Brackenfield Green

Wednesday 27 July 2022

6 miles Leader: Gerry W.

Weather 20°C. superb.

No. on walk 25

A lovely summer’s day for a walk in the area of Ogston Reservoir, the weather was, in the main, good for walking, except it seemed to get a bit hotter after the last hill of the day, just before we turned the corner to stroll down to the village green. We gathered on the edge of the village green, a vast expanse of well-cut grass, although true to say, it had suffered from the intense heat of recent days.  It was also easy to observe the attention the villagers give to keeping their village tidy and in good order, seats for the wary to rest, information boards and even a quiz trail of small plaques, which in themselves, besides giving some information also encourages the visitor to look further. Pleasant gardens and garden plots, festooned with colourful arrays of flowers, which we just had to stop and admire, hoping we weren’t being too nosey.

We walked a little way along the road towards the church, turning through a stile, on the left, to follow the footpath over two footbridges around Ogston Car. From here we walked the path above Top Farm and carried on ahead, through waist high, golden corn fields acutely aware of the risk of fire, to take our morning break in the picnic area adjacent to Ogston Reservoir. There was not enough seating for all, but plenty of dry grass to sit on, if you were careful. One of our number choose a spot where ants were very active and with a shout, soon moved.

We returned to the road and walked along it to Smithy Cottage, taking the path north, parallel to the infant River Amber, to eventually reach and walk along Brown Lane to Milltown. Although we could see, the famed Miner’s Arms pub, we turned away and walked south along a narrow road and then into Chapel Lane. We took the path before the chapel, to climb along the ridge above Walnut Farm. Along the highest part of the ridge, we stopped for lunch, such a perfect spot. To our rear a well-built dry-stone wall and to the fore, great views of Ogston Reservoir, Clay Cross and Tibshelf beyond. The horizon was a little hazy due to the heat, on a clearer day it should have been possible to see the out-line of Bolsover Castle.

Reluctantly, we moved off the ridge to follow the roads to Clattercotes Farm, walking east, crossing over dried grassland, above Coalpit Wood. We turned south once more to re-cross the footbridge at the bottom of Ogston Carr. We had joined our outward track, but soon leaving it to continue to climb the fields, below Whitecarr. We then took the path, leading us to Sycamore Farm and so back to the Green, where we rested awhile before making for home. Only, just under six miles, but the weather made it feel like a bit more. Many photographs were taken today, many of which I am sure will soon appear below this text. Hopefully, those visual aids will help fill in some of the gaps in my summary.  d.