Walking Group – Drama on April Walk!
As we wanted to get back to Church for the Easter Evensong service that evening, it was decided not to travel too far for the start of our walk.
Clowne was our starting point on a warm, early spring afternoon. Eight of us parked up and once we had eaten our packed lunch we set off.
The first part of the walk was along the trackbed of the Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway. Opened in 1897 this line was closed to regular passenger traffic in 1939. For a short time we walked parallel to the Midland Railway, opened in 1888 and closed for passenger traffic in 1954. Clowne once had two railway stations, ‘Clowne South’ on the LD&ECR and ‘Clowne and Barlborough’ on the MR. The trackbed is now a linear park, with bushes bursting into spring blossom and views across fields to the church of St John the Baptist, built in 1138.
We soon reached the outskirts of Clowne, passing Portland Street and started walking across fields. We could hear skylarks and after much searching, we spotted them high above us as they performed their vertical display. Earlier we had seen a sparrow hawk and a few minutes later we spotted a buzzard. Crossing another field I told everybody how all the power lines had been brought down by ice in December 1990, the poles snapped by the weight, my parents’ house on Gapsick Lane was without electricity for nearly a week. We crossed further fields to reach Bakestone Moor and continued along the main road into Whitwell.
Turning onto Mason Street we passed an interesting looking Georgian property called ‘The Clergy House’. Built in 1699 for the local quarry master, the house took its current name when in the 19th Century it was used by the church to house curates.
Continuing we passed the second ‘Portland Street’ on our journey, reminding us that we were close to the Dukeries. Much of the land nearby and also The Clergy House have been, or still are, owned by the Chatsworth Estate. The Duke of Portland had his seat at the nearby Welbeck Abbey. Over to our right we could see the church of St Lawrence, built in the twelfth century.
Leaving Whitwell we started walking across fields again on the way back to Clowne. It was when we reached a lane at the top of a hill that we realised one of our party was missing. I retraced our footsteps to look for her but no trace could be found. Knowing she was quite resourceful we were not too worried, but we decided to return to the cars by the quickest route to continue our search. We crossed further fields including one where sugar beet was being harvested before returning to Clowne via Gapsick Lane.
On returning to the cars we found our missing walker waiting for us. When questioned she said she had lost us and taken a wrong turning. Having a good sense of direction she had reached then followed the main road until she saw a signpost for Clowne, then flagged a car down and got a lift back to where the cars were parked, getting back just before we did.
Drama over, we retraced our route back to Chesterfield, well in time for the evening service.
Steve Franks
Why not join us for our next walk? (We don’t make a habit of losing people!!)
They take place on the first Sunday of the month, meeting outside Church at 12:00noon. Transport can be arranged to take you to the starting point of a 4 – 5 mile walk where we usually eat our packed lunch before starting.
It’s a great way to get exercise and socialise at the same time.