WALKING GROUP
Our planned walk was cancelled as when we arrived at Monsal Head, a cycle race was taking place and the road we needed to drive down was closed, so a quick change of plan was needed.
We parked opposite The Crispin at Great Longstone (St. Crispin is the patron saint of shoemakers, once the main trade here). We walked past St. Giles Church and across the fields where we saw goldfinch, squawking rooks, a buzzard and a kestrel. On arriving at the hamlet of Rowland we did some road walking, carefully avoiding a slow-moving, brown, furry caterpillar, until we reached the walled Hassop estate. We were treated to high, blue skies, criss-crossed with white vapour trails before hitting the busy Monsal Trail and making our way back to Great Longstone and journey’s end. This walk turned out to be much easier than the one planned, so all in all we had a very enjoyable afternoon.
The next walk on Sunday 2nd November will be led by Steve and Julie Franks through Padley Gorge and the Longshaw Estate. Please meet at the church gate at 12 noon with a packed lunch and transport will then be arranged.