Bonsall

Wednesday 30 June 2021

6 miles: Leader James W.

Weather fine. No on walk 20

A fine day for our new leader on his inaugural walk and he did well. On leaving Bonsall car park, we headed up through the churchyard of the parish church and continued the climb for the next mile, passing by Ember Farm and on up to the Heights of Abraham, where we deservedly took our morning break, albeit a little early. Great views, over Matlock and Riber, from up here, the sort of place you might like to stay a good deal longer, observing all the to and froing in the valley below.

We left the Heights and followed the track, passing above Masson Lees Farm, then to pick up The Limestone Way, leaving it to cross the fields and into Jughole Wood. We followed the line of the marked path towards Brightgate Farm, stopping, on the ridge, just before it for our lunch break, again good views over South Darley and the A6 corridor.

During lunch the sun began to break through and it became a little warmer as was evidenced by the number of insects now visible, as opposed to the morning where we had hardly saw any. Bees and flies aplenty and a few sightings of Butterflies, none rare, but good to see. Brenda and Phil have supplied a lovely picture, taken on the walk, of a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly sitting on a Thistle flowerhead.

With a good lunch break over we moved on to join the road at Brightgates, walking along it to eventually turn left to re-join the Limestone Way A little detour along Blakelow Lane and Moorlands Lane and then again to pick up the Limestone Way to Uppertown. Here we took the delightful walled path, delightful of course if you are going down them! With steps leading us down to Yeoman Street. At the end of this is the Fountain Café, where many of our number stopped for an after-walk drink, whilst others made their way home.

A good walk James, thank you.

 Picture by James W.

 Picture by Phil & Brenda S.

    

    

  Last ten pictures by John HT