Belper Coppice
Friday 19 December 2025
5 miles Leader David d.
Weather 9°C. fine, just right.
No on walk 27
A great turnout for the last of our walks before Christmas. There is one more, before the end of the year, next Friday, Boxing Day, led by Howard from the Coppice once more, but in a completely different direction than today. What better way, to walk off some of the previous days’ excesses.
The car park was filling up quite quickly, so we made our way to the top of the steps, to make room for other people needing to park. It was there that we had our team talk, before setting off. The route, I walked and planned, some weeks ago, with the thought that there would be either snow or wet, so I avoided most of the more notorious boggy areas, encountered in years past. We set off down the steps from the car park and on to cross over Coppice Brook, looking back at our line, some still descending steps from the car park, a lovely trail of people chatting and making their way along. We would re-cross Coppice Brook later, it’s waters foaming and forcing the way down stream, on the north side of White Moor. I had indicated that we would go via the Bath House, but took Mill Lane Hill instead, to Kirks Lane, putting us back on course for Sandbed Lane. We left Sandbed Lane, almost immediately, making our way on a good crossfield path to meet the A609 at Acres Farm. We followed alongside Kilburn Lane as far as the next corner, turning right, between Ireton Houses and over the stile, into a field containing a few young beasts, none of whom, paid us much attention, save for giving us the eye! We now made our way to Henmore, crossing Over Lane, to the path opposite. We descended on a good estate path, eventually to round the north end of the school playing fields, coming to rest on the small kiddies play area at White Moor, for our morning break. A bit later than normal, numbers and stiles being the delaying factor.
With the break over we joined Whitemoor Lane, to walk north, passing the surgery, immediately turning onto the track for Rookery Farm. We then re-crossed Coppice Brook, walking the fields up to Laund Farm. Downhill now alongside the Chesterfield Road, turning up Appleton Drive, Cherrytree Avenue, Duncan Close, joining a long town path, taking us to the junction of Crich Lane and Marsh Lane. We made a tricky crossing of the Chesterfield Road at Windy Gap, then to make our way downhill, via Windmill Lane, St Johns Road, passing through the grounds of the former St. Johns Chapel, to cross the road at The Butts, before descending the final steps into the car park arriving there at twelve forty-five having completed five miles exactly. Christmas salutations, received and given in good spirit, before making our way home. Thanks to all your support for our walks throughout the year. Happy Christmas to all and hopefully, see you on the other side. d.
