges before dropping down for its run over the dams.
We headed on past Punch’s nose (which Martin remembered soloing when it was just Severe – now HVS apparantly……) to the end of the edge and the Pennine Way. A short distance north led to the Snake Path back down the Ashop valley (with a few boggy patches).
Tea (we have coffee and teas stops in these walks…) was taken on a grassy knoll above the babbling brook before the partly-felled plantation (rather a mess now).
Back to the cars in 3h30m and 7.5 miles. John didn’t seem to be turning in circles all the way, but his right-leg pedometer was showing 0.5m more than the left leg one come the finish…

Linda Mcleish
May 4, 2013
10 of us had the best weather of the year on Thurs. we started from Eyam and headed steeply up to sir Willam Hill, and down to Abney Clough on a wonderful path with 360 views- when I reccied the walk in November, I saw very little! We enjoyed hearing the cuckoos calling and other birds were identified as were wood anenomes. The Barrel Inn was too tempting and we lingered over beers and drinks. Then back down to Foolow and Eyam, a very pleasant 7.3 miles, with good company. cheers, Linda.

davidcrowther45
Apr 12, 2013
Wow! that piece of string was spot on at 7 miles… thanks for the data Andy.

5 of us (Andy & Rosie, Linda, John M and self) enjoyed a walk of 2 halves – first through wood and moor from the bottom end of the Rivelin dams to the stream inlet via a circuitous route above, then through farmland on the north side of the A57 until emerging under Rivelin edge back to the cars (see earlier post for full route) after 3.5 hours.

Seats were found for coffee at the Headstone and for a late lunch at the picnic bench on Riggs High Road. The latter just seated the 5 summer winers, with a hazy view towards Bradfield as sandwiches were consumed.

Brooks babbled, tweeters twittered, and Linda and Rosie emulated both. A pleasant day out.

Dave C

Andy Smith
Mar 29, 2013
CMC Thursday Walk 28th March 2013.
Only three turned out for this walk: Andy, Rosy and Tom. We
set off from Bradwell in a westerly direction. The weather
was good: dry, with some sunshine and blue skies, but cold
with a biting east wind. Once clear of the village, all the
lanes and tracks were blocked (to vehicles) by huge snow
drifts. We were able to climb over them but it was quite
slow going; skis or snowshoes would have been better. Once
on the open expanse of Bradwell Moor the going was easier,
as much of the snow had blown off (and caused the drifts
elsewhere). Eventually we reached the top of the moor where
we could look down on Peak Forest as well as back to Win
Hill etc. On the down-wind side of the ridge there was a
(relatively) sheltered snow gully, so we crossed the wall
and grabbed a quick bite to eat for lunch. Tom tried his
winter climbing skill on the cornice but it was too soft. We
headed back to Bradwell along Batham Gate, the line of the
old Roman road. A satisfying trip, with good photographic
opportunities. Back at the start, tea and cakes were served.
5.1 miles 840 feet of ascent.
—
Andy Smith – Bradwell, Derbyshire, England; andy@…