Wednesday 18 August 2021

Belper Field Lane

8.2 miles Leader: Lyn B.

Weather fine, overcast.

No. on walk 21

For some, this was a local walk, so a number of us walked to the starting point, a bit of a warm up for the promised ‘hilly bit’ to be tackled in the first hour. After we had been told about possible hazards etc., we were off along the A6 to the Triangle, crossing the road to go over the River Derwent, via the road bridge. We turned left to follow the river path for the next one and a half miles, eventually gaining Chevin Road and continued along it towards Milford. Just over the rail bridge, with its ornate tunnel entrance, pictured, we climbed the promised steep bit, to Chevin End. After walking by Courthouse Farm, we crossed the Midshires Way and stopped for our morning coffee break.

Onward now to Hazelwood Hall Farm, turning left along the road pausing to view, the ever-flowing spring, said never to have dried up. The facia is inscribed, dedicated the H.M. Queen Victoria 1897, celebrating sixty years of her reign. At the end of the road, we followed the path west to The Firs Farm, inquisitive young beasts here, as we queued to cross a stile into the road. Here, walking the road up to the crossroads. We turned left to take our lunch in the grounds of the village hall immediately behind the church, where picnic tables and seating was available to all. A pleasant and well-manicured area for all sports, but principally, Crown Green Bowls, as we left players of the game were then arriving.

Leaving the hall grounds, we turned left to walk the road, turning towards Lumb Grange, as the road turned to a grass track, we headed down hill to turn right onto the Midshires Way, following it through Farnah Green to Chevin Mount and here descended to cross over Chevin Road and so down ancient paths to regain our outward track and so back into town and the car park.

Great walk in good company.

  Pictures by James W