Here’s Graham’s walk report on Dave’s walk.
Dave led a party of 14 members and a dog (Ruby) on a 5.5 mile walk from the De Rodes Arms at Barlborough which was mainly based on the Chaffinch Trail.
We first passed the Golden Gate Memorial and Village Green in Barlborough and crossed over the M1 and A616 and headed downhill via a mixture of fields and woodland heading towards Renishaw. We crossed over the Renishaw to Mastin Moor road at Beighton Fields and through more woodland before crossing back over the A616. We then descended some stone steps which were a workers’ entrance to the old Renishaw Iron Works and then made our way gently uphill to Spinkhill Village.
The coffee stop was taken in the churchyard as we watched numerous people arriving at the church for a christening. It was then through the village and past Mount St. Mary’s College, crossing the Killamarsh road as we headed back towards Barlborough. Just after passing Quarry Dam, Dave made a detour from the Chaffinch Trail and headed over the fields heading for the footbridge that would take us back over the M1 motorway. The detour meant that we would now pass the impressive Barlborough Hall. It is now a Grade I listed 16th-century country house. It was built in around 1583-84 for Sir Francis Rodes.
We then continued on the lane back to the village green and past the Barlborough Heritage Centre where there is a notice board showing many of the waymarked walks in the area. Lots of potential for future walks for us around here were our thoughts. Our thanks to Dave for this one.
