This is a description of walks I have taken recently complete with reference to the book from which the walk was taken, comments and, where appropriate, photographs. This page covers walks from 28 January 2011.
Elton | |||||||||||
Book - Walker's Britain - Ordnance Survey - Published by Guild Publishing, London | Start Point - Elton | ||||||||||
Page 208 | Moderate | ||||||||||
Landranger Map - 119 - Buxton & Matlock | Length - 6.5 Miles | ||||||||||
Very nice walk first through Gratton Dale and then over to Robin Hood's stride. I did it on a frosty day in January and was grateful for the frost. Every one of the two thousand odd steps that I took in Gratton dale would have been through ankle deep mud had rthe ground not been frozen. Nevertheless, it was a good walk with good views throughout. I am not sure how the Ordnance Survey found only one climb. I found two climbs of two hundred feet, one to Robin Hoods Stride and one on the final stretch back to Elton. But never mind! Incidentally, the road to Dudwood Farm is not a right of way and has a sign to this effect. It is perfectly possible to climb the road for quarter of a mile or so and take the first footpath on the right all the way to Elton church. | |||||||||||
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Monsal Head Book - Country Walking Magazine - September 2010 - Published by Baeur Media Start Point - Monsal Head Page 12 Moderate Landranger Map - 119 - Buxton & Matlock Length - 5.25 Miles Lovely walk through Wye Valley and back over Putwell Hill. The climb away from the Wye is steep probably accounting for the moderate rating. Much of the return part of the walk was on tracks that are heavily signed with warnings to off-road vehicles, so perhaps this walk should be avoided at weekends. I had to truncate the walk a little because there was a sign in Monsal Head car park warning that the monsal trail was closed because they are doing work to prepare to open the tunnel, so I started and finished at Upper Dale. No sign of the work on the Monsal Trail, however. It was heavily populated by children on bikes! Hartington Book - Peak District Walks - Compiled by Brian Conduit & Kevin Borman - Published by Jarold Publishing Start Point - Hartington Page 55 Moderate Landranger Map - 119 - Buxton & Matlock Length - 8 Miles Lovely walk centred on the Dove. Firstly a taster at Beresford Dale then on to high ground on the edge of Narrowdale Hill and on to Alstonefield. There are two signs in Alstonefield to Ashborne and Lode Mill. The path you want is the second footpath on the left after the second sign, But it is much more easily identified by a large brown sign saying "Youth Hostel". Anyway, that path becomes quite overgrown with stinging nettles before disgorging you on to the beautiful steep Gypsy Bank, with fabulous views down to Coldeaton Bridge and of some of the craggy parts of the Dove valley, Then a lovely walk along Wolfescote Dale befoe a final climb to give you great views over Hartington and to the Staffordshire moors. Book - Country Walking Magazine - January 2008 - Published by Baeur Media Start Point - Castleton Page 16 Moderate Landranger Map - 110 - Sheffield & Huddersfield Length - 6 Miles Simply the best ridge walk in the world. This was the first time for some years that I had walked the full length of the great ridge. It was also a bright sunny day whereas recently my achievement of the ridge has coincided with the onset of heavy rain. It was once again fabulous with great views. Route finding was easy. I did this during the school summer holiday which is not a recipe for seclusion but it was great. Castle Ashby Book - 1000 Walks in Britain - Published by AA Publishing Start Point - Castle Ashby Page 592 Moderate Landranger Map - 152 - Northampton & Milton Keynes Length - 6.5 Miles Very pleasant walk in the Nene valley. Parking in Castle Ashby was actually quite difficult. The walk was through a couple of very attractivce villages and a spell beside the River Nene. Unfortunately, it rained hard for the last mile or so and I got very wet. Dinton Pastures Book - AA - 50 Berksire & Buckinghamshire Walks Start Point - Dinton Pastures Page Easy Landranger Map - 175 - Reading & Windsor Length - 3 Miles Very pleasant walk around a series of lakes in the Thames Valley by the River Loddon. Much of the country park is very good under foot but there is enough mud around the Loddon to make boots adviseable. No photographs. This was an early morning stroll before coming home from a visit to Tim's. Sizewell Book - Country Walking Magazine - March 2011 - Published by Baeur Media Start Point - Sizewell Page 11 Easy Landranger Map - 156 - Saxmundham Length - 7.5 Miles Very pleasant flat walk round Sizewell and Thorpeness. Walking and route finding generally easy. Scenery varied with heathland and coastline with bits of woodland and around Thorpeness golf course. Instruction 8 says that "it is good to walk along sand and shingle". It is not. It is difficult, slow and tiring particularly with my artificial hip. Apart from this, excellent even in the very dodgy, windy, showery weather that I suffered, Loddon Book - Country Walking Magazine - December 2008 - Published by Baeur Media Start Point - Loddon Page 12 Easy Landranger Map - 134 - Norfolk & the Broads Length - 7.5 Miles Possibly the least exciting walk that I have ever come acrtoss with Country Walking magazine. Loddon itself is very pretty and there are a couple of hundred yards along the River Chet that are quite nice. The remainder is along paths overgrown with nettles and thistles or common land overgrown with nettles or thistles. The view is mostly of scrubby pasture with the