Todays walk in detail

Great news before the walk, 25 deg C and full sun all day...... in Puerto de la Cruz!

However, eleven intrepid members assembled in Hade Edge along with Darragh!
The weather forecast was shocking - high winds and heavy rain all day. It was the sort of day when no sensible person would be outdoors and in fact (apart from two dog walkers) no-one else was outdoors.    
Undeterred, we set off, it was windy but DRY! We dropped down to Holme Styes Reservoir, joining the Kirklees Way up past Elysium and then onto the bottom of Ramsden Edge. We paused for a break at the old quarry along Ramsden Edge where we sheltered from the wind and it was still DRY. Onward, we had a short 'scramble' and then up onto Ruddle Clough where we encountered a boggy stretch around the shooters' Grouse butts. Then, an ascent up onto Snailsdon Moor with the increase in wind strength.   We found a sheltered hollow just off the path on the south side of the moor for our lunch stop. It was windy but still DRY! Back on the trail, and after a short while the rain finally caught up with us! The wind persisted throughout the walk and we got wet only in the final hour - it could have been much worse! We said our farewells to Darragh and took replenishment fluid in the Bowshaw Trout. To the eleven 'Band of Brothers' who turned up for the walk - you're bonkers! but thank you. 

There were 11 of us on the walk, starting from the car park behind Wentworth Church, we set off as the clock struck 9.30 in a light rain shower which fizzled out by 10.30. We made our way through King's Wood towards Elsecar, then up the grassy fields to the Needle's Eye. Our next stop was Hoober Stand where we had our tea/coffee break. We then dropped down to Nether Haugh village, almost passing Nether Haugh House (where I lived in my early teens!). Our next stop was the Wentworth Monument, then over a muddy ploughed field down to the dam wall, between Dog Kennel and Morley Ponds, for lunch. After lunch we took a detour through the woods to avoid a very muddy field, then made our way to Keppel's Column in bright sunshine and clear blue skies, and had magnificent views toward the Fitzwilliam Wentworth Estate. We made our way back via Scholes village, passing the ruins of a cattle feeding station, over the bridge at the weir and arrived back at the car park just after 3pm. It was very muddy but enjoyable and informative walk. A big thank you to Joe Leach (Wentworth Woodhouse tour guide and local historian) for the in depth 'history lesson' he gave at each folly and the Wentworth Monument. Also, thanks to Roy who was our back marker.

On Sunday the 24th November the walk/mystery tour was from Kiveton Waters and was attended by 15 walkers that were brave enough (or something like that) to turn up in pouring rain, the remnants of storm Burt. So, well togged up, we set off following the Chesterfield/Worksop canal. Part of the canal used to go through a long tunnel from Kiveton to the other side of where the M1 is now but it collapsed many years ago and was never rebuilt. The first part of the walk was over this collapsed section to the remaining part of the canal. Shortly after following the canal we reached the canal basin where Kiveton pit used to be. A waterfall drops into the canal at this point and an advantage of all the heavy rain made it quite spectacular. The rain stopped shortly afterwards and the walk along the canal was stunning surrounded by Autumn colours. A coffee break was taken at Turner Wood Lock accompanied by lots of ducks and swans. The canal walk continued past numerous locks to Shireoaks where we turned off into the village before crossing the fields, the A57 and Lindrick golf course.  We then walked past some stunning houses and into Anston Stones Wood for a meal break on the bridge over the stream. We then went through Anston and across the fields back towards Wales. A short walk along the road followed where the rain returned. We were lucky with the rain because we could have been very wet on an 11 mile walk and we got away with it. Rehydration occurred at the Red Lion at Todwick.

17 walkers set of in bright sunshine from the side of Ogston reservoir surrounded by beautiful autumn coloured trees. The first part of the walk headed across rolling fields towards Wooley Moor and on towards Milltown. The route then followed the stream towards Ashover crossing an ancient clapper bridge. Coffee was taken on the steps of the church at Ashover. The next part of the walk was up a long and challenging incline towards Ravensnest with some superb views, a slight descent to Butterly was followed by another incline to Highoredish where we had lunch. This was one if those rare occasions where the high viewpoint looked over the whole of the walk route making it worth the climb. We then descended through Whitecarr farm accompanied by some rain and back to Ogston reservoir. We returned to Ashover for rehydration at the Old Poets Corner pub, one of the best real ale pubs in Derbyshire and a multiple Camera winner. Many thanks to all the walkers, the great laughs and super company. We are very lucky to have such a sociable happy group. Thanks to Julie for backmarking, apparently we had the same number of walkers as we set off with, which is always a relief!