CLUB HIKE 2002
Sunday 17th November was a mild
although dull day. Due to the fact that the National Hill Climb
had been rescheduled for the same day (Rob Bailey was on marshalling
duty and Roy Aitken, Pete Levene and Rob Sharpe were spectating.)
a select group of five (Ann & Mike Workman, Richard Workman
and Pam & Phil Fern) met up at Hulme End car park in Derbyshire.
We set off from the car park heading south along the old railway
line where we missed our first 'junction'. We should have left
the line at the first bend but missed it and had to retrace our
steps. On finding the footpath we had a good excuse - the stile
had collapsed and was not obvious. We clambered over the 'stile',
headed up the hill and onto a ridge which gave splendid views
across the Manifold Way.
We joined a minor road for a short distance before arriving on
the 'outskirts' of Warslow. We had yet another semi collapsed
stile (this time due to a falling tree) to navigate, a short walk
across a field to a 'tied up' gate before following the footpath
to the north side of Warslow. It would have been far easier,
and quicker to walk through the village but far less fun.
After leaving the village and bearing left we joined a very muddy
track. Walking on for a few hundred yards we took a sharp right,
went up hill and crossed the road we had just left. Our walk
then followed a well worn path onto Revidge where we stopped to
admire the views and have a tea/coffee break. From here, looking
east, we could see for miles beyond the cars parked at Hulme End
and easily see Butterton and beyond to the south.
Flasks put away we dropped down
from Revidge, past Cuckoostones to join a minor road. We had
a short walk along the road to the pub, at Reapsmoor, which Ann
had earmarked for lunch. 'The Butchers Arms' was a sight to
behold. It didn't, at first glance, look as if it was open
- there were a only a couple of cars in the car park. As there
was nowhere else to go, we ventured in. Inside it looked as
if it hadn't been decorated since the day it was first opened.
Nevertheless, we found ourselves a table by a roaring fire and
sat down to order our lunch. The Workman clan were intending eating
out in the evening and opted for 'light lunches' - Ann chose burger
and chips with salad (two burgers on her bun). Richard, Mike's
brother had a plateful of Chicken Tikka. Mike went for the Gammon
on a bun with chips & salad. Unfortunately the young lady
taking the orders misheard Mike and brought him a full meal. The
gammon was almost an inch thick and more than half filled the
twelve inch diameter plate. Well done Mike for wading through
it - we didn't think you'd do it. Phil had a plateful of fish
& chips. My baked potato with cheese and a salad was in
fact four baked potatoes (ok they were smaller than the average
- but two would have been more than enough). We declined the offer
of sweets!
Two stone heavier and almost two hours later we left The Butchers
Arms (it's the sort of place that if you went back to look for
it - it wouldn't exist!), crossed the road heading east past
Knowles Farm to Brund Mill. Here we cut a corner to the very
small community of Brund. A very interesting spot with the stone
cottages, farms and outbuildings dating back to the 17th century.
It was very evident that the gales from a couple of weeks before
had wreaked havoc in the area with many fallen trees. On our
next section of footpath we had to climb over one of these trees
before we could make our way down to the River Manifold which
we crossed via a small footbridge. We had a short walk back
to the road which took us down to the car park (arriving back
just as the light was beginning to go) and to the very welcome
'chocolate cake' which Richard had made specially for the 'walkers'.
A very enjoyable walk in good company - thankyou Ann.
Pam Fern.