Vale of Belvoir Ramblers

High Peak Trail, Minninglow Hill, Roystone Grange, Long Dale and Gratton Dale, 19th August 2018

The second of this weekend's walks started at the High Peak Trail car park, south of Pikehall, before winding along the trail to Minninglow Hill and then to Royston Grange, Pikehall, Long Dale, around Gratton Moor and then back via Gratton Dale.

The start at the High Peak Trail car park, south of Pikehall

High Peak and Tissington Trails

Impressive embankment built for the High Peak Railway

Ascent on the concessionary footpath from the High Peak Trail to Minninglow Hill

Minninglow Hill, 372m

Neolithic tombs on top of Minninglow

Descent to Roystone Grange, formerly a monastic sheep farm

This derelict pumphouse near Royston Grange is of 19th century origin and was built to house a large water-cooled engine that pumped compressed air through cast iron pipes to drive the rock drills in the quarries that developed along the Cromford and High Peak Railway line

Entrance to Mouldridge Mine in Long Dale

"We meet to create memories, we part to cherish them".
Sculpture of three standing stones in Long Dale marking boundary of Middleton & Smerrill parishes

This sculpture is one of seventeen boundary stones marking entrances to the parish of Middleton and Smerrill in the Derbyshire Peak. It is inscribed with a text chosen by members of the parish as part of the Sites of Meaning millennium project

The Cheese Factory, Gratton

The Four Shires Bloodhounds - dress code tweeds

Lime kiln in Gratton Dale

On the way back, junction of Gratton Dale and Longdale

Monyash, Deep Dale, Taddington, Chelmorton and Flagg, 14th August 2018

This 10½ mile walk, started in Monyash before heading down Deep Dale towards the A6 and then up to Taddington for lunch. Following a visit to the well dressing, we climbed over Sough Top (438m) before dropping down to Chelmorton, one of the highest villages not only in Derbyshire, but all England. The way back was close to Flagg.

Coffee in Deep Dale

Dew pond in Deep Dale

Duke of Edinburgh youngsters helping to mend the walls

Liquid lunch in Taddington

Well dressing

St Michael and All Angels Church, Taddington

Looking back over Taddington

Distant view of cement works east of Buxton

Bank Pit Spring, historically the source of Chelmorton's water supply but now just a trickle due to the drought

Seen on the recce, Severn Trent's innovative AMEU (Atmospheric Moisture Extraction Unit) tested at Chelmorton to overcome water shortages. Since moved elsewhere

A welcome diversion ...

... before another at the end

Granby and the Vale of Belvoir, 15th August 2018

Maggie led 11 members on this 8-mile walk over fields from Granby to Dove Cottage, along a railway track and the perimeter of Langar airfield. Then on to Plungar, along part of Grantham Canal and back by a bridleway to Granby.

The start outside All Saints' Church, Granby

Runway concrete still visible at Langar

Unusual feature inside a telephone box at Plungar - a telephone

Waiting for Noah

Hoveringham, Bleasby and the River Trent, 12th August 2018

Steve G's 11-mile walk took us north east of Ferry Farm, Hoveringham, along the Trent to the weir south of Fiskerton, returning along the line of Fiskerton to Bleasby rail track and round the lakes back to Hoveringham.

Thanks John for the map and photo.

Cromford, Alderwasley and Cromford Canal, 17th June 2018

Here is a record of Paul's walk starting at Cromford Wharf and going to Black Rock, Cromford Moor, Alderwasley and then back along the Cromford Canal.

Cotgrave and Cotgrave Forest, 5th August 2018

Angela led this 6-mile morning walk with 23 other ramblers including some welcome guests from other groups. We started at All Saints' Church and went over to Clipstone on the Wolds before entering the surprisingly extensive Cotgrave Forest and then returning across the stubble to Cotgrave itself.

East Bridgford and River Trent, Skittles Evening, 31st July 2018

A short walk through East Bridgford, down to the the Trent and Gunthorpe Weir, then back by the church before Skittles at the Royal Oak.

Thanks Brenda for organising, Roger for officiating and John the MC.