Belper River Gardens
Friday 30 May 2025
4.5 miles Leader David d.
Weather 16°C. Dry, cloudy at times.
No. on walk 24 + 3Dogs
Taken from ' Diary Walks'
Although, as advertised, there was three hills included in today’s walk, we only registered a total ascent of just over seven hundred and forty feet, seemed more at the time! We paused at the top of each, not just to get our breathing back to normal, but to take in the wonderful views, over and behind us. At the top of Chevin Mount, I pointed out the Northern Footpath society’s metal sign, which we had erected to mark the fortieth anniversary of Amber Valley Rambler’s formation. Next year will be the fiftieth, so we are looking forward to that, talk it over, if you have any ideas that you would like to see happen, please contact one of the committee members, there’s usually one on every walk. We also paused, above Handley Grange, at the crossing of Longwalls Lane, for great views over to Mount Pleasant, Shireoaks and Belper. We then descended to Dalley Lane and then climbed Mount Pleasant, most of us in the knowledge, that after this it would be downhill all the way back to the Strutts Mill. Although some of you may be able to follow the way from the above points, I’ll give the route in full: Leaving the Mill car park, crossing to the Triangle, turning to walk beside Christ Church, through the sports ground to the river, turn left to follow the river bank to the newly opened footbridge, crossing it and going on to Chevin Road, followed by a climb up Chevin Mount. On through Farnah Green to join the Mid-shires Way, we then crossed Lumb Brook and the A517, after-which we took our morning break. On now over Blackbrook via a good wooden footbridge into Chapel Lane, over this to climb Handley Hill, going beyond Handley Grange, turning right to cross over Longwalls Lane. Down to cross Dalley Lane and a climb up to Mount Pleasant. We joined and re-crossed the A517, striding brightly down Belper Hill and again recrossing A 517 to walk left of the Mill into the River Gardens. Thanks to all who attended and for your kind comments regarding the walk.
