Re-start. The first group walk

A big thank you to Jane and John for being the first to get our group walks re-started after many months of dormancy.

A beautiful bright sun shone on the nine of us who met in the Coppice car park for our first Amber Valley ramblers walk after the lockdown, due to the COVID pandemic. We observed all the extra conditions to hopefully keep us safe, observing ‘social distancing’. Names and telephone numbers were taken in case needed by the NHS. It was lovely to see our friends again and lots of catching up happened throughout the day.

Although the walk was started in Belper, we used many of the old “jitties” through Belper, so we actually didn’t do much road walking. We started through the lovely Belper Parks with cool shade. Then through “The Gutter” a surprisingly rural part of Belper behind the Glow Worm factory.
On through the Whitemoor part of Belper and soon out into the countryside. A cool coffee stop under a shady tree was welcome. By now It was getting very warm.

Some more lovely fields, which had, until 30+ years ago been used for open cast mining, now soon nature has taken it back. We stopped to look at the old preserved blast furnaces, which you might have seen beside the A38. These were first built in 1789, a long lunch followed sitting under some trees. Boy, it was getting HOT. We were watched by some friendly cows. At this point the group decided to do the whole 7 ½ miles in spite of the heat.

So we set off beside the A38 along a lovely shady path. Then neatly avoiding Openwoodgate, taking the path over to Cinderhill which afforded us some lovely views. A steep climb took us up to Sandbed Lane, passing by a very tranquil fishing lake at Killis Farm.

Then, thankfully down the lovely lane of Pinchom’s Hill, a heritage trail once part of a former Deer park. Some of us now were really feeling the extreme heat, but we all made it back safely. A final stop on the way home was to see Tilly the Tortoise, who was also trying to get into the shade (See Johns pictures) Jane H.

Pictures by John HT