3 Sep 25 Eyam Leaders: Lesley & Liz, Length of walk: 10.5 miles, Driving Distance: 39 miles, Number walking: 16
Walk commences from the free car park opposite the museum (postcode S32 5QP).
Click here to see the route
Rain dominated the day’s weather but there were periods when the walkers removed layers to keep cool.
The route wandered through Eyam and went down to Stoney Middleton, but that wasn’t far enough down so the group continued to the River Derwent. They followed the Derwent Valley Heritage Way and stopped for coffee in a wood by a bridge between Grindleford and Nether Padley.
Progress was interrupted for a while by the activities of a flock of sheep. A man and woman were trying to move them. She was on a quad bike; he was walking with dogs to assist. The move didn’t go well. The sheep were awkward as always; the dogs preferred to ride on the quad bike rather than round up the sheep and the man became more and more frustrated. The group moved on to avoid making things worse.
The Grindleford Community Shop was the destination for lunch and the group arrived just as another set of walkers was vacating the tables outside the converted church. The walkers settled in and enjoyed the tea from an enormous teapot. The rain returned after the walkers had finished eating so they set off again.
Walking along the northern section of the River Derwent was accompanied by thunder, which generated concern about walking poles as lightning conductors. Here is some additional advice from the Met Office about staying safe while walking in a thunderstorm:
If you find yourself in an exposed location it may be advisable to squat close to the ground, with hands on knees and with head tucked between them. Try to touch as little of the ground with your body as possible, do not lie down on the ground.
Before reaching Hathersage, the easy walking had to end, and the group climbed to Eyam Moor. This was the most challenging part of the route and went on for some time until the group was allowed to stop climbing and left the road to take the path down to Eyam. The rain started again and continued as the walkers struggled to get down a path with a steep tricky section. Fortunately, everyone made it without incident and walked back to the car park with its convenient toilet next door.
17 Sep 25 Barbridge Leaders: Kath and Elaine, Length of walk: 9 miles, Driving Distance: 14 miles, Number walking: 11
Walk commences approx 300m after the right turn for Barbridge, where lay-bys occupy both sides of the road. The nearest postcode is CW5 6GY
Click here to see the route
Rain had been falling heavily in the morning before the walk started but it eased off a little as the walkers took to the towpath. Showers continued until lunchtime and then the skies cleared and a mixture of sunshine and overcast took over for the rest of the walk.
The walkers were glad to leave the laybys on the A51 at Barbridge, where the cars were parked. The heavy traffic on this main road stands in complete contrast to the quiet to be found by the canal. The route followed the towpath of the Shropshire Union Canal and then joined the Middlewich branch, which soon left the road noise behind.
The group stopped for coffee at a seating area set up by the Charles and Elsie Sykes Trust. Charles started his working life as a 12-year-old office boy and later made a fortune in the wool industry in Yorkshire. He set up the trust to help people who were needy and walkers along the canal in Cheshire received a helping hand.
The group left the canal and ventured across fields to the village of Aston juxta Mondrum. There are many villages named Aston; this little one is the one next to the forest of Delamere-Mondrum. The forest seems to have disappeared from this part of Cheshire, but the name looks impressive.
The route passed Poole Old Hall, a Regency private dwelling hiding behind trees. The estate also contains a large herd of cattle which came in various sizes and colours and, more importantly, stood directly on the path. The animals were persuaded to move but didn’t follow the walkers as they went down the field to a bridge, where they camped for lunch.
On the way back to the canal, the group faced a locked gate that offered the choice of climbing over or through. The majority went over the top but some chose the less dignified trough route.
The last part of the walk was blessed with sunshine, although the sky still held plenty of grey clouds. The towpath was bordered by trees heavily laden with acorns, sloes and hawthorn berries. Plentiful but uninspiring to the forager.
On arriving back at he A51 laybys, some of the group needed relaxation therapy in the Olde Barbridge Inn.
