(Blue Bell Inn)
Friday 5 January 2024
4.5 miles Leader John M.
Weather 7C. fine
No on walk 21 plus two dogs.
A very good turnout today, considering the dire warnings of mud given by John in his walks programme announcement. We were joined by Poppy and Ruby plus their handlers, who were new members to our group, a very good way to start a new year of walks.
After John had done his walk briefing and Lyn had reminded members of our Annual Dinner on the 17 February, details on the centre screen of our website, we set off a few minutes later than usual. From the car park we walked a few yards towards the village, turning left along a narrow path, between the boundaries of several properties, the way eventually leading us onto the Midshires Way, walking parallel to Lumb Grange. On reaching Lumb Lane we turned south, along it, quite a steady climb followed until we reached the hard surfaced part of the lane, then following it to its junction with Over Lane. South-eastwards now for about eighty yards, turning right, off the road, over a stile which has seen better days. We then wound our way along a single muddy and slippery path, all unscathed, to exit onto Hob Hill. Now up the hill to the first path on the right, this took us over several soggy pastures until reaching the bottom of Hazelwood Hill and at the junction of three roads, we stopped, belatedly for our morning break. The journey, so far had provided us with some super views over the Ecclesbourne Valley and beyond, the watery sunshine not very good to get decent images from the camera.
With the break over we walked down, Spring Hollow, there many of us stopped to view the ‘spring’, water flowing from a pipe, up until the 1950’s it was the only water supply for the village. It is recorded that this spring has never run dry. We moved on, now making our way through Hazelwood Hall Farm and along the farm track with wonderful views over towards Duffield. At the end of the track, we turned left, going very steeply uphill, until reaching Chevin End. We were now on North Lane which we followed to Chevin Mount, along the way taking in some of the stunning views over Belper, noting that some of the recent flood water was still present on the fields below. From Chevin Mount it was but a stone’s throw back to the Blue Bell Inn, arriving there by twelve thirty, well done John for a great walk, in challenging circumstances.
