We started the walk from Dronfield Hall Barn which had been derelict for several years, but thanks to a lottery grant, had been restored for community use. It has a café, functions rooms, a small courtyard and landscaped gardens.
We ate a leisurely sandwich lunch in the garden then set off uphill from the barn, but darkened skies heralded rain. Sure enough we had a quick, heavy shower but luckily, overhanging bushes gave us adequate shelter for the rain to pass. The sun came out and we resumed our walk. Hedgerows filled with ripened blackberries, were too good to pass without sampling.
Continuing through fields we entered a wood and emerged at the golf course and turned right along paths, past Bowshaw Hall and emerged at the main road below the Bowshaw Public House.
We crossed the road and followed the footpath into the fields. In the distance model aeroplanes filled the sky, looping-the-loop, much to the enjoyment of their ground based controllers. Continuing our walk, we crossed a footbridge over the river Drone, which incidentally is where Dronfield gets its name. At the half-way point of the walk, we headed back into Dronfield valley, through streets where houses had well-tended gardens.
We followed footpaths through Jubilee Park and into Cliffe Park, where an end of season cricket match was in progress. In the park, families and dogs enjoyed the late summer sun.
We crossed the main road and walked over the Dronfield railway station footbridge, uphill past the church and back to our starting point; thus ending a very enjoyable late summer walk.
Eric & Helen
The next walk on Sunday 6th October will be led by Evelyn Lowe in the area of Great Hucklow. Anyone wishing to join us will be very welcome. We meet at the church gates at 12 noon with a packed lunch and suitable walking boots before organising transport.