Category: Long Walks

Cromford Canal to Crich Stand (Crich Memorial) – Tuesday 3rd June

On Tuesday, we enjoyed a scenic circular walk beginning at Cromford Canal in Derbyshire. The weather was mild and dry, making for pleasant walking conditions. Setting off from Ambergate, we followed the peaceful towpath northward, enjoying  glimpses of local wildlife, including ducks with ducklings, moorhens, and a pair of swans with cygnets. The canal was lined with lush greenery and occasional historical remnants of the area’s industrial heritage.

After a leisurely stretch along the water, we turned west and began the steady ascent toward Crich. The route took us through farmland and wooded paths, gradually climbing to the Crich Stand War Memorial, which offered panoramic views across the Derwent Valley and as far as the Peak District. The memorial itself, standing tall against the skyline, was a poignant highlight and provided a perfect rest spot.

After lunch we began our descent, which looped through quiet country lanes and open fields, eventually rejoining the canal path and returning to Ambergate. The round trip, of 8.40 miles, took around four hours at a relaxed pace, with plenty of time for photography and refreshment breaks. Overall, the walk was a rewarding blend of natural beauty, local history, and peaceful countryside.

Mark

On the 5th of May 2025, a guided circular walk commenced from the Creswell Crags visitor centre, exploring a variety of local landscapes. The walk began around the Crags themselves, providing an early opportunity to appreciate the dramatic limestone gorge and prehistoric caves. From there, the route passed through the nearby model village, offering a glimpse into the historic layout and charm of early 20th-century industrial housing.

Continuing onward, the path meandered through a stretch of peaceful wooded landscape, rich in spring foliage and birdsong. This section provided both shade and tranquillity, with opportunities to observe local wildlife and wildflowers. The walk then took us past a working quarry, a stark contrast to the woodland.

The circular route concluded with a return to Creswell Crags, where participants had the opportunity to explore the visitor centre and its exhibitions on Ice Age archaeology and local geology and a nice cup of tea. The walk covered a variety of terrains and environments, offering a rewarding blend of history, nature, and scenic views. It was both educational and refreshing, with excellent participation and engagement throughout.

The April walk started from Vicar Water Country Park – which is just to the south of Clipstone village. It has been created on the site of a former colliery, transforming this former industrial site into a heath land, woodland and grassland and offers spectacular views across to Derbyshire and Lincolnshire.

At the centre of the park is Vicar Pond, a large fishing lake created by the fifth Duke of Portland in the 1870s. In the past the lake has been used for boating and swimming. 

Vicar Water is actually the stream that flows through and we could see the work being carried out to restore its original meandering course to the River Maun.

Part of our walk was through Kings Clipstone then along the River Maun and another conservation area called Spa Ponds before returning to our starting point

The next long walk is on 6^th May

Mark Thornley

On the 4th March, we embarked on an 8.30 mile, circular walk from Tansley, taking in Tansley Knoll and Lumsdale Falls before returning to the village. The weather was on our side and it was sunny for the majority of the walk.

Setting off from Tansley, we followed a well-marked path up to Tansley Knoll, where we were rewarded with panoramic views over the Derbyshire countryside. The gentle ascent provided a good warm-up, and the terrain was a mix of grassy fields and stone paths and reasonably dry and to our relief not too much mud.

From the knoll, we descended through woodland and open farmland towards Lumsdale, where the historic valley and waterfalls awaited. The Lumsdale Falls were in full flow, cascading over moss-covered rocks. The ruins of the old mills along the valley added an atmospheric touch to the walk. The damp paths near the falls required careful footing, but the scenery made it worthwhile.

The return to Tansley followed a mixture of woodland trails and country lanes, offering a peaceful conclusion to the walk. Overall, the route provided a mix of scenic views, local history, and natural beauty, making it a rewarding excursion, finished off with a pint in the Tavern pub at Tansley.

Our latest walk was to Haywood Oaks and Blidworth Woods, the weather kept fine for us, with bright sunshine. 

The walk was 8.34 miles and on very good Forestry Commission paths, which meant we weren’t walking through mud.  The walk was mainly through  woodland which was very nice; through Blidworth where we stopped for lunch.  After which we continued our walk through fields, again on good paths, where we saw two Red Kites.  Then through Blidworth Bottoms and woodland back to the carpark; a big thank you to all who turned out, fourteen in all, a good turn out for the time of year. 

Everyone commented on what a good walk it was and how much they had enjoyed it which was very nice.  Our next walk is Tansley Knoll and Lumsdale Falls, which is near Matlock.