MONTHLY RAMBLERS

Leader: Jan Smith

Email:monthlyramblers@newmillsu3a.org.uk

Meetings: first Thursday of the month (start time varies)

Distance is typically 10 miles. We stop for coffee and then for a picnic lunch stop. Walks are at a speed of around 2 miles per hour inclusive of stops for refreshments, so a walk of 10 miles takes about 5 hours.

The walks tend to be hilly, some more than others - I can provide an outline of what each of them will involve for anyone uncertain about their stamina and fitness.

Wet weather gear needs to be carried (whatever the weather forecast) together with food and drink, and spare clothing in winter. Boots (as opposed to walking shoes) are recommended - paths can be wet at any time of the year.

Walks will start locally in the winter when daylight hours are short, but may start further afield when the days are longer. Transport to the start of the walk will be on a car/petrol sharing basis. If you are not a driver that will be no problem.

With a large number of members on the contact list
and a very high uptake on walks

THIS GROUP IS FULL

• Walks usually take place on the first Thursday of the month
• Route and joining details are sent out by email to members who have requested to be included on the contacts list
• If you would like to be included please email Jan Smith (group leader)

Monthly Ramblers News 2023

There have been a some positive changes with the walking group over recent months.
Firstly, I have changed the name of the group from the Longer Walking group to the Monthly Ramblers. This was done to give greater clarity as to which group we are and what we do, that is hold walks once a month; usually the first Thursday. We have welcomed several new members to the group which means we now have over 20 on our contacts list and a good turnout each month.
We generally walk about 10 miles, usually in the local area or within the Peak District.

Here is an outline of walks over the last few months:

May
We ascended Kinder Scout via William Clough and continued on to Sandy Heys and along to Kinder Downfall where we had lunch. We continued along the edge of the Kinder plateau. to Kinder Low and Edale Cross. We  descended  via Tunstead Clough and returned to start point at Bowden Bridge car park.

June
We enjoyed some warm bright sunshine and lovely far reaching views along with the delightful abundance of spring/early summer wild flowers. We stayed quite local, starting from Pym Chair car park, dropping down to Thursbitch and over to Lamaload Reservoir, Blue Boar and Summer Close. From there we climbed up to Charles Head, passing via Clough Farm and over to Windgather Rocks before returning to our start point.

July
We ventured a little further afield and met at Ashopton Bridge by Ladybower Reservoir. We ascended through the bracken to Derwent Edge passing via Wheel Stones to Back Tor and Lost Lad. We were once again blessed with some fine weather and fabulous views. We descended via Millbrook Plantation and Briery Side to the east side of Ladybower Reservoir. We followed the track alongside the reservoir back to the start point.

August
Joan kindly volunteered to lead the walk and took many of us to an unfamiliar area. The walk was quite challenging due to the total ascent of 548m and a distance of 10 miles, of which some was over the high moors and associated boggy ground. However, the effort was constantly rewarded with the fabulous far reaching views.

We parked by Arnfield Reservoir, Glossop and walked along the lane to the lovely village of Tintwistle. From there we spent the morning gradually climbing up to the trig point via Didsbury Intake, Lads Leap and Featherbed Moss. We stopped at the trig point for a well earned rest and lunch although Julian decided to get a little extra height and challenge by climbing on top of the trig point! From here we made our way across the moors to the very remote but beautiful Chew Reservoir. The path follows alongside the reservoir to the dam wall. From here we began our return route via Wilderness, Ormes Moor, Ogden Brook and Arnfield Farm.

September
We started the walk from Tideswell, climbing up out of the village and over to Wheston. We then dropped down the Pennine Bridleway to Millers Dale. From there we headed along the old railway line of the Monsal Trail which is now a popular walking and cycling route. The trail passes through two of the original railway tunnels which thankfully has low  level lighting along their lengths. We eventually left the trail and followed the river via Cressbrook and Litton Mills. We then continued north to Tideswell Dale before returning to the start point.

October
This was a lovely route which included beautiful Lathkill Dale, the River Bradford and the Limestone Way.

The route from the car park above Youlgreave took us across the fields, dropping down to Lathkill Dale where we followed the river, passing by the fish weirs and many interesting reminders of it’s past industries of mills and mines. We eventually left the Dale behind and  proceeded along to Conksbury and Alport. From Alport we headed along the tranquil River Bradford and climbed up to Harthill Moor. We then followed the Limestone Way for a distance before dropping back down to the river below Youlgreave….and then the final sting in the tail: the climb back up to the start point!

