Range Walking Club

Sunday 20th October 1996-Derbyshire-Eyam

 

Plague, pestilence and imprisonment are the themes featuring in this month's walks. We are off to the Eyam area of Derbyshire on Sunday 20 October. The village was made famous by the Black Death Plague of the 17th Century. There are enjoyable views in a location not featured in Club walks previously. Toilets are available at Eyam. We leave school at 0800 hrs prompt and will be back (hopefully) by 1930 hrs. The cost of travel is now £5.00 for adults and £3.00 for children and students in full-time education. Please return slips with cheque (not cash) to the school office by Thursday, 10 October, in an envelope marked "Range Walking Club". Walking boots are essential on all walks.

'A' Walk
This incorporates the B+ walk.

Distance: 13 miles

Ascent: 1700'

Leaders: John Hughes, Ian Mitchell, Ann Mitchell and A N Other

'B'+ Walk
The major part of both walks share a circular route with a pleasant variety including quiet riverside, attractive valleys, moorland views and villages with character. From Eyam a track climbs steadily northwards onto Eyam Moor where the path across provides a good vantage of the surrounding countryside until it descends to the valley at Stokes Ford. Turning east, the route roughly follows Highlow Brook to Hathersage and then south along wooded paths beside the River Derwent. The 'A' party here detour for the climb on to rocky Froggatt Edge whilst 'B+' walkers continue a parallel, more leisurely path along the river until the routes join again at Calver. Field paths lead through Stoney Middleton and over a small hill back into Eyam, passing numbers of cottages with plaques commemorating earlier residents who were victims of the plague.

Distance: 11 miles

Ascent: 1000'

Leaders: as above

'B' Walk
We start at the village of Eyam and walk west to Foolow. Turning northwest we pass through Grindlow (182775) to the National Glider Centre at Great Hucklow. Climbing steadily northeast and with some short road walking, we move on to Abney before going through Abney Clough. There then follows a short sharp ascent (taken slowly) before we start the long descent over fields and moorland skirting Sir William Hill (Hill) to Eyam.

Distance: 8 miles

Ascent: 1100'

Leaders: Dave Luty and Ian Gilmour

'C' Walk
This walk is a real mixture - typical of Derbyshire some would say. From the very pretty historical village of Eyam we head southwest then east through the semi-industrial limestone landscape of Great Lonsdale parish with its deep rakes but with splendid panoramic views of Hucklow, Eyam and Froggatt Edges. As we proceed, the scenery softens and the walk back via the River Derwent and the attractive village of Stony Middleton to Eyam completes a varied but scenic walk. A bit harder than the normal 'C' with a couple of longish gentle climbs plus a few muddy, steepish tracks where care must be taken.

Distance: 7½ miles

Ascent: 900'

Leaders: John Rothwell and Bob Hutt