Stone Barn, Alstonfield Craft & Photo Weekend, February 2011
How was your 2011? For many, it has been a year of uncertainty.. We are all feeling the pinch with prices rising faster than wages. Pensions under threat, riots in August….where do I stop?
Never more has the verse “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) needed to be proclaimed to a needy world. Perhaps when people can’t shop they’ll finally find the pearl of greatest value? Whatever happens, let us be ready as we rub shoulders with family, friends, colleagues, indeed anyone we deal with.
As we walk, we continue to worship God as we appreciate his creation and encourage each other in our walk with Him.. If there is anything from the current economic and spiritual situation of the country that we need to apply to the group, perhaps we need to continue to look out for each other. e.g. by sharing lifts. Thank you all for your already generous efforts in looking out for each other.
So what about our year? I’m sorry to have missed 3 walks in a row. Thank you so much for Graham, Helen, Guy, Julian, Peter and Jane for leading walks. I would love to have been there, but sometimes one thing seems to follow another. So I can’t say anything about those walks I’m afraid.
So what of those walks I’ve made? In July we were very ably led by Graham and Jean for the first time. The walk started from their home on the outskirts of Sheffield and by halfway we were in the middle of the Peak District! As for the weather, what was billed as a nondescript summer between a glorious spring and autumn must have produced 99% of the rain that fell during it- a view point where we were to have coffee was shrouded in Peak District ”mist” which soon came and drenched us! Anyway the sun came out later for what seemed a summer’s day walk again in the surprisingly beautiful Rivelin Valley just coming back into Sheffield. However there was a sting in the tail- the climb back up to Graham and Jean’s involved a sighting of a tower block which started above us and finished below us! A superb tea at Graham and Jean’s rewarded us for our efforts- so thanks again are in order for their hospitality!
August was another first with a new variant on the Monsal Dale/Taddington/Miller’s Dale circuit. The old railway tunnels have now opened up in Miller’s Dale, and as a result we were greeted with hordes of cyclists! There was also an unexpected bonus on the walk- we didn’t realise that Taddington were having their well dressings and so having picnicked in the temporary car park in the church grounds, had some “free time” visiting some of the events around the church. As for the pretty average summer weather, it was slightly on the better side of average this time.
Fast forward to December for reasons given earlier, and my absence from walking was compensated for what seemed almost unseasonable bright sunny weather for most of the walk around Foremark Reservoir, with views over to the Peak District and the vivid red of the Dogwood branches. Thanks Guy for organising, including a very reasonable pub meal afterwards (puddings £1!) when it sleeted, but it didn’t matter then!
The picture at the top of the programme was taken on a craft and photo event on a national CRC event at Alstonfield. An early get-up was essential since it started melting straight away. Indeed places a bit lower like Derby missed the snow altogether. Anyway the good thing about this programme is that we go from scenes like the Alstonfield snow to scenes like this.
Bluebells at Malvern.
Programme
Here we have the programme for the first half of 2012. Events are generally on the third Saturday of the month. Once again, thanks to all the leaders for a good variety of routes!
Before I start, don’t forget.
Saturday 21 Jan Wirksworth
Banish the winter blues! Meet Black Rock car park SK291557 9:45 for 10:00. 5.5 miles, 900 ft climbing.
Black Rocks, Bolehill, Wirksworth, Middlepeak quarry, Middleton top (where there is an engine house which is sometimes open to the public). We return along the High Peak Trail, where we descend the Middleton incline and pass other places of interest such as the Steeple Grange narrow gauge railway.
Contact Bob on 01332 762767 Contact me for all entries on the webpage and I will send a programme.
Saturday
18 Feb. Dovedale.
We have done this lovely walk before, and well worth repeating!
Meet. Approx 2.5 miles NW of Ashbourne, meet at Thorpe car
park, Map ref. SK 163505. It is on the
The walk. (Moderate) 8.2 miles and a total of 550 ft of ascent. The route is via Tissington, Milldale, Dovedale, and Lindale.
Saturday 17th
March. Ladybower Reservoir and Win Hill.
Meet SK 216874, large layby near Cutthroat Bridge on A57. 11 miles (maybe shorter on the day depending upon the weather), 1100ft.
From Cutthroat Bridge, Ladybower reservoir, Win Hill (the ascent will depend upon the weather on the day and prior to the walk, a direct ascent will reduce the walk by approx 1 1/2 miles), Hope Cross, descend to Ladybower reservoir and back along the shores, Cutthroat Bridge.
Saturday 21st
April. Alport Castles.
Sat April 21st.. Approx 8 miles. 1300ft ascent. Meet at free car park nearest to Fairholmes SK 173889.
Route: Concessionary path through Hagg Side, Bellhagg Barn, Rowlee Farm, Rowlee Bridge, Upper Ashop, Alport Bridge, Alport Farm, Alport Castles, Bellhag Tor and back on C.P. to car park.
Saturday19th May
2012, 9-45am for 10-00am. Central Derbyshire Carsington
village- Kniveton area
Joint Leaders Jane Grant & Peter Shaw
Assemble Car Park adjacent to Carsington Reservoir on South side of B 5035 near turn off to Carsington village. Grid ref. 248530.
Map 24 The Peak District White Peak Area.
Route Car park, Carsington village, Brassington village, Nether farm, Newhouse farm, Kniveton village, Hognaston village, Carsington reservoir visitors centre, return to car park.
Length of walk 7.80. miles. Estimated total climb 325metres (1060 feet)
Saturday 16th. June. Villages West of the Manifold Valley.
Meet at Wetton Mill Parking Area (SK 096561) at 9.45 am. ready to walk at 10 am.
Walk South along valley then up to Grindon and on to Ford, Onecote Butterton and back to Wetton Mill. 8.5 miles and about 1000 ft. ascent.
National events
The National CRC are in the area in this first half of the year. Contact the event leader to see if they will accept day walkers, or even book in for the entire event, to get a taste of the National club!
Events are based on Youth Hostels.
|
Event |
Date |
Leader |
Details |
|
Moorside Farm, SK055670, nr Hollinsclough |
Thur 1- Sun 4 Mar (or part thereof) |
Margaret Machin |
300 year old farm house converted to independent hostel. Full board incl.packed lunch £31 per night. |
|
Ravenstor Youth Hostel |
Thur 17 May- Sun 20 |
Jeremy Sharp |
Walks in the local area. |
|
Sheen Bunkhouse |
June 14-17 |
Contact me for more details |
Sheen/Hartington area? Details to be confirmed. |
Also the national club are doing Mountain First Aid training at Alstonfield Youth Hostel on Fri 20-Sun 22 April. Presumably you need to commit to the full event. Contact me for more details, in any case by 23rd February.
The Derby Christian Rambling Club is not part of the national organisation of the same name, but cooperates by providing local day walks, along with a number of similar local groups throughout the country. I have details of a few National Club walks in our area that may be able to accept day walkers.
Look forward on seeing you on walks. Monsal Tunnels
|
Bob Harris Tel 01332 762767 Mobile 07790 431690 |
|
Email robertharris746@virginmedia.com Note new email address and web address.