Click on images to enlarge

Derbyshire Walking Baton Relay
to Celebrate U3A’s 40th Birthday

The U3A movement began in the UK in 1982, so September 2022 saw us celebrating our 40th birthday.

The Relay was ceremonially started by John Merrill, a major celebrity in the walking community and a man who loves walking in Derbyshire. He’s an author of more than 500 walking guides and a record-breaking marathon walker who has so far covered 227,527 miles, wearing out 151 pairs of boots.

New Mills and District U3A longer and medium walking group leaders organised our leg of the baton relay which took part on 14th September 2022. A few of our members met Buxton U3A at Whaley Bridge canal basin the day before and walked the final part of their walk with them along the canal to New Mills. Once at New Mills the baton was formally handed over to us.

The next morning, members of New Mills and District U3A gathered at the Torrs and proceeded to walk the 10 miles to Edale. Our route took us via the Sett Valley Trail to Hayfield, up to Bowden Bridge and over to Edale Cross. We enjoyed stunning views of the Hope Valley and the Great Ridge as we dropped down into the Edale valley via Jacob’s Ladder. We arrived in Edale in good time and took the opportunity to quench our thirst at The Rambler Inn where we had arranged to hand the baton over to the Hope Valley U3A for it’s onward journey. We returned to New Mills by train.

We enjoyed a fabulous walk in beautiful conditions and felt a real sense of achievement in completing the walk and enabling the baton to continue its journey. It was great to share our walk with regular members of the medium and longer walking groups as well as a few members of other activity groups.

You can see photos from the stages of the relay walk via the Derbyshire U3A Network Facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/u3aDerbyshireNetwork

Here are a few from our walk.

September 2022

<click on image to enlarge>

Derbyshire

September 2021

Alstonfield
Milldale
River Dove
Hall Dale
Ilam Rock
Dove Dale
Dove Holes
Wolfscote Dale

September’s walk took us further south into Derbyshire, starting at the beautiful village of Alstonfield. The walking begin by dropping down the lane to Milldale and the tranquil River Dove where we then climbed up steeply and made our way over the fields to meet Hall Dale. At the end of Hall Dale we again joined the River Dove and sat by Ilam Rock to enjoy our first refreshments stop with a difference!

Two of our members had been unable to join the walk because they were hosting a tea and cake fundraiser in their garden. In support of this worthy cause, we took along some homemade treats to share and made a donation to the charity.

Full of cake and energy, we then continued through Dove Dale, pausing to look at the open cave features known as Dove Holes and ambled along the banks of the river before crossing over via the ancient Viator Bridge back to Milldale. Here we continued in a northerly direction along the peaceful Dove valley and Wolfscote Dale. At the end of Wolfscote Dale the path turned south and took us over the fields back to Alstonfield.

The weather was largely very kind to us despite the fact that thunderstorms had been forecast. Fortunately, the first rain of the day arrived just a few minutes away from the finish. No sooner had we got inside our vehicles when the heavens opened but by then it really didn’t matter!!

16 km route on Kinder Scout

It was great to be able to enjoy a walk together again and only the second since COVID 19 impacted on our lives!

The walk took us up on to the southern edges of Kinder Scout starting from Bowden Bridge car park. We approached the Kinder plateau via Coldwell Clough and proceeded up hill to Edale Cross where we paused for some early refreshments. We then continued on to the Wool Packs to take a look at the distinctive rock formations where Howard showed some youthful spirit by climbing on to the tops! We then retraced our steps and headed over to Kinder Low, stopping for lunch by the trig point and then continued on to Kinder Downfall, where Ian dipped his toes in the water and Marlowe, our four legged companion, took the opportunity for a cooling lie down.

The journey continued to Mill Hill, where several members showed great interest in the site of a WW2 aircraft wreck. The wrecked craft was a Liberator, an American bomber. The final stages of the route took us over Leygatehead Moor to the shooting cabin above White Brow before returning to the start point.

The weather was ideal, visibility was good and the temperature was mild enough for some to wear just shorts and T-shirts!

An excellent walk with some very interesting features was enjoyed by all!