Footpaths from Tansley.

27/10/2018

Another walk out today with the Doncaster ramblers, billed in the programme as "a gem of a walk, one not to be missed". Lets hope so...It's going to be a great walk with plenty of interest along the way. 17 of us gathered across the road from the Tavern in Tansley...Soon we were off, uphill in the direction of Riber castle..A cold morning, that actually felt quite like winter [im not complaining]..There was talk of the odd snow flurry although we never saw any....A day for wooly hats...Up through fields and along a lane we passed behind Riber castle known as Smedleys folly, it was built in 1862 by local industrialist John Smedley, perched on a hilltop overlooking the town of Matlock, it commands attention...We couldn't actually see the castle from close up but as we climbed and looked back we were treated to some nice views of it.

It was soon downhill, sometimes gently, sometimes steeply, sometimes through woodland, sometimes bracken covered slopes. The beautiful colours of Autumn enhanced the scene. I love this season its just a shame that it doesn't last long...I look up at the trees, the wind blowing the leaves from the branches...slow down.

The first descent of the day over we found a convenient wall for our elevenses break..The wall backed onto Smedleys mill [Lea mills]...founded in 1784 by Peter Nightingale and John Smedley it straddles Lea brook...the brook was used to clean yarn and power the machinery...The Mill/factory is still open today manufacturing the company's range of designer knitwear...It began to drizzle.

From here it was up again...up to another interesting old building, Lea hurst hall near the village of Holloway. The hall is famous for the fact that it was once the home of Florence Nightingale...although born in Florence[Italy] The lady of the lamp has many connections with this area of Derbyshire and it was here that she returned too after the Crimean war..We gingerly crossed a cattle grid, trespassing up a private drive to gain a closer look at the building but we couldn't see much, a huge electric gate barred our way...lets get out of here before they set the dogs on us I thought.

Another drop down and we found ourselves walking along the towpath of the Cromford canal..For me this was the highlight of todays walk..a most attractive little canal that runs for 16 miles between Cromford and the Erewash canal...I could have followed that path all day.

Sadly we had to leave the canal..what came next I can only describe as a bastard, a climb so steep that even as I write this I can still imagine my legs trembling...I exaggerate of course, actually I quite enjoyed it...we stopped a couple of times to catch our breath, mop our brows and take a gulp of water...before we knew it we were free from the bastard, marching purposefully across fields in the direction of the village of Critch...passing the Critch tramway museum where we paused for a group photograph.

Next stop...Critch stand, a regimental war memorial..a place to sit and think...I payed my 20p into the honesty box and climbed the steps that spiralled around to the top of the tower...what a view I was greeted with.

Didn't stay long up there as the wind was whistling around my lug holes...I followed the path down to find a wet seat for a sarnie and a coffee..after which I visited the small cosy tearoom for a glass of coca cola..so this is where everyone was.....Quite literally there was no room to swing a cat although it was nice to get out of the wind and drizzle..

With lunch over and another group photograph at the base of the tower and we set off due north back in the direction of Tansley.

A few more ups and downs followed by a few more ups and downs and we came across a most attractive little church...St John the Baptists church in Dethick is set in a beautiful secluded spot...a place of prayer and stillness..The key was obtained from the property next door..Manor farm [the home of Blue Peters Simon Groom]..A turn of the key and slipped in for a look around..as soon as you walk in you are struck by the beauty of the stained glass windows.

With a couple of miles still to walk we decided to pass on the pub stop today..Didnt matter this had been a cracking walk...I have been walking with the Ramblers now for about 5 months and I reckon that this is one of the best walks that I have been on...a walk I shall return too one day... maybe next spring.