Friday 15 December 2023
5.3 Miles leaders Pearl and Steve
Weather 8°C. fair.
No on walk 23
A very good turnout for the walk on t’other side of the river, with a tidy ascent of just over eight hundred and thirty feet, not a bad gain for a Friday walk. After the now usual talk at the start of the walk, we left the busy car park to walk down over Coppice Brook and into the Belper Park, zig zagging to make the ascent of Cow Hill. We were being led by a gentleman in a red suit (Steve) and after entering Cowhill estate, Mrs. Christmas (Pearl) joined us for the walk, suitably dressed in red attire. We now made our way, using many of the towns Ginnels to eventually cross the A6, near to the railway bridge on the western side of town. We then crossed over the River Derwent, to pass behind the sewer works and onto Chevin Road, following this to Jacksons Lane. We made a gradual ascent of this lane, which was quite steep and rugged in places. On reaching the top, near to Chevin End, we stopped for a well-deserved morning break.
With the break over, we headed north along North Lane, a much-used track from ancient times, reportedly used as a salt road, carrying salt from Cheshire to the east of the country. The first half mile was a gentle climb, which then levelled out, to give us excellent views over Belper. Each time we walk this route there is always something new to see, even if it is another housing estate going up, many of us discussing what had taken place down there over the last couple of decades, progress I suppose. At Chevin Mount we turned east to take a very steep path down to join Chevin Road for a short way, then to take the old miner’s path, some of the old paving stones still visible and usable in places, to get to the path beside the Derwent. Here we headed, south downstream to reach the footbridge behind the sewer works, retracing our outward tracks as far as The Fleet, which we followed to New Breck Road and the short path back to the car park, offering our thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Christmas, for an enjoyable walk and wishing them a seasonal greeting at this their busy time.