occasional flat field. I have the map reading skills to truncate the walk part way, for which I am grateful. Norfolk has many beautiful parts. This walk goes through none of them. Hathersage Moor Book - 1000 Walks in Britain - Published by AA Publishing Start Point - Surprise View Page 806 Moderate Landranger Map - 110 - Sheffield & Huddersfield Length - 5.5 Miles Very nice walk over the Hathersage Moor visiting Higger Tor and Carl Wark. Plenty of ups and downs and grand views throughout. Much of the area is very familiar but none the worse for that. Exact following of route is almost impossible amongst the myrriad paths on this moor. I walked back along the brook and up the sunken path rather than along the A road. It might be a few hundred yards further but it is much more pleasant. Cauldonlow Book - 1000 Walks in Britain - Published by AA Publishing Start Point - Cauldonlow Page 545 Moderate Landranger Map - 119 - Buxton & Matlock Length - 6 Miles Interesting walk. Unpromising start parking in the immediate surrounds of a cement factory. Much of the walk is through areas of Staffordshire that are heavily scarred by quarrys. Route finding was difficult. For large tracts there was litrtle resemblance between what was written in the instructions and what could be seen on the ground. One footpath was closed for quarrying and there was one sign pointing out the diversion somewhere over there in that trackless area. I was very grateful for Satellite navigation.Nevertheless, once you got going, the countryside was nice to walk in. I saw only one other walker. Perhaps the rest were lost somewhere. Once the trig point was reached at the top of the Weaver Hills, the views were outstanding. I would recommend getting there but don't necessarily follow these instructions. Creswell Crags Book - Short Circular Walks in the Dukeries - John N Merrill - Published by JNM Publications Start Point - Creswell Crags Page 28 Easy Landranger Map - 120 - Mansfield & Worksop Length - 6 Miles A pleasant enough walk done on a glorious early October day. Good and varied through north Nottinghamshire. Parts are familiar from the Robin Hood Way and similar but together made for very nice walking. Route finding until the turn for Whitwell near Worksop Manor was easy. From there on there was little correlation between the instructions and what could be seen and I mostly followed sat nav. This might be to do with the age of my copy of the book (1990). The paths and waymarking were generally better than John Merril led me to expect. I took a different route back from Belph, across the quarry and down a green lane. I think this was probably better because it reduced the road walking. No photographs I am afraid. I foolishly forgot my camera. Langdale Pikes Book - Country Walking Magazine - Spring 2011 - Published by Baeur Media Start Point - Dungeon Ghyll Page 23 Hard Landranger Map - 90 - Penrith, Keswick & Ambleside Length - 5 Miles Fabulous walk climbing most of the Langdale pikes. It was seriously hard but worth the effort. The walk took us over five hours, so pay for plenty of car parking. Be warned. The first climb is up Dugeon Ghyll to Stickle Tarn, which you reach with relief but you still have another fierce climb to reach Pavey Arc. By the time you reach this, quitting seems a good idea but from then on you do remain on a plateau and the remaining peaks are easily conquered. A great walk. Brigstock Book - Country Walking Magazine - January 2010 - Published by Baeur Media Start Point - Brigstock Page 8 Easy Landranger Map - 141 - Kettering & Corby Length - 6.25 Miles A very pleasant walk in Rockingham forest. Fairly flat and varied and accompanied by an aerial display by red kites. However, I could not find the footpath close to Bushylawn Lodge without use of GPS and when found, it exited the woods and was non existent on the ground over a field of mangolds. I returned to the main track and map read my way back on to the route at Brigstock. Here the instructions were adequate but why not use street names when they are available? Derwent Edges from Strines Bridge Book - Eastern Peak - by Paul Hannon - Published by Hillside Publications, Keighley, West Yorkshire Start Point - Strines bridge Page 52 Moderate Landranger Map - 119 - Buxton & Matlock Length - 6.75 Miles Lovely walk on Derwent Edges with the easier climb from Strines Moor. Route finding very straightforward and views from the top are almost cheating for the relatively modest effort expended. The car park used does not exist at present. The woodland at this stage has been 100% felled and where the car park was is a muddy mess. I parked in a lay by half way along the final road section, which turned out to be a good plan. That final road stretch is about one and a half miles, which is far too long on tarmac. Parking half way at least splits the road walking. There are several lay-bys to chose from. Fernilee Reservoir Book - Country Walking Magazine - October 2010 - Published by Baeur Media Start Point - Fernlee reservoir Page 12 Moderate Landranger Map - 119 - Buxton & Matlock Length - 6.75 Miles Pleasant country walk around Fernilee reservoir and the Goyt Valley beyond. Very picturesque countryside although not the moorland that I expected in the Goyt Valley. The woodland walk was closed for bridge maintenance when I was there so I did the waterside walk twice. I am surprised at the moderate rating. The 1174 feet of climb is an accumulation of several short but very manageble steep climbs to the height of two dams. Both walking and route finding were easy. Woolsthorpe by Belvoir Book - Country Walking Magazine - December 2010 - Published by Baeur Media Start