Saturday 10th January
Walk Leader & Report: Mel H Photos: Mel H & Vanessa
Walk Report
Brilliant winter sunshine accompanied the Saturday group as the set of on a walk from Poolsbrook Country Park. Skirting the end of the lake, and dodging the many water birds, some skating on the ice covered lake surface whilst others took advantage of the small areas of ice free pools. Thanks to a little research by Dave K I can report that the large and rather striking ducks we saw on the lake were Muscovy Ducks; the gentle giants of the duck world.
Once around the lake the path through the Nature Reserve was used to reach Tom Lane. A short section of road walking led to the crossing for Staveley Road and the entrance to the footpath leading to Bower Plantation. Skirting the plantation the group continued past the site of the long since defunct Adelphi Mine to reach the track for the former LNER line where a short coffee break was taken.
Crossing the track bed the next section of the walk led to Calow where the route of a section of the Chesterfield Round Walk was used to reach and pass through Westwood. After passing through Ringwood lunch was taken at the Hub before using the canal side path to reach the Staveley Basin. A short detour was made around the canal restoration works to cross the new TPT trail bridge. The trail was then used to return to Poolsbrook Country Park.
