Saturday 23rd December 2006

It has become a 'tradition' for us to do this walk on the closest weekend to the shortest day of the year as it starts from home and 'ends' at our local. The length of the walk often varies as depending upon the weather we either cut it short and head for the pub or extend it to take make the most of a good day.  

Start: Home/Belper

Route: Belper - Holbrook - Milford - Jacksons Lane - The Chevin - Farnah Green - Blackbrook - Belper                

Distance: 9 miles    Ascent: 441 metres     Time Taken: 4 hours   

Weather: Dull and overcast. 

Pub visited: George & Dragon. Belper         Ale Drunk: Heavy Horse, Marston Moor Brewery

Looking towards The Chevin from the descent into Milford.

The Holly Bush in Makeney where it is claimed Dick Turpin often used to drink.

Milford's weir.

The bridge carrying the A6 is reflected in the water.

A wintery river Derwent.

Jacksons Lane, now in a much better condition as the motor cycles
 and Land Rovers have been banned from using it.

The Chevin, an old Roman Road.

Looking down on The Marle or as we know it, Mitch's Mansion.

Looking across at Belper and the area that is the World Heritage Site
 that Tesco want to run a road through.

The Bluebell Inn at Farnah Green, the venue for our wedding reception
 on a glorious April's day.

The tree!! 
It is infamous in our house, even getting a mention in the Best Man's speech at our wedding.

Looking down on Strutt's Mill (or as it is correctly called North Mill) 
the reason for this area being a World Heritage Site.

Belper's weir.

The classic shot of Strutt's Mill and the weir.