Twenty seven walkers and three dogs met outside St Andrews church before the walk. Some of us had already indulged in toasted tea cakes and coffee and with fine weather predicted we were all set for a great walk.
The first part of the walk took us along Barnes Lane, a section of the Dronfield Hall Barn Rotary Walk that our group maintains. At the end of the Lane we walked on the pavement to Tinkers Corner. Here Graham, our walk leader, pointed out that Tinkers corner is said to have been named after Tedbar Tinker who owned the quarry and later brickworks on Twentywell Ln/Rd
After crossing the road we took an enclosed track that led us into the estate and then on to the Shepley Spitfire pub. We took the track behind the pub that goes to Woodthorpe Hall but rather than follow it all the way we dropped down to the riverside path leading into Gillfield Wood. At a particularly nice spot we stopped for coffee.
After crossing the brook we came out of the woods and took the uphill path through fields to Woodthorpe Hall and then onto the easy access path through Holmesfield Woods. To avoid potentially muddy conditions at the five ways signpost, we took an alternative route through the estate and playground to join Cowley Lane next to the Rutland pub.
The last section of the walk took us through Four Acres and Kitchen Wood, emerging from the houses opposite Sindlefingen Park.
Many thanks to Graham for leading us on this lovely walk and to Paula for devising the route.