Twenty one walkers and one canine friend met at Coal Aston Wesleyan Reform Church. Most of the group had taken advantage of the hot drinks and toasted tea cakes that were available in the church.
Before starting, our walk leader Peter, gave us an overview of the walk. Our first destination was Owler Car Lane which we followed all the way to Povey farm. Owing to recent heavy rainfall there was plenty of water in the ford approaching the farm but despite the missing bridge over the minor stream (a casualty of storm Babet in Oct 2023) we all crossed without difficulty.
After passing through the farm, we stopped for a coffee break on Hazlehurst Lane, but the winter temperatures meant it wasn’t a day for dawdling too long. We turned left off Hazlehurst Lane down the track that runs alongside the field with the polytunnels. On Google Maps this track is called Walkabout Creek. I half expected to see Skippy the bush kangaroo bouncing down the path.
The bottom of the track leads into Bridle Road Wood which we followed all the way to the meadow known as Dowey Lumb.
The route back to Coal Aston was initially along the Dronfield Round Walk but we detoured slightly to meet up with Cross Lane. Not the Cross Lane where we started from, another Cross Lane. Across a couple of fields and we were nearly back.
Many thanks to Peter for leading us on a very enjoyable walk.