Walk Diary    Sunday 12 February 2012            Weather, 3⁰ C. Fair.

Wirksworth Rail Station               9 miles           Depart 10 am        Leader: David Davison

I had my doubts that this walk would be able to go ahead because of the icy conditions underfoot but, once out of the town, where some of the pavements had been treacherous, the lain snow had softened somewhat, much to my relief. Eleven of us set out on this walk, which I had described on the walks finder page as ‘not for the faint-hearted’; there being several good climbs and, at the time of the pre-walk, plenty of thick mud. Those that turned out were expecting the hills, so no problem there and the muddy bits were sufficiently frozen over as not to be of any bother either, so all was well. Of course there was the odd downhill icy patch and a little bit of mud, where I successfully led the group through a chicken run, much to the ire of the inhabitants, rather than through the quite obvious nearby gate. I apologised to the chickens, but left the group to clean their own boots in the next snowy field.

The walk, starting from the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway Station was to walk the western side of the Ecclesbourne Valley as far as Idridgehay and return on the eastern side, both sides being accomplished at the higher levels, but still maintaining good views over the valley below. We made our way through the sprawling outskirts of the town to pick up a well-used path that would lead us towards Carsington, cutting the road at Stainsborough Hall. A good climb along the road at Soldiers Knoll and after an hour out from the start, stopping at the zenith of Stainsborough Lane after just gaining a field path. Good views of the snowy landscape to the west from here, the dark lines of the dry stone walling, standing out from the glittering white fields. We pushed on again across several fields with very narrow stiles to Moorside and through Moorside Farm, passing through a field of ponies that, on the pre-walk, had been quite frisky to the point of being almost frightening. Today, probably because of the snow or cold or both they didn’t stir a muscle, except to keep a wary eye on us as we passed through their meagre grazing. We passed through the delightful village of Kirk Ireton, walking the length of Hob Lane before stopping for a lunch break.

After lunch, we walked on virgin snow to locate the footbridge, unused for some time as untrodden snow still lay upon it, crossing Holm Brook, the B5023 and the Railway to walk up Jebb’s Lane, to start the return along the eastern route. We had not seen much bird life today; I did spot one Mistle Thrush and numerous Wrens working their way in and around the hedge bottoms in search of food. Ahead lay the daunting Hilltop, a hill with a steep ascent of about four hundred feet, this got everyone's circulation working well, puffing and panting our way towards the top, although the path passes just below the summit, a short break to admire the snowdrops, growing at this height, in the shelter of some old ruins, either of barn or dwelling. As we had done on the outward journey, we looked across the valley, pointing out the ridges we had walked that morning, yes, we were really up there and,yes, down there as well.

Our way now continued north, passing Lane End and Holehouse Farms to join the very rutty track that is Pratthall Lane, walking gingerly downhill on uneven icy surfaces, to enter Gorsey Bank, a small suburb of Wirksworth. We re-crossed the rail line and walked the path beside the railway back to the station car park, an exhilarating walk that some of the more technically endowed among us reported that we had covered 8.7 miles at an average speed of 2.2 miles an hour. Considering the conditions not a bad pace, but it’s the walk to enjoy, not the time that it takes, that counts for me every time.