BASLOW, DERBYSHIRE

SUNDAY, 26TH JUNE 2011

Coach Leader: Jackie Gudgeon

Coach Leaves at 5.30 pm

Please read these coach notes carefully - they will help you to decide which walk will be the most suitable for you. If you have any doubts, do not hesitate to ask the leader for advice. For the safety and enjoyment of yourself and others, please try not to join a walk which is beyond your capabilities.
Please respect the wishes of the walks leader and remain with the walk until the end. If you are struggling – inform the walk leader so that he/she can make a decision to shorten the walk, have more rest, etc.

TODAY'S WALKS

Strenuous Leader: Jimmy Need Distance: 12 Miles

Today's walk starts with a nice steady climb out of Baslow, which brings us up onto Eaglestone Flat. Wellington's Monument and Eagle Stone are to be found and the first challenge of the day awaits you. From here we make our way over to and along Curbar and Froggatt Edges. This should bring us nicely into our lunch stop, to build our strength up for the second challenge of the day. After lunch we make our way to Tumbling Hill which will lead down to the village of Grindleford. From here we have a nice amble alongside the River Derwent back to Baslow.

Moderate Leader: Jackie Gudgeon Distance: 8 Miles

From Baslow we make our way through the village for a steady climb along the hillside to Curbar, followed by a steeper climb through stony woodland and on to Curbar Edge. We follow the edge, enjoying fine views down to the valley of the River Derwent . This is followed by Baslow Edge past the Eagle Stone and Wellingtons Monument. Along a good track to cross the A621, then a thinner moorland path up to Birchen Edge which takes us onto the road at Robin Hood (pub). We then follow tracks and paths down through part of the Chatsworth Estate back to Baslow.
Two main roads to cross, and care needs to be taken climbing through rocky woodland.

Leisurely Leader: Derek Lee Distance: 7 miles

A circuit of Chatsworth Park. We start off with a 400 ft ascent of the hill behind Chatsworth House to the Hunting Lodge and the Dell, then loop round the Emperor Lake and Stand Wood on almost level ground before coming down off the hill at Carlton Lees via Beeley Moor. For the last 2 miles we follow the riverside path back to base.

Easy Leader: Philomena Walker Distance: 5 miles

A pleasant walk along the riverside from Baslow to Chatsworth House, crossing the bridge here to Edensor where, weather permitting, we have the perfect spot for lunch. When we tire of looking at the views we will cross over the river again and walk round the back of Chatsworth House, through Stand Wood, and up to the Hunting Lodge. From here we can access the gardens, café and shops of Chatsworth. Depending on time, we can spend some time looking around here before setting off back along the riverside to Baslow.

NOTES ON THE AREA

The three settlements of Bridge End, Nether End and Over End which make up the village of Baslow have changed little since the middle of the nineteenth century when it was described as a "pretty little rural village, consisting of a few irregular groups of cottages standing on the slope of a hill that rises from the eastern bank of the Derwent". Bridge End was the original village, but Nether End grew with Chatsworth when in 1823 it became the northern entrance to the estate, while residential development in the late nineteenth century is centred at Over End on the hillside opposite.

At one time Baslow had hoped to be as grand as nearby Bakewell and a Hydro was built in 1881, but it never became established as a spa. As the building needed a great deal of money spending on it after the First World War and this was never done, the Hydro was demolished in the 1930's.

The magnificent mansion of Chatsworth House is principally the creation of the first Duke of Devonshire who, between 1686 and 1707, practically rebuilt the original house piecemeal and also built the great cascade in the woods. The first house on this site was built in 1552 by Sir William Cavendish and his celebrated wife Bess of Hardwick. By the time of the fourth Duke the grounds were extensively remodelled under the direction of Capability Brown, and the sixth Duke added the famous Emperor Fountain which throws a jet of water 290 ft (90 m) into the air and, when built, was the second highest fountain in the world.

In 1755 the views from Chatsworth were improved by the demolition of all that could be seen of the old village of Edensor (pronounced 'Ensor'). In 1839 the rest of the village, although hidden in the valley bottom, was also demolished with the single exception of a cottage which still stands today isolated on the other side of the road. The new village was designed by Sir William Paxton (of Crystal Palace fame). The past Dukes of Devonshire and their families lie in a quiet corner of the churchyard of St Peter's, but visitors come here to visit another grave, that of Kathleen Kennedy, daughter of Joseph Kennedy, United States Ambassador to Britain and sister of the late John Kennedy, President of the United States, whose visit on 29th June 1963 is commemorated on a plaque in front of the grave.

To the north and east of Baslow the Bar Brook cuts a nick in the dramatic gritstone scarp, with Baslow Edge on one side and Birchen Edge on the other. A sea of bracken laps the footings of the rock faces, whilst the moorland above the edge is a wilderness of heather and the home of merlin and grouse. It was once the home of farmers too, in the Bronze Age when the climate was a little kinder. It is astonishing to find field systems still visible from more than 3,000 years ago. Below Baslow Bar, just out of Nether End, it is also possible to see narrow fields separated by drystone walls that follow the old reverse-S pattern, the sign of ox-ploughing in medieval times.

