This walk marked the re-launch of the 9 mile way marked walk linking Chesterfield and Dronfield, know as the North Chesterfield Way. A total of 28 walkers from Dronfield and Chesterfield took part.
We were met at the starting point of Chesterfield Town Hall by the Mayoress of Chesterfield, Councillor Suzie Perkins who welcomed us and joined us on our walk to Dronfield where she delivered a letter of goodwill to Dronfield Town Mayor Councillor Susan Burkitt who was accompanied by Dronfield’s Deputy Mayor Councillor Pam Jones.
From the town hall the walk followed footpaths and quiet riverside tracks, taking on a more rural feel after reaching Holmbrook Valley Park. From the park we took tracks which led us to the linear village of Cutthorpe where we stopped at the Coronation Tree. The tree was planted to commemorate the coronation of George V. Our next port of call was Barlow where Graham pointed out the pinfold on Wilkin Hill.
Our lunch stop was on the bank overlooking the trout fishing ponds at Barlow Country Park. This was a lovely spot to enjoy our coffee and sandwiches, giving us the energy we needed to complete the second half of the walk. From the country park our route took us through Monk Wood and alongside Lees Wood. Although this stretch isn’t particularly steep it’s always one of the most physically demanding sections of the walk.
Within a short time we were on the outskirts of Dronfield, the Gosforth Valley estate laid out before us. This estate, built in the 1970s was claimed to be the largest privately owned housing estate in Europe at the time. After crossing the Dronfield by-pass, a short meander though the estate led us to our final destination, Dronfield Civic Centre.
Many thanks to Graham for leading the walk and to the Chesterfield Mayoress, Suzie Perkins and the Dronfield Mayor and deputy Mayor, Susan Burkitt and Pam Jones, for helping us make the walk a memorable occasion.
