W/C 15th March 2014 - Robin Hood Circular via Baslow, Chatsworth and Beeley

Two tough walks in 2 days was pushing it a bit, but I couldn't miss this one with the Sutton-in-Ashfield Ramblers. We walked around 13 miles, with formidable climbs either side of the River Derwent. Unfortunately, the weather was colder and much duller than the previous day, with only brief sunny spells.

The walk began at the Robin Hood pub on the A619 between Chesterfield and Baslow. We headed east briefly before turning north and ascending onto Birchen Edge. It was very windy! Along the Edge there were long views to the west. This view is in the general direction of Baslow, with Calver Peak in the distance on the right.

Further along Birchen Edge, the edge becomes more pronounced. This view is looking back to the south along the path we had traversed.

Birchen Edge was very popular with climbers, all concentrated in one short stretch of Birchen Edge. Nelson's Monument is visible in the distance.

The monument itself sits rather precariously on the edge of the precipice.

Beyond the monument, to the north, there were no climbers at all.

From the 310 metre triangulation point at the north end of Birchen Edge, there is a fine view along the top of Curbar Edge and on to the north west.

We descended towards the A621 over boggy ground. This view looks north towards Ramsley Moor.

Looking back to the south west, Gardom's Edge was visible on the left, below Birchen Edge. We crossed the main road and headed up the right hand side of the valley to Wellington's Monument.

Wellington's Monument is at a lower altitude than nelson's Monument, but more impressive. From here, we turned north again, along Baslow Edge towards Curbar. The upper Derwent Valley and Calver were visible down below.

This rock looked very interesting, reminding me faintly of the Moai on Easter Island.

At one point, there were clear views north and south from Baslow Edge. This view is south toward Baslow....

...and north towards Curbar.

This view shows the southern end of Curbar Edge.

We descended a short way towards Curbar alongside a road, before diving into fields for the walk south to Baslow. The first lambs of the season were very evident along here.

Arriving in Baslow, we had a break before proceeding through Chatsworth Park. Baslow is a real tourist centre, with plenty to see and do in the vicinity.

Here are some thatched cottages by the River Derwent...

...and the pretty bridge over the river on the path to Chatsworth.

We walked through the grounds more or less all the way to Chatsworth House, seen here in the distance..

We then crossed the bridge and headed east to the beautiful, but contrived village of Edensor.

This is a view from the bridge, south along the Derwent.

Over the hill was Edensor - and some sunshine!

The church in Edensor is quite imposing.

We walked most of the way through the village before climbing steep steps onto a footpath leading south towards Calton. This view is looking south down the Derwent Valley.

Looking back, Edensor church steeple and Chatsworth House were clearly visible as we climbed steeply up the hillside.

Eventually, the high ground we had traversed earlier in the walk came clearly into view, to the north.

Chatsworth House was glowing in the sunshine, with the dark mass of Gibbet Moor and Beeley Moor behind.

Beyond the crest of the hill, we turned east and headed back down to the Derwent, passing Calton Lees on the way. We crossed the Derwent for the last time and headed straight up the hillside onto the moors above. Part of this track has been used a lot by 4x4 vehicles, judging by the tyre marks. Here was one such vehicle ascending the steep hill.

To the south, the Derwent Valley was just about visible in the distance....

...and again from slightly higher up the hill. This view was taken directly into the sun. I was pleasantly surprised to get such a good result.

At the top of the climb, we were back onto moorland again.

We headed north east towards Hob Hurst's House, then north towards Robin Hood. This view shows the stark contrast between the moors to the south of the main road and the green fields to the north.

Near the main road, the footpath turns abruptly west, close to the A619.

We finished the walk back at the Robin Hood pub on the A619.

It was a shame the weather had not been as good as the previous day when I walked south from home towards Nottingham. What this walk lacked in good weather it more than made up for in scenery. I survived the two long walks in two days quite well. A few blisters and aching legs, but nothing too serious!

Many thanks again to the Sutton-in-Ashfield Rambling Group for a super walk.

W/C 15th March 2014 - Strelley Circular

Every year I try to get to the Nottingham Model Railway Exhibition, held in Bilborough, on the north western edge of Nottingham. Naturally, I walk there and back - weather and time permitting. Rather than use the shortest route, I try to add a bit of variety each time. This brings the walk up to around 25 to 30 miles. 

This time, I headed out through Kirkby, Annesley, Greasley, Awsworth and Strelley. I returned through Aspley, Old Basford, Bulwell Common, Hucknall and Newstead. The outward leg was a good opportunity to cover several sections I had not tried before. The weather was really warm and sunny for most of the day.

I set off about 6:45am. This is very early for me, but works out very well for me to see the exhibition and complete the walk in daylight. I was armed with my new camera. It had only arrived the previous day. I had no chance to experiment with it before putting it to good use.

I headed south from home, passing the western edge of Kirkby before entering Portland Park.

