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"B" Walk Sun 5th April 2009
(On The White Peak Map.)
Leader
Mike Gibson.
We parked on Matlock station car park on a bright and sunny day but not
quite warm enough for shorts. Fourteen members attended Lorraine and
Sue and fourteen men.
We set off past the station on to the main street
taking the first right to ascend to above Shining Cliff going across the
fields to The Heights of Abraham. Going on above Matlock Bath to
Upperwood and descending to Cromford to take morning break by Mill Pool on
Water Lane. We settled down on the park seating and its a sign summer
is coming as Stan produce a pineapple for the first time this year.
After break we crossed the A6 to Arkwright Mill where we took a short break
while we viewed the outside of the restored old mill not having time to go
on the guided tour of the interior. On across the road to Cromford
Wharf then along the remains of the canal to the engine house for the
tramway up to Middleton Tops. We were not going this way we turned
east to cross the River Derwent to skirt Holloway village to turn north
entering the fields to cross to the village of Lea where lunch was taken in
the fields before moving on to The Glass and Jug Inn for liquid refreshments. (7
miles).
This week it was Stans turn buy chips as it was his 70
birthday tomorrow. We enjoyed a good pint of Mansfield Bitter while he
told us about his latest visit to the war graves in Italy at Monte Casino
and The Anzio Beach.
After lunch we set off north to Dethic Church
which was attended by Florence Nightingale as her family lived in the area,
after viewing we carried on to Transley and turning west to Riber Castle.
We had afternoon break just before reaching Riber Castle, Riber Castle dominates the
hills above Matlock but it was never a real castle being built in the 19th
century by John Smedley as a private home. We passed the castle which is now
in a sorry state after a chequered history. We were nearly home now
with just the steep descent into Matlock to walk through Matlock Park back
to the cars after such a good day out with a good walk and marvellous
weather. (11.5 miles.).
Our thanks to Mike for a well planned and
entertaining walk on such a nice day.
Norman.
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