Donington On Bain - 29th January 2011

29th January 2011 - Donington On Bain
(Pathfinder guidebook Lincolnshire & The wolds Walk #14 - 6 Miles)
(Donington and the Bain Valley)

Donington On Bain is about 8 Miles south West of the market town of Louth in Lincolnshire.

We parked in the centre of the village on the roadside opposite the church mentioned in the

guidebook and this was the start point for the walk.

The day was cold (about 2 Deg) but clear and crisp with blue sky and occasional sunshine.

The ground was fairly frozen in places with puddles all frozen over, though it was thawing and still muddy in many places.

We set off through the village crossing over the road and over a stile along an enclosed track. This we followed for about a mile with a steady uphill gradient up onto the wold-top ridge.

At the top of the ridge to the right of the junction there is a disused NATO radar station which was decommissioned in the early 1990`s.

Following the wold top we had good clear views all around across the Bain valley.

We could see the distant silouette of Lincoln Cathedral.

We enjoyed the walk along the ridge top and the fine views for a couple of miles before descending into the hamlet of Gayton Le wold, passing by a small brick Victorian church.

From here we crossed more open fields and the giant and semmingly ever-present Belmont transmitter mast.

We passed by the deserted medieval village of Biscathorpe and St.Helens Church below.

The final 2 miles follows the very narrow river Bain, and at one point this is dammed to create a lake with plenty of wildlife and would no doubt be grown up with plants in summer months.

today it was part frozen, but the Sunshine and remains of the plants had their own beauty.

From here the way back to Donington on Bain was an easy walk along the river tracks, before once again alighting in the village and its splendid church

All in all a nice walk on a cold but bright and clear winter January day.

Fine views across the wolds form the ridge top, and a few points of interest (several churches, a radar station and of course the ever present Belmont tranmsitter mast)

Our Walk Score: 6.5/10

Peak District January 24th 2011

Peak District 24th January 2011
Bakewell, Chatsworth Park & the River Wye
(Pathfinder White Peak guidebook - Walk 27) 10 Miles

We arrived in Bakewell town centre around 10:15, and parked in a pay and display near the town centre (not the main cattle market one we usually use but one near to this).

It was Monday, which means it was market day and busy. Parking was £4 all day.

We set off from the car park around 10:30 after a hasty loo stop (loos are about 100 yards away back towards the river and town).

Initially following the river bank near the town centre, and crossing an old stone road bridge cross the river Wye.

This led us up Castle Hill noting the former station and old station masters house.

This then led out onto a muddy track and into a bluebell wood (no bluebells at this time of year!).
The day was dull and cloudy about 5 Deg C, and after all the previous snow a few weeks ago and some rain, it was pretty muddy underfoot.

One thing to note here is that you will cross a golf course, and there is a bell (complete with hammer) to ring to warn the golfers that you are going to cross. Hopefully this avoids a golf ball to the side of the head!! (Ring loudly, give a good clout with the hammer!)

The going is a steady climb along lanes and track to about 1200ft with quite nice views around, eventually arriving at the estate village of Edensor.

This was purpose built by the 6th Duke of Devonshire between 1838 & 1842 to replace the original village, which spoiled the outlook across the park from Chatsworth House.

You will note that all the house features and general architecture are similar, and you pass by a rather nice looking church. Enjoy!

Crossing over the road you now enter Chatsworth park over grassy estate land with plenty of benches to eat a pack up. (Which is exactly what we did!). Once stopped it was quite cold though, despite hot tomato soup. We ate quickly and pressed on down to the banks of the river Derwent, the old stone bridge and Chatswoth House. Photo Stop.

We continued on across the estate grassland, arriving at a large car park, following on to a garden centre at Carlton Lees and a lane past this.

At the edge of Rowsley village you will see the old disused railway bridge, which you go through
past a farmyard and onto another lane.

Here we saw these cows and hens and some small calfs in enclosures.

Coming out of Rowsley the path became quite muddy again, and began to rise with a stretch of walking uphill for a while.

Once this section was finished, the way opened out into more open fields though again quite muddy. Here it was easy to follow the (muddy) paths back to Bakewell, coming out at the cattle market and back into the town again.

Distance was around 10 miles. Some inclines at the beginning and towards the end but not too bad. A reasonable lowish level walk with the highlights of the estate village of Edensor, Chatsworth house and some reasonable (but not spectacular) views across open countryside.