Point - Woolsthorpe by Belvoir Page 9 Easy Landranger Map - 119 - Buxton & Matlock Length - 6 Miles Very pleasant walk in Vale of Belvoir. Firstly along the wooded River Devon to the Grantham canal. Then a long stretch along the Grantham canal before a modest climb to reveal fantastic views over Woolsthorpe to Belvoir castle.There was a problem at the end of the stretch from the canal to the road, where the footpath had been ploughed and sown and there was no sign of it being reinstated. It was easily overcome by continuing on the track to the road and using the road for about quarter of a mile to rejoiin the route above Fanny's wood. Arundel Book - Country Walking Magazine - January 2011 - Published by Baeur Media Start Point - Arundel Page 5 Moderate Landranger Map - 197 - Chichester and the South Downs Length - 7.25 Miles Very nice walk firstly along River Arun with great views over Arundel. Then through pretty village of South Stoke before climbing through Arundel Park to Hiornes tower, then descending through Arundel past cathedral, castle and priory. Nice varied walk with good views throughout with lovely stretch across chalk downland approaching tower. Amberley Book - Country Walking Magazine - June 2010 - Published by Baeur Media Start Point - Amberley station Page 3 Moderate Landranger Map - 197 - Chichester and the South Downs Length - 7.25 Miles Superb walk. Believe the author when he says the climb to the South Downs way is easy. When you arrive at the summit of Rocham Hill the views are to die for. You wonder how you have managed to get that far above Amberley with so little effort. The height gained is confirmed when doing the much steeper descent. The last bit from Amberley to and then along the Arun was muddy but what did I expect in early November. One of the best. Haughton Book - Country Walking Magazine - January 2011 - Published by Baeur Media Start Point - Haughton Page 12 Moderate Landranger Map - 120 - Mansfield & Worksop Length - 7 Miles Decent enough walk in central Nottinghamshire. The way out to West Markham was pleasant with good views. Around West Markham was nice but the walk back was a bit ordinary through fairly scrubby land and too far from the Maun for it to come into play. Route finding was easy and it was good under foot throughout. Beeley Moor Book - Eastern Peak - Paul Hannon - Published by Hillside Publications, Keighley, west Yorkshire Start Point - Carton Lees Page 40 Moderate Landranger Map - 119 - Buxton & Matlock Length - 6.5 Miles Super walk above Beeley onto Harland Edge, a new part of the Peak District to me and so close to the Chatsworth estate. The walk up was easy to follow although a decent climb. Alas on the way down Paul Hannon once again gave inadequate instructions.In Beeley plantation, where unfortunately sat nav cannot help, there were several junctions around. I never crossed the brook and eventually had to decend to Beeley on the road. This is far from the first time that this has happened and that parts of walks have been spoiled by inadequate description. This is particularly important in woodland, where not only does sat nav not work, but there are usually paths not marked on maps Dovedale and the Tissington Trail Book - Country Walking Magazine - December 2011 - Published by Baeur Media Start Point - Milldale Page 11 Moderate Landranger Map - 119 - Buxton & Matlock Length - 8 Miles Super walk around Dovedale. It starts with a fairly steep climb from Milldale to the ridge of shining Tor, then a lovely high level walk with great views over the Dove north of Milldale, than away from the gorge to the Tissington trail followed by footpaths to Tissington, then across fields to descend to the stepping stones in Dovedale, then a final three miles along the best and classic Dovedale to Milldale walk. Walking is fairly easy throughout. The first climb is easier than it looks. There is mud along the ridge walk and in a few other places and route finding is easy. Hartshill Book - Country Walking Magazine - December 2011 - Published by Baeur Media Start Point - Hartshill Page 12 Moderate Landranger Map - 140 - Leicester & Coventry Length - 6.75 Miles Walk around post industrial landscape near Nuneaton. Much of the walk is round disused quarries and there is a lot of razor wire, graffiti and warnings to potential vandals. Some of the views are lovely but are across barbed wire. Overall, a somewhat disappointing walk. I had to hurry it a little because the car park closes at 4 O'clock in November. Rushup Edge Book - 1000 Walks in Britain - Published by AA Publishing Start Point - Edale Page 749 Moderate Landranger Map - 110 - Sheffield & Huddersfield Length - 6 Miles Smashing walk along Rushup Edge. Rushup Edge is probably the least well known part of the Edale Horseshoe because it is neither on the Great Ridge nor on Kinder Scout but it is none the worse for this. It has fabulous views on both sides and goes from a fairly sharp ridge to bleak moorland. This walk ascends from Edale on a path that I had not used before. I did not bother to go to the top of Mam Tor. I have been there many times. Route finding is easy, paths are good and views are to die for. Great Longstone Book - Short Walks in the Peak Park - William & Vera Parker Published by Derbyshire Countryside Ltd Start Point - Great Longstone Page 36 Easy Landranger Map - 119 - Buxton & Matlock Length - 3 Miles Very easy level walk from Great Longstone. I extended it to 4.5 miles by continuing on the Monsal Trail for longer and coming back through the edge of Little Longstone. Good views of Longston edge throughout. Not overly strenuous
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