Friday 5 April 2024
4 miles Leader Alison C.
Weather 10°C. sunny intervals amidst light showers.
No on walk 18
The weather as usual, the first talking point and this time better than expected. There was always the threat of a heavy downpour, but that didn’t happen, instead, some light very short showers, hardly worth putting the hood up for. On the ground it was a bit different and as expected the serious rainfall we’ve had over the past weeks has affected some of the paths making them quite slippery in places. A couple of fields had been ploughed, but fortunately they were of a lighter soil, although soft, didn’t stick to our boots that much, the next fields being grass soon had them looking shinny again.
We left the very nice Ogston west car park and made our way along Ogston Road, towards Brackenfield, turning right off the road after about a quarter of mile, following tracks and paths to round Top Farm and head directly west over several fields, passing above Coalpit Wood and on to Clattercotes Farm. Clattercotes, apparently the word means a hovel from a pile of stones, the owners of this wonderful restored farm house and surrounding dry stone walls had done a wonderful job, as we stopped to admire their efforts.
We gained the road from the farm entrance and made our way up to Ashover Ridge, which lies between Ashover Hay Farm and Walnut Farm, a wonderful viewing point towards the reservoir and behind us, to the west, great views of Ravensnest Tor, which we really must walk on another day. We took our rest break upon the ridge, as we have done so many times before, in all weathers. We left the ridge at The Hay and made our way down Hay Lane, past the restored chapel (1807) now a dwelling, to take a path to Smithy Cottage. We walked Quarry Road and swung right by Moorwood Chapel, walking up the field, turning left at the top. It was here we saw our first sighting of a wild Bluebell, just showing its colours. We then proceeded to pass by Yew Tree Farm and so back to the car park arriving there by twelve fifteen. Great walk, thankyou Alison.