 I then headed through Annesley and down the main road past the original Annesley Church. Just beyond Annesley Hall, I turned left onto Weaver's Lane. The local farmer had already been busy ploughing a field at the side of the lane.

I turned left onto Kennel Lane before entering the woodland just north and west of Misk Hill. I followed the path under the motorway, then left and south towards Watnall.

 The path eventually comes out of the woodland near Misk Farm. At the motorway footbridge, I turned right and headed south west, just to the left of the woodland you see in the middle of the photo below..

 The path quickly comes to a narrow road joining all the farms in these parts. I turned left towards Brooksbreasting Farm. Immediately before the farm, a footpath goes diagonally west for a short distance before turning south down a small valley towards Greasley Church. This is a view west from the top of the footpath.

 After a few twists and turns, we arrive at the small hamlet of Greasley. Today, it is little more than a church, tea rooms, a farm and one other large house. This view shows Greasley Castle Farm.The church is off to the right.

 The farm is the site of a very old manor house, later fortified. Few remains exist, but this wall is said to be part of the castle wall. Traces of a moat were found in the foreground during excavations.

 There are rumours of a lost village somewhere in the vicinity of the church, as this sign explains.

 This is also on the edge of D H Lawrence territory.

 I walked past the church before climbing some steep steps into the graveyard, following a footpath south west towards Newthorpe. The church sits on a hill, deceptively small from the main road, but much more impressive from the rear. Unfortunately, the fields behind the church were part of an opencast coal mine and have been landscaped in a very plain manner. The fields do not drain very well and were still very muddy, despite several weeks of dry weather.

 Just beyond the bottom of the hill, I turned left along the path towards Watnall. This eventually crosses a small stream at the bottom of a valley. Here, I turned south towards Awsworth. This path follows the stream all the way to the B6010 road. Quite a culture shock on the other side of the road!

 I carried on south west under the A610, then up the road through Awsworth Village. Just through the main section of the village, I turned left along the road to Babbington. A short distance down this road, the route to Babbington goes sharp left. I carried straight on along the bridleway towards Strelley. Cossall village was visible on the right, on the horizon.

 By now it was turning into a really warm, sunny day. Looking west, Ilkeston was just visible in the distance.

 The bridleway turns east near Strelley Park Farm. I should have turned right at the farm, but carried on a short way up the hill by mistake. The lane becomes a private drive not far beyond here...

 ..so I quickly realised my mistake and returned to the farm to get on my correct route. The bridleway continues south east before turning east to Strelley Village. There is a fairly steep climb. Looking back, Ilkeston was clearly visible in the distance.

 The bridleway crosses the M1 just before Strelley Village.

Strelley village has a large Hall, a church and a small collection of cottages. It is also known for Monks Way, a length of very old paving stones.

 Some of the paving stones skirt these buildings near the church.

 Strelley Church sits in a tiny churchyard. It is surrounded by trees and difficult to photograph.

 The frontage of the Hall is only really visible from a distance.

 Bilborough is hardly photogenic, so I took no further photos until I got inside the model railway exhibition. Here is a small selection of the goodies on show. Firstly, South Yard, a tiny layout around 2 feet long in a scale of 1:152, or 2mm to the foot. It is owned by Andrew Carlson, a friend of mine.

 Manston Brewery was built by Rob Milliken, another acquaintance. This is in 4mm to one foot scale, or 1:76.

 At the opposite extreme was Aberbeeg, a huge layout in 7mm to one foot scale.

 The models were not all of railways. These lorry models were very skilfully made.

 Back to the walk, I headed for Old Basford and Bulwell Forest. Alongside Bulwell Forest, an old railway line has been converted into a footpath paralleling the A611 towards Moor Bridge.

 This continues alongside the B683 to Bestwood Village, before crossing into Bestwood Country Park. This is in the valley of the River Leen, which I followed all the way north to Annesley. Inside the park is a large lake, with plenty of water birds.

 North of Bestwood Country Park, my trail led onto Wigwam Lane in Hucknall, past the remains of Hucknall Colliery - now converted to an ugly industrial estate on the western side of the road and a golf course to the east. At Hucknall, I passed the railway station and took the road north towards Linby. On the edge of Linby Village, the old railway track is a footpath once more, up as far as Newstead Village. Here is a view looking south along the path I had just traversed - taken just south of Newstead.

 Beyond Newstead, I headed for Annesley Church - the "new" one. This was built in 1874, though services continued at both sites until 1942.

Beyond the church, I headed down to the main road, retracing my steps through Portland Park and past the western side of Kirkby, before reaching home about half an hour before sunset.

Excluding my circuit of the model railway exhibition, the walk was 29 miles long. After my struggle to do even 2/3 of that distance the previous week, I should have felt very pleased and relieved. The only snag was that I had another gruelling walk in the Peak District to look forward to the following day.

As for the new camera, I am impressed with the results - though the images here have been reduced in size on my computer, for convenience.