Autumn Footprints 2014 - Week One
w/e 21 September 2014
All this week's pictures were taken
with a Kodak DX6490
Following the Opening Walk in Shipley Park on Saturday
13th September, I joined other walkers during the first week
of the Autumn Footprints Walking Festival in Erewash and Amber
Valley and below are just a couple of images from each of five
guided walks I enjoyed.
On Monday a walk led by the Erewash Ramblers took a group around
"Moor of Morley" and whilst I have often walked in
this area, this walk travelled over footpaths I had never seen
previously. Starting from Cloves Wood we walked for about an
hour via Morley Almshouses to a spot near Broomfield Hall pausing
there for a drinks stop (above) before continuing on the six
mile circuit.
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The walk continued following the line of the Great Northern Greenway
across Lime Lane before another stop for a picnic lunch and then
turned to the north to head for Hayes Park Farm where the sweet
peas growing semi-wild were looking good. The return to Cloves
Wood took us over the more familiar territory of Morley Church
and Morley Hayes. (Click
here for aerial route map)
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Tuesday's walk, "Notts and Erewash Canals" with the
Eastwood Chapter and Verse Community Group was publicised as
"A gentle stroll ...." of some four miles in length.
In truth it was a gentle stroll of only a little over half that
length but none the less enjoyable for that. The outward leg
was along the disused Nottingham Canal.
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A smattering of local history and reminiscences were imparted
along the way in warm sunny conditions that turned out to be
the best of the week. After a brief stop at Newmanley's Mill
by the River Erewash, we returned to Langley Mill on the Erewash
Canal towpath. The canal is navigable for leisure craft all the
way from the River Trent at Sawley to the Great Northern Basin
at Langley Mill. (Route
map)
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After Tuesday the weather conditions slowly deteriorated towards
the weekend and Wednesday's walk with the Denby Footpaths Group
took place in dull misty conditions. The main purpose of the
walk was to see the sites of some of the "Lost Houses of
Denby" but it also showed some of the industrial landscape
that has replaced this former mining community.
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A fair proportion of the Denby walk was through restored opencast
areas but as we dropped down Church Street the views over the
village were obscured by the mist. The leader of the walk however
retained the interest of the group with frequent stops to point
out where some of the lost properties had stood circulating numerous
old photos and succeeded in achieving a fine balance of walk
and talk. (Route
map)
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On Thursday I joined up again with the Erewash Ramblers this
time for "Moor of Dale". Once again the walk started
in dull misty conditions and the initial part of the walk from
Kirk Hallam to beyond Dale Village was over very familiar territory.
It then wandered off towards Ockbrook over paths that were new
to me.
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We eventually arrived in Dale Hills above Columbine Farm and
although still misty, the sun did put in an appearance at this
lovely spot where we enjoyed a lunch break. (Route map)
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"Dreich" is a word of Scottish origin and is used to
describe the weather. At least four of the adjectives dull, overcast,
drizzly, cold, misty or miserable must apply for the term to
be used correctly and on Friday I'm sure four of them did. It
wasn't cold but on the day after the people of Scotland voted
to remain as part of the UK the weather for the Belper Coppice
walk was truly dreich.
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Again the wonderful views that should have been enjoyed on the
walk led this time by the Amber Valley Ramblers were obscured
but the conditions did focus the attention on things closer to
hand like colourful flowers against stone walls which drew many
comments of appreciation. (Route map)
A high pressure system over the British Isles had caused the
warmer than average temperatures and the humidity laden air produced
the misty, drizzly conditions but the weather cleared up at the
weekend and the forecast for the second week of the Festival
bodes well. We shall see.
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