4 Jun 25 Llangollen Leaders: Lesley & Karen, Length of walk: 10.5 miles, Driving Distance: 45 miles, Number walking: 13
Start from long stay car park in East Street LL20 8PW
For a map of the route click on the link below: https://1drv.ms/i/c/ddd7d780276a2f26/EW5mAk4NSE1Kon8r9jInZLsBN4kVkNuL9jXBql3ikJKzPA?e=Ie3pij
From the long stay car park in East Street the group crossed the River Dee, climbed up to the Llangollen Canal and set off to the east. When the walkers had become used to walking on the towpath, the leader took them away to climb the ridge and join the Offa’s Dyke Path going west. At a suitable spot where a rock ledge overlooks the Vale of Llangollen, the group stopped for coffee before strolling down towards the hilltop ruins of Castell Dinas Brân. This fortification was built by the local Welsh lord in the 1260s but was abandoned in 1282 after the English took over the area. Those of you who don’t have the Welsh will wonder what the name means in English, but it is not straightforward. You have a choice; the castle might be:
- City of Crows
- Crows’ Fortress
- named for a Gaulish chieftain, “Brennus”
- named for a British King Bendigeidfran
- simply derived from the word bryn, “hill”
- named for a mountain stream which ran at the northern foot of the hill
The walkers were grateful that they didn’t have to climb to the top; the leader followed the path that stayed near the base of the hill albeit with some ascents through the trees. When the group emerged from the trees into a field overlooking the Eisteddfod pavilion, the leader allowed them to stop for lunch.
After walking down to the canal again, the group headed west to have a look at the Horseshoe Falls. Despite the name, this is a weir built in 1808 to divert water from the River Dee to the canal network. Some of the water piped to South Cheshire customers comes from the reservoir at Hurleston supplied from the canal. Walkers who study the canal contents will be pleased to note that United Utilities clean the water before it goes in the pipe.
With the sun still shining, the leader encouraged the walkers to join her for a paddle in the River Dee. Unsurprisingly she paddled alone. She then led the group back to the tea shop where the group joined the canal in the morning and encouraged the walkers to enjoy an ice cream. This time they followed her lead.
18 Jun 25 Bakewell Edensor Rowsley Leaders: Kevin, Length of walk: 10 miles, Driving Distance: 38 miles, Number walking: 14
The walk on 18 Jun 2025 starts in Bakewell, climbs almost immediately up Castle Hill using the quiet road past the golf club, then, after a coffee stop at the summit, the route takes a long downhill track to Edensor. There the route enters Chatsworth Park and follows the River Derwent down to Rowsley. The route climbs from Rowsley initially and then joins the path alongside the River Wye to return to Bakewell. There is one stile and no muddy patches or long grass
Lunch will be seated at Calton Lees car park near the Chatsworth garden centre and its toilets.
Park in the Bakewell Bridge car park off Coombs Road DE45 1BU
(W3W ///chuckling.famines.bolt. Click on the link to see it on a map https://w3w.co/chuckling.famines.bolt )
You may download the route by clicking on this link: https://1drv.ms/i/c/ddd7d780276a2f26/Ee4LmXuVEBxPpn2R1a0KHe0BAicXGLA6cVzSiEANhAyUBg?e=yic2Wp
Although the sky was cloudy on the way to Bakewell, the sun came out on the walkers and maintained the recent high temperature throughout the day, which was unfortunate given the hills the group had to climb. Although the public toilets were about 200 yards away, none of the walkers used them. The cost of 20p may have put them off. However the leader had a solution. He had seen on a website that the Bakewell station site on the Monsal Trail provided a disabled toilet. On the way up Castle Hill, he called in to find it. Sadly, the internet proved yet again to be unreliable and he moved on to plan B. This involved deviating into the wood next to the road and using the open-air facilities there. With everyone in good order the group continued to climb the long road which wandered round the hill to reduce the gradient. The alternative to the long road was the shorter route through the wood which was steeper, had nettles and brambles with an uneven surface.
When the group reached the top of the hill, the leader called a halt for a coffee stop and issued lemon drizzle cake to the grateful walkers. They then enjoyed a long shallow descent to Chatsworth Park along a tarmac road and then a limestone track.
It was on the track that a motorcyclist ascending the track stopped to allow us to pass. Everyone was surprised.
On arriving at Edensor, the leader showed off his local knowledge by sharing with the walkers the pronunciation of the village name, gleaned on the recce by consulting a genuine local. He pronounced the name “Enzer”. So now you know.
After posing on the bridge giving access to Chatsworth House, the group set off through the pasture closely nibbled by sheep alongside the River Derwent and stopped for lunch at Calton Lees car park. This has the benefit of being next to the Chatsworth Garden Centre and its free toilets. After being doubly refreshed, the group moved over a small hill to follow the River Derwent to Rowsley.
On arrival at the village, the level surface changed to an uphill slog, which slowed down some members of the group causing gaps to appear. Frequent pauses for hydration kept the group on track until the started the final descent. On the way down they paused to admire the Haddon Tunnel, which was built to conceal the railway from the Duke of Rutland, when he spent time at Haddon Hall. The railway closed in 1968 and some of it has been converted to the Monsal Trail walking and cycling route. There is talk of extending the Monsal Trail through the Haddon Tunnel and on to Rowsley but the track bed is currently under water. It will be expensive to extend it, and we all know how difficult it is to build things e.g. HS2.
After reaching the River Wye the group followed the path back into Bakewell and discovered that there was a bar with outside seating next to the car park. This proved refreshing.
