Collingham and the Scarles, 26th February 2017

Brian's 8.5 mile walk today took us over flat land north of Collingham to North and then South Scarle.  Here are some photos.
Brian at the start in Collingham

Confrontation
St Helena's Church, South Scarle

Collingham flowers
All Saints Church, Collingham







Cromford from Middleton Top, 19th February 2017


Ten VBR members plus three visitors from Alfreton and Rushcliffe set out on this 10 mile walk exploring the area round Cromford and along the side of the Derwent Valley high above Matlock Bath.


The walk started near the engine house at the top of the incline on the High Peak Trail at Middleton Top before descending to High Peak Junction on the Cromford Canal.

Engine House

Down the incline - one of nine on the Cromford and High Peak Railway

Short deviation to look at Black Rocks, an outcrop of Ashover grit popular with climbers

Catch Pit near the bottom of the trail


Winding gear pulley

A short stroll along the canal took us to Cromford Wharf and then Richard Arkwright's Mill.
Then up past Scarthin Books, number 6 bookshop in the World according to the Guardian.  Unfortunately, it could fall down under the weight of its 100,000 books.
Taking a sharp turn off the road, we then walked up through woods high up along the side of the Derwent Valley and under the cable car ... 
... before reaching the Heights of Abraham for lunch with views of High Tor and Matlock.
Another climb and descent took us to St James' Church in Bonsall ...
 ...before a drop down Bonsall Dale ...
Renovated house embedded in Bonsall Dale
... to the Via Gelia and the mill of the same name.
Yet another muddy climb (600m for the day) took us over through Middleton ...

... and across Middleton Moor to reach our start point near the Engine House.




Gotham, 12th February 2017

Fifteen souls braved the sleet and rain on Elaine's walk ...
... from Gotham St Lawrence Church ...
... starting at the Well House, until 1933 the only source of fresh water to the village piped from a spring a mile-and-a-half south of the village.
We climbed up Gotham Hill, heavily mined for gypsum rock since the early 1900s up to as recently as 1994 ...
... to admire the extensive views to the north over the Attenborough Nature Reserve towards Crich Tower and Alport Heights (allegedly).
Descending from the top, further evidence of gypsum mining was visible at East Leake.
We then passed along the ash road, the back entrance to the power station ...
... alongside the substantial mounds of fly ash, since covered in soil and grass, before turning back at the railway line to reach Kingston on Soar.
St Winifred's Church, Kingston on Soar
Then it was alonside Kingston Brook ...
... and eventually to West Leake for lunch at St Helena Church ...
... before a difficult climb over the West Leake Hills and back down to Gotham.

Branston, 5th February 2017

Rab kindly stood in to recce and lead this walk at the last minute.  Twenty five hearty souls set out on a misty, moisty undulating 5 mile walk starting at Brantson and taking in Croxton Kerrial.  We were pleased to welcome two new walkers, Richard and Rod.

Here is the route and photos, courtesy of Malcolm and Roger.

The start outside the Wheel Inn, Branston


I think it's this way - or maybe not
Coffee at Croxton

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)