A good start to 2011. (and the rain held off!!)

Total time was 4hrs 45mins 10:30 - 15:15

Our Walk Score : 6.5/10

Peak District 23rd October 2010

Peak District - Derwent Edge

(Collins Peak District Walk#27)

10 Miles, 5 Hours

The journey from Cleethorpes to the Derwent Reservoir took around 1hr 40 mins. We arrived around 10:15 at the Fairholmes car park which was already beginning to get busy on this clear, bright Saturday morning.

Parking was £4 for the day, and there were good facilities including hot snacks and drinks available from a kiosk as well as loos.

The temperature was fairly mild for late October, but we wrapped up nontheless as it would be much colder at 1800ft up on the edge.

We left the car park at 10:30 armed with packed luches and hot tomato soup in flasks on our packs.

We saw the Derwent reservoir dam wall ahead and climbed the many steps to the top and the good wide track meandering along the edge of the reservoir itself. It was quite busy with both walkers and mountain bikers, but was pleasant walking the flat path for about 2 miles. This was a contrast to August when we attempted this same walk but turned around after 2 miles in pouring rain rather than pressing on to higher areas in the pouring rain. today, however, there were no such problems.

The dam and reservoirs (Derwent & adjacent Ladybower) were built by the Derwent Valley water board so supply water to the cities of Derby,Nottingham, Leicester and Sheffield. The Derwent was completed in 1916 and was used for trainnig runs by the famous 617 squadron "The Dambusters" in 1943, as these were close models to the intended targets in Germany.

The tree foliage was illuminated by the low, weak rays of the October sun, defining the many hues of browns and even red shades of the late autumn, nearly winter leaves.

At Abbey Tip Plantation we followed a well defined rocky track and a sign post right along an ascending shooters track and into the heart of the moors. This ascended for well over a mile or more and the views back were good on this clear day, giving good excuse to stop often and admire these views. The track turned right and we stopped briefly for some food here before pressing on.

At Sheepfold Clough the moor opend out and became more boggy. The view was quite desolate, but in the distance we could see the cairn of "Lost Lad", and a little further the defined rocky edge of Derwent Edge.

Once past the cairn of Lost Lad, the rough track became a rough paved path all the way to the edge itself. The ground was very boggy and without the paving going could be very difficult.

The view from here was even more spectacular as the day was so clear and bright. We could see the power stations of Thorpe Marsh, Drax, Eggborough and Ferrybridge in the distance, and they did not look to be so far away in these clear conditions. The name "Lost Lad" at this 1700ft viewpoint comes from the tale of a young sheperd boy who was lost on these moors while gathering sheep on a snowy winters day. His frozen body was not found until the following spring and the words "Lost Lad" were scratched into an adjacent rock by the desperate boy.

The approach to Derwent edge can be seen below and the walkers already up on the edge.

We reached the summit of the edge at Back Tor (1,765ft) and paused to admire the view around and back down the path that we had followed below.

Along the edge are the eroded remains of slightly harder gritstone all formed in intriguing shapes with names such as "Salt Cellar" and "Cakes of Bread".

The route along the edge itself is a reasonably flat and defined track (though not paved as the approach). After the ascending paths up, there were now several miles of fairly flat paths and fantastic views down from the edge to the reservoirs. We paused for food and hot soup, but soon moved on as it was much colder at this elevation.

The sound of the Grouse was all around, and the picture above shows one of these birds in a braver position than most, allowing myself and other walkers to approach quite close for photographs.

We turned at a cross roads almost 180 degrees and followed a path descending down from the edge heading towards Ladybower Reservoir. This we followed for about a mile or so, turning left across more open areas and eventually alighting at a narrow roadway.

The last mile back took us along this roadway close to the edge of Ladybower reservoir, before widening (and getting much busier with walkers and families out for shorter walks with dogs/kids). We saw the Derwent dam once more in front of us before turnnig left and back to Fairholmes car park. We arrived back at 15:30

All in all an excellent walk, with a steady start along the reservoir shore apth for 2 miles, before the exertion of the climb up to Lost Lad, Derwent Edge. Then levelling again for the splendid views and unique rock formations of Derwent Edge. The desent is not too bad, fairly steady mostly, and about 2 miles on the level back to the car park.

Our Walk Score: 8/10