Walks (Thursday Longer)
Welcome to the web page of the Buxton U3A Thursday Longer Walking Group.
Group Leader: Charles Huff 01298 212543
email: huff.charles@gmail.com
Currently no maximum size but current members: 13 who come from locations as far north as Glossop
Starting location: varies but during non Covid times usually Poole's Cavern Car park. We usually cover an area within a 30 to 40 minute drive of Buxton
Time: during normal times 09:30 every Thursday
We are a small and very friendly group and if you join us you can be assured of a good walk, good views and good company, we are all of an age not to take life too seriously.
We have a varied weekly program which is continuing during the current pandemic but we are having to walk in pairs. When we can finally walk again as a group we will return to the usual arrangement whereby we take it in turns to suggest then lead a walk.
We normally walk around 12 miles and never less than 10 and we do it at a reasonable pace but still enjoy the fantastic countryside provided within the Peak District. More information including advice on what to bring, a more detailed description of the types of walk we do, some health and safety guidance and guidance for leading walks can be found in our Group Walking Guidelines, please read it.
Over time we have developed a language of our own so if you fancy joining us here are some useful translations:
| This one will be a bit undulating | There are a lot of very steep hills |
| It may be a bit moist | you will be wading through mud |
| It is a little while since I recced this one | I have totally forgotten the route |
| This one includes a bit of a scramble | You will be crawling over rocks and boulders |
| From here on it is downhill all the way | Except for the up bits |
| We will be back in half an hour | No we won’t |
| Type one fun | You will love it as you are doing it |
| Type two fun | At the time you will wonder why you are so crazy but later you will say, “That was great” |
| And finally: | |
| You will love this walk | You will love this walk. |
Here is my plan for this quarter's walks so far:
| Date | Route | Walk Leader | |
| 1 Apr | We will leave via Light Wood on to Black Edge (the Eastern edge of Combs Moss). On my recce I failed to find Ann Clark’s holy grail (a direct route from Black Edge to Dove Holes that doesn’t involve climbing walls and/or barbed wire) so we will go round to Castle Naze and make our way to Dove Holes where we will visit the remains of the Peak Forest Tramway and the Bull Ring (the remains of a Neolithic henge dating from somewhere around 2800 – 2000 BCE). Our return will be via Peak Dale and behind the Nestle bottling plant in to Waterswallows. This will include using Angela’s least favourite footpath in the Peak District but I expect it to be considerably drier than the first time we walked it. | John | |
| 8 Apr | Starting 10am Townend Taddington, GPS 144761 70950, ( 9.35am Transpeak Bus from Buxton arrives 9.57am ) park near One Day Cottage. Walking to Sheldon,(Magpie Mine) Monyash, Flagg, Chelmorton and back. 10.6 miles | Fay | |
| 15 Apr | Robins Hoods Picking Rods. Meet at the end of our road (Wood Gardens in Hayfield, at the junction with Swallow House Lane) at 10am. 11 miles. | Lesley | |
| 22 Apr | Roy Jeffreys tribute Eastern Edges walk – Roy Usually did a walk on the Eastern Edges at this time of year – My version would be something like: Fox House – White Edge – Nelson Monument/Three ships – Birchen Edge - Wellington Monument – Baslow Edge – Curbar Edge – Froggatt Edge – Longshaw Estate; 13miles 1800ft | John | |
| 29 Apr | I’ll lead a walk from Edale at some point. I’ll decide on the route once we’ve seen the weather forecast. Also, let me know if you need any other walks to fill the program and I’ll sort something out. | Nigel | |
| 6 May | I did a lovely 5-miler around the Roaches area yesterday, so might look to do that again, and tack on a second route to double the length. | Kate | |
| 13 May | I hope the bluebells will be out. It will go from Wildboarclough. I think it is about 12,7 miles and 890 metres of ascent. Rather varied scenery will include the Roaches and Gradbach. I have a GPS file with the route which I will send prior to the walk so if I have forgotten the route, quite complicated those willing can assist with navigation. | Angela | |
| 20 May | Un-recced, unfamiliar, no GPS navigation challenge - I discussed this last year and there was some interest – I’ve plotted a route on the map of somewhere unfamiliar (start Ashbourne and walk to the South). Navigation by map and compass alone with the risk we get lost and/or find boggy, impassable, or just plain boring bits. 11 miles 1000ft | John | |
| 27 May | Start at Combs Reservoir car park, SK 0338 7978, walk via Horwich End, Fernilee, Combs Edge. 11.4 miles and 2,400 feet ascent. | Charles | |
| 3 Jun | We did a lovely walk yesterday up onto Bleaklow with friends, which I could lead with the group. The only problem is that it is only 9.5 miles with 1800 feet of ascent. If you want to put it in the program, I’ll have a look at how I can extend it | Nigel | |
| 10 Jun | An area rarely visited by the group – Wirksworth Star Disc – Wirksworth moor – Crich – Tramway Museum – Sherwood Foresters Memorial - 12 Miles 2400ft (Based on a walk that Chris Holt led for the group in 2014) | John | |
| 17 Jun | Alport Castles from Fairholmes returning via Edale cross over spill car park 11 miles. | Brian | |
| 24 Jun | tbc | Martin |
Click on a picture below to see it full-size with more details.
