WALKING GROUP
At 4pm on Sunday 2nd August, we left our meeting place and on arrival at Monyash, we headed out of the village, passing bikers outside the café and locals enjoying a drink outside The Bull.
We strolled down Lathkill Dale and passed huge mounds of limestone slabs, stopping to use some of them as seats to enjoy our sandwiches. The rocky pathway through the Dale was very narrow and bordered by nettles, so concentration was needed to place our feet safely. This nature reserve contains several species of plants, including Jacob’s Ladder, growing in one isolated area, but unfortunately for us, it had finished flowering for the season. However, we were treated to the sight of many wild flowers, the ubiquitous white, cow parsley, dandelions, buttercups, harebells and blue geraniums.
We crossed a wooden footbridge which has replaced an old stone clapper bridge. This gave access to Cales Dale and our path led us to One Ash Grange, a large farm where according to one report, unruly monks were sent from the Cistercian monastery of Roche Abbey in South Yorkshire. There is no account of what these poor monks had to do for a penance there. But, before reaching this farm, we stopped as we heard rustling noises and panting in the dense undergrowth. Imagination ran wild. After a couple of minutes, two small terriers shot out and ran past us and on hearing a distant whistle, rushed towards the farm.
We re-entered Monyash (meaning “many ash trees”) at 7.20pm and stopped to look at the village pond. Skylarks and house martins were circling the water and swooping down to collect insects on the surface. Early evening is a wonderful time to have a ramble, as the air is so still and the Dales so quiet.
The next walk will be in Hathersage on 6th September, led by Eric and Helen, and will start at our usual time of 12noon outside the church. This is a 4 ½ mile walk and any new members are welcome to join us, transport can be arranged.