8 mile Group
Saturday 9th April
Heights of Abraham ! No not the Canadian version scaled silently by General Wolfe in 1759,
but the one climbed by Wigan and District Ramblers with considerably more noise on the
Saturday walk although two ladies ( who shall remain nameless) came halfway up by car.
An undulating walk to the top is one way of describing it,but we all made it, not like the
unfortunate Wolfe who was killed in the battle.
Some of the group stopped to watch the cable car pass overhead,but i think they were
just having a rest,which everyone had on reaching the Victoria Prospect Tower,where
a coffee break was much appreciated.
The walk continued through woodland and farmland to the village of Bonsall with its
impressive church tower and spire. From here the walk followed the edge of a quarry until
we stopped for lunch in a field with a herd of cows! Fortunately the animals didn't fancy
what we had to offer.
A change of plan took us down to the village of Cromford and to Arkwright Mill for an
ice cream stop.
A walk along the river bank back to Matlock was to be our final section of the day so
ignoring the advice of a 'local' who said the path was blocked we pressed on regardless,
to find a locked gate,which with a bit of a scramble we managed to by-pass, and
return to the hotel.
This concluded a very pleasant walk on a lovely spring day.
Saturday 9th April
Heights of Abraham ! No not the Canadian version scaled silently by General Wolfe in 1759,
but the one climbed by Wigan and District Ramblers with considerably more noise on the
Saturday walk although two ladies ( who shall remain nameless) came halfway up by car.
An undulating walk to the top is one way of describing it,but we all made it, not like the
unfortunate Wolfe who was killed in the battle.
Some of the group stopped to watch the cable car pass overhead,but i think they were
just having a rest,which everyone had on reaching the Victoria Prospect Tower,where
a coffee break was much appreciated.
The walk continued through woodland and farmland to the village of Bonsall with its
impressive church tower and spire. From here the walk followed the edge of a quarry until
we stopped for lunch in a field with a herd of cows! Fortunately the animals didn't fancy
what we had to offer.
A change of plan took us down to the village of Cromford and to Arkwright Mill for an
ice cream stop.
A walk along the river bank back to Matlock was to be our final section of the day so
ignoring the advice of a 'local' who said the path was blocked we pressed on regardless,
to find a locked gate,which with a bit of a scramble we managed to by-pass, and
return to the hotel.
This concluded a very pleasant walk on a lovely spring day.
Sunday 10th April
As Sunday is an alleged day of rest, the walk leaders were feeling magnanimous. After the exertions of yesterday a less strenuous walk on more level terrain was what they came up with. What could be more level than an eight mile stroll around the massive Carsington Water reservoir ?
Once again we were blessed with a glorious sunshine - proof if it were needed that our recent blood sacrifice to Apollo was not the waste of a cat that the sceptics would have had us believe!
The visitor centre at Carsington was an ideal place to meet. Ample car parking and posh lavvies (spelling?) were well received by the group members.
Phil cracked the whip and we were on our way. The path circling the reservoir was an excellent vantage point from which to view the local wildlife and along its route were several extremely interesting examples of sculpture. The shed with the piano in it was especially fascinating and was an irresistible photo op for some. I mean it’s not every day you have the opportunity to sit at a wooden piano and pretend to play. I am of the opinion that some members of our group should get out a bit more!
As Sunday is an alleged day of rest, the walk leaders were feeling magnanimous. After the exertions of yesterday a less strenuous walk on more level terrain was what they came up with. What could be more level than an eight mile stroll around the massive Carsington Water reservoir ?
Once again we were blessed with a glorious sunshine - proof if it were needed that our recent blood sacrifice to Apollo was not the waste of a cat that the sceptics would have had us believe!
The visitor centre at Carsington was an ideal place to meet. Ample car parking and posh lavvies (spelling?) were well received by the group members.
Phil cracked the whip and we were on our way. The path circling the reservoir was an excellent vantage point from which to view the local wildlife and along its route were several extremely interesting examples of sculpture. The shed with the piano in it was especially fascinating and was an irresistible photo op for some. I mean it’s not every day you have the opportunity to sit at a wooden piano and pretend to play. I am of the opinion that some members of our group should get out a bit more!
Phil Bullen
April 2011
April 2011
Leaving the reservoir and crossing the road we headed towards Hopton. The ongoing route passed some very interesting features of the Hopton Estate. The early 18th century almshouse that we passed was for the ‘use of two poor MEN and two poor WOMEN of HOPTON and CARSON’ according to the dedication stone outlining also that it was a philanthropic gesture of Sir Philip Gell who unfortunately died in 1719 before the building was completed.
He was succeeded by his sister Miss Temperance Gell who carried on the good work and who was responsible for the building of the school for poor children which we were to pass later.
Lunch was taken at the Miners Arms Carsington (Click here to see pics!) and from there we re-crossed the road to join the reservoir track that led back to the visitor centre passing some more intriguing sculptures one of which was decidedly phallic in appearance! There were many opinions as to what it was supposed to represent. Most came to the conclusion that it was a shepherd’s crook topped by a sheep. I was not too sure. For me it had a very adult theme. The animal was definitely a hedgehog and the thing that it was climbing on used to be covered by a fig leaf in Renaissance sculpture! Take a look at the picture and make your own mind up.
Back at the visitor centre we visited the wildlife centre, did a bit of bird watching and then made our way back to our hotel.
Allan Brownlow
April 2011
April 2011