On the brow of Baslow Edge stands the Eagle Stone, a great weathered block of hardened gritstone. Climbing to the top of the stone used to be a test of character for village youths before they married. Not far away is the Wellington Monument erected in 1866 by Dr Wrench, who sounds like a character out of a Dickens novel, and was also responsible for the replacement of the numerals on the face of St Anne's Church clock with 'Victoria 1897'.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

NEXT RAMBLES;

Sunday, 10th July 2011. Mid month ramble to Bakewell, Derbyshire.

Leaders: Moderate: Leo Keenan, Leisurely: Derek Lee, Easy: Adelaide Houghton.

Members can book on the mid-month walks as well as on the end of month coaches.

Please note also, coach seats for the mid-month walks will be open to members and non-members alike, on a first come-first served basis, so get your bookings in and round up your friends.

Please note that if insufficient bookings are taken for this ramble to be economically viable, then this and the other 'mid-month' rambles will be cancelled.

Sunday, 31st July 2011. Coniston, Lske District.

Leaders: Strenuous, Jimmy Need, Moderate: Peter Denton, Leisurely: Norma Carmichael, Easy: Hazel Anderton & Ruth Melling.

Bookings for all rambles: Derek Lee. Coach pick-up times: Ormskirk bus station 8.40 am, Railway Road, Skelmersdale 8.50 am, Skelmersdale Baths car park 9.00 am.

Will walk leaders please let Jackie have details of their walks as far before the walk as possible. At least a week would be nice. Thanks. Those who have the technology can e-mail your notes - please use the address on the Contacts page.

SKELMERSDALE CHURCHES RAMBLING CLUB

Saturday, 9th July 2011. Kettlewell, Yorkshire Dales.

Coach leaves Ormskirk Bus Station 8.30 am, Railway Road Bus Stop 8.40 am, Skelmersdale Baths Car Park 8.50 am, Upholland Labour Club 9.00 am. Bookings: Jackie Gudgeon. Coach Fare £9 (non-members £10).

RAMBLERS ASSOCIATION WEST LANCS GROUP

Saturday, 2nd July 2011. 10.30 am. Witton Country Park Visitor Centre, Blackburn. 9 miles.

Wednesday, 13th July 2011. 1.30 pm. Carr Mill for Carr Mill Dam circular. 5 miles.

Tuesday, 19th July 2011. 7.00 pm. Lathom from Vicarage Lane by Ruff Wood, Ormskirk. 4 miles.

Sunday, 31st July 2011. 1.30 pm. Wrightington from St John the Great Church, Church Lane. 5 miles.

SEFTON FOOTPATH GROUP

All walks are on Sundays, approx 5-6 miles and start at 1.30 pm. Contacts Carol, Clare.

Next Ramble: Sunday 10th July 2011. Aughton Village Hall, Winifred Lane, Aughton.

CLUB NOTES

AGM

The Annual General Meeting of the club was held on Wednesday, 15th June. Changes to the Officers and Committee Members are as follows:

Chairman:	Peter Denton – taking over from Selwyn Williams.
Secretary:	Philomena Walker - unchanged
Treasurer:	Jackie Gudgeon – unchanged
Coach Booking:	Derek Lee – unchanged
Walks Co-ordinator:	Hazel Anderton – taking over from Peter Denton
Membership:	Joan McGlinchey – taking over from Linda Williams
Social Secretary:	Sue Daniels – taking over from Norma Carmichael
Other Committee Members:	Norma Carmichael, Cynthia Prescott.

Thanks were expressed to those Officers standing down; they have all given sterling service which has been greatly appreciated. We could not run this club without people like these.

We welcome people to their new roles, and look forward to working together to take the club into the future.

WALKS PLANNING MEETING

It is time to get together to plan venues for next year's rambles. There will be an opportunity today for you to make suggestions; this is important so that we have something to work with when choosing the new walks. The meeting will take place on Wednesday, 29th June at the Civic Hall, Ormskirk, at 7.30 pm. Please come along to put your 'tuppence worth' in!

COACH BOOKING

Please ensure that, before boarding your coach on the return journey, you complete your booking for the next ramble. It would be helpful if you could tell the coach booking officer if you do not intend to book for the next coach.

PLEASE TRY TO BE BACK FROM YOUR CUP OF TEA OR PINT IN PLENTY OF TIME TO BOOK THE NEXT RAMBLE BEFORE BOARDING THE COACH. YOU WILL APPRECIATE THAT IT IS NOT FAIR TO THE OTHER PASSENGERS OR TO THE COACH DRIVER IF THE COACH IS LATE IN LEAVING.

Please make every effort to ensure that, when you leave the bus, you take all your possessions with you. Please check the luggage rack, under the seat, etc, not to mention the boot. Please try not to take anyone else’s stuff. Thanks.

If anything is left behind on the bus when we get to Ormskirk, I usually take it home with me (being last to get off) so please ring me as soon as you notice if you are missing anything - Jackie.

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SKELMERSDALE RAMBLING CLUB