20/10/2019 Coach Walk - Eyam via Snake Pass

8:00 start with 17:30 return

A Walk - Higger Tor and Froggatt Edge with Dave Colbert

12 miles (20km) with 2350ft (720m) Total Ascent

The River Derwent meanders its way south from Ladybower Reservoir overlooked to the east by a lengthy gritstone escarpment, part of which we will traverse on this walk.

Starting from Hathersage we first climb to Higger Tor, turning south to the hill fort of Carl Wark on Hathersage Moor and Toad´s Mouth Rock. It´s then through the Longshaw Country Park, where our route crosses the line of the 3.5 mile Totley Tunnel, second longest on the UK´s rail network, to reach Froggatt Edge. This leads to Curbar Edge and a steep descent through Curbar village to the River Derwent. A short length of river walking takes us to New Bridge, from where we head westwards to Stoney Middleton and Eyam. 

B+ Walk - Peter and the Boundary Stone's with Kevin Poole

10 miles (16.1km) with 1150ft (351m) Total Ascent

Starting in Eyam we head west following a lane through a maze of drystone walls. Foolow and Silly Dale :) are avoided by turning south to Wardlow past the landmark Peters Stone. We gain higher ground, pass Hey farm and on to Longstone Moor. At Stoney Middleton a short climb takes us past one of the famous Boundary Stones and back into Eyam for refreshments and the coaches. 

B Walk - Plagiarism with Chris Cook

8 miles (12.87km) with 1000ft (304.8m) Total Ascent

We walk through Eyam, passing Bradshaw Hall to Tidswell Lane where we find a track across fields to Foolow. Arriving in Foolow we bear right at the Bulls Head to climb a long slow hill on the road to Bretton (unfortunately the footpath we should have taken has been closed due to a sink hole!). We bear left at the Barrel Inn at Bretton where we have superb views all around before taking a path down to Stoke Ford. From here we climb over Eyam Moor to Sir William Hill Road where we gradually descent to the historic and picturesque village of Eyam.

Hopefully there should be enough time to look around here.

HAPPY DAYS!

C Walk - Eyam via the Derwent Valley with Joyce Bradbury

6½ miles (10.46km) with 532ft (163m) Total Ascent

Leaving the coach at Hathersage (free unisex toilets) we follow the Derwent Valley Trail on minor roads and field tracks to Grindleford. We cross a main road here then more field tracks and a roughish stretch through a wood bring us to Froggat Bridge. We now have to get up to Eyam.(Pronounced eem). First we have a rather steep climb on field paths to a busy road. We cross the road and follow more field paths to Stoney Middleton. From here we continue along a track which rises steadily to Eyam.

Many of the older buildings here have plaques giving the number of deaths and survivors during the village´s self-isolation during the plague. There are two cafes and a pub at the beginning of the village but the distance given is for the coach park at the far end.

16/10/2019 Stroller - Witton Country Park

Witton Country Park with Barry Hayhurst

2 to 3 miles with Little Climbing

Each Mid-Week Stroller walk has a destination providing a venue for drinks / snacks / meals etc and starts at 10:30am.

Meet in the main entrance car park (Sat Nav: BB2 2TB), then afterwards at at the Houghton Arms , Withnell (Sat Nav: PR6 8BL).

Witton Country Park is situated within 480 acres of woodland, playing fields and farm land.

From the car park (charge applies 50p to £1.50) we head towards the Pavilion, toilets available. Passing the Arena athletics track. From here we cross playing fields to cross the bridge over the River Darwen and follow its course joining a short section of The Witton Weavers Way, encountering some “ornamental art work” on our way to Butlers Bridge. Crossing fields we cross over Tower Road walking along the edge of woodlands next to playing fields into a short section of woodland through to another field. Which eventually brings us out to “The Wits”, an adventure playground which the more adventurous of us can spend sometime being “adventurous”. In the mean time the rest of us will make our way to the old stables and coach house (the only surviving parts of Witton House) to see the animals. From here we make our way to the ornamental lily pond via an avenue on Yew trees (that need some attention), eventually making our way back to the car park .

10/10/2019 Thursday Car - Brinscall

B Walk - Brinscall with Dorothy & Chris

7½ miles (12.7km) Undulating

Meet at Brinscall Baths (Sat Nav: PR6 8QU), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

We leave Brinscall taking the tracks and footpaths to the village of Heapey then we head towards White Coppice where there is a lovely cricket ground. Leaving here we go half way up Great Hill as far as Drinkwaters then along a good path back to Brinscall.

Happy Days!

06/10/2019 Sunday Car - Darwen Tower

B Walk - Darwen Tower (Jubilee Tower) with Roy Smith

5¼ miles (8.4km) with 550ft (167m) Total Ascent

Meet at Roddlesworth Information Centre (The Country Café), Tockholes Rd, Tockholes, Darwen (Sat Nav: BB3 0PA), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

The walk today is a circular walk starting from the Roddlesworth Information Centre. This very pleasant walk visits the deep wooded valley of Roddlesworth and then climbs to the airy heights of Darwen Moors and Darwen Tower. It takes in the ruins of an old manor house and, if you have a good head for heights and appreciate a stunning view of Lancashire, there is the 86 ft Darwen Tower to climb.

We start by heading away from Darwen Tower and enter the woodlands of the Tockholes Plantation. Within the woods we will be able to wander around the ruins of the Manor House, once owned by the Hollinshead family. We now walk uphill to the track that takes us along the flank of Cartridge Hill. Towards the top of the hill we are able (weather permitting) to view a panorama of the Lake District mountains and North Wales. We leave this track and head north on a trail that takes us to Darwen Tower. Here if you wish you may climb the tower, which was completed in 1898 to commemorate Queen Victoria´s Diamond Jubilee. We now make our way downhill, along the Witton Weavers Way. Turning off the Weavers Way we complete our walk along field tracks back to our start point.