THE WALKING GROUP – The Five Pits Trail
Derbyshire County Council created the 5 Pits Trail in 1989 following the route from the former Great Central Railway which served the five main coal mines of Grassmoor, Williamthorpe, Holmewood, Pilsley and Tibshelf.
Part of the trail (between Station Rd, Pilsley and Tibshelf) has been identified as the “Tom Hulatt Mile” and is marked on the route. This mile commemorates local runner Tom Hulatt who took part in the race that created the first four minute mile.
The Tibshelf end of the trail runs past Newton Ponds and joins the Silverhill Trail which connects to the Brierley Forest Link Trail and to Teversal Trail in Teversal. Access to the 5 Pits Trail is possible via numerous footpaths and roads which cross it.
However, we were led by Bob Cable from Timber Lane car park towards Holmewood, passing a field from where we heard the braying of a donkey and saw half a dozen together with a few geese. We entered a wood and found a stainless steel sculpture
designed by Robin Widdowson and Sara Beavan of Gotham D with the help of friends of Deincourt Community School. Attempts to find more information on this from the internet have proved fruitless. We continued our walk through three fields with the village of Stainsby to our left and Haddon Hall on the right. After climbing a grassy incline we eventually reached the paths again and the return to the car park.
Eleven of us enjoyed this easy walk and look forward to the next one on Sunday 4th November when we will be led by Trish Law and Evelyn Lowe in the area of Linacre Woods. Anyone wishing to join us will be made very welcome. We meet at the church gates at 12 noon with suitable walking clothes and our packed lunches.