Ashbel two

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Ashbel here.

Walked from Belper to Ashbourne after several months of exceptional rainfall, which made a lot of this very wet and muddy. As Ken says there are a lot of awkward stiles, overgrown stiles, gates and hedges and stiles and gates that are well away from the definitive lines. It took me 6.5 hours to walk just over 13 miles, so it is not a route I can recommend to casual walkers, but as Ken says there are fine views, all of the road walkingvis quiet or on pavements, and there is nothing that would stop a determined walker, so I am still willing to pass it for SlowWays.

Starting in Belper, we follow the main road north then turn left past the mill over the Derwent, taking the path left just beyond the bridge. Most of this path is surfaced, but the farm road turns up to the right and we go straight on on a slightly muddy path between fences, then turn right up a lane, then follow roads (the A517 has a pavement) to Blackbrook, where we turn right onto Plains Lane. Beyond the houses and a bend to the right we take the little path left, which is clear until the bridge over the stream but becomes invisible in the pastures above, so this section needs careful navigation. Needless to say there was a lot of ground water in the pastures, a taste of what was to come.

We reach a muddy unsurfaced lane and turn right, then pick our way through fields and over a steep sided wooded stream to reach Lambhuose Lane, where we go straight on on another little used path. On the way down to the next dip, resist the temptation to follow the field edge too closely, as this leads to a securely tied gate - the path now goes over a stile to a bridge further right, and it is best to find the right line before reaching the gate as the ground in between is scrubby and full of brambles and other undergrowth.

We climb past the house then turn right across the field, which has been divided into horse pastures, requiring a succession of low narrow hurdles with gateposts to be crossed. The next two fields have no marked path and we eventually have to cross a slightly overgrown gap in the hedge to reach the farm track that takes us left up the hill, which comes as welcome respite. At the next lane we go left a short distance to pick up another little used field path - at the point where the map shows a diagonal move to the right, beware of going too low as the gap that takes us into the scrubby wood is further left than the definitive line.

The route through the wood is not clearly marked, but you should find your way to a stile that leads into open fields and the road down to Idridgehay. There is a pub here (no time to stop for me as I was already well behind schedule by this stage). Our route out starts up minor roads then crosses more fields (again there are places where minor deviations from the definitive line are needed), reaching Gorses by a farmhouse. We turn right up the lane. Our path right starts further round the corner than the map suggests, and Biggin Lane is reached easily enough.

Beyond we follow an unsurfaced lane which is very wet and muddy in places, and in places has been captured by the adjacent fields. Keep a careful eye on navigation and Biggin should be reached easily. Once beyond the surfaced farm tracks, the next path is also little used and very overgrown in places - there are places where the definitive line goes through a narrow overgrown area between hedges but it is easier to stay in the field to the right/north. Higher up the path becomes easier to follow, and we pass another farmhouse to reach Gibfield Lane, where we go almost straight on.

Here it is easy to lose the path again, as the exit to the first field is in the top left corner, where the definitive line is much further right. We then skirt a farm to the right to reach and cross Turlowfields Lane. The route past the next farm is clearly marked, but requires us to cross a field full of deep churned up mud. We then cross some much easier pastures on the descent towards Atlow. Near the bottom we bear right, and the way down to the stream takes some pastures. We cross a bridge and head steeply up to reach the road by Atlow church.

We cross into the churchyard and head down into the valley, crossing a soggy meadow and a footbridge to reach the main valley "path". The next part of the path through the riverside meadows is easy if a little wet in places, but as we bear right towards Agnesmeadow Lane there is one cow pasture to cross which was very churned up and soggy, and the mud got into my boots. The final path starts well taking a direct line across fields, but after leaving the stream and climbing up to the right, there is a wood to cross where the deep watery mud is pretty unavoidable at times because the well used path is constrained by undergrowth. Eventually we skirt a playing field and head right to the road which leads us down into Ashbourne on good pavements. I have to admit that I missed the last few yards up to the meeting point in favour of going straight up King Edward Street to catch the bus back to Derby which was there waiting.

This route was plotted in response to comments of excessive road walking on Ashbel-1. It would be good to have the reviewers of Ashbel-1 take a look at Ashbel-2 although there are numerous options between these two nodes.

While the distance is about the same the climbs are less demanding. Ashbourne stands on higher ground than Belper so the route is downhill but the hills approaching Belper hide this fact, however these hills do offer excellent views and the route as a whole is through pleasant countryside. The fields are mainly grass so this does mean cattle and there are many awkward stiles with hedges that need a major cut back. In early March after another period of heavy rain the paths were muddy (picture 5) and in places had been flooded. While the plotting follows what is shown on the OS map the gaps, gates, stiles and paths are not always on the plot so care and vigilance is needed. There are seats at Atlow and Idridgehay churches as well as the well promoted Inn. Four stars hoping for better weather but lost one due to poor stile etc.

The Slow Way starts from Ashbourne (1) along the Henmore Brook, this divides the town especially for Royal Shrovetide Football. Those born south of the Brook are the Down'ards, and try to goal the ball at the old Clifton Mill, near the brook's confluence with the Dove. Those born on the north are the Up'ards and try to goal the ball at the old Sturston Mill which we pass close by. The paths to here are signed for the Royal Shrovetide Football Challenge Walks and are well used (2)

Beyond the Mill the paths cross lovely flat meadows where sheep and cattle graze. After Agnes Meadow Bridge there is a field with cattle and the well trodden feeding point is bang on the path necessitating an alternative route or wellingtons (3). Crossing to Down'ards might offer a better route. The plotted route later crosses the brook and here the ground is boggy perhaps even in dryer conditions as two streams need crossing. So another route might be to climb to higher ground via Atlow Moat Farm because there is another very wet section on the plotted path by the moat.

It was with some relief that I found a seat at Atlow church. Time for a break, because from here the route leaves the valley and makes a climb of two hundred feet, it felt a lot more, before a gentler descent to Biggin. Two exit points onto Gibfield Lane, both signed will confuse in the reverse direction. Next an opportunity to admire the view and see how farmers spend their hard earned cash, an interesting use of the barn, note the life ring (4). Heading west from Biggin will not be straightforward, take the stile not the track.

Some flexibility of the plotted route is required throughout and the approach to 'Gorses' lane is no exception, head for the gate. The approach into Idridgehay Green requires more guesswork so it was with some relief to arrive at the church to find a seat in the sun and out of the chill north wind (6). The station here also offers a seat which can offer interest when trains operate on the heritage line (7).

The road from here is quiet and could offer an easy bit of walking for this last significant climb. Then it's basically down but there are issues so a revision might offer a better route. A bigger revision might improve the route to Blackbrook from Carrbrook Farm, where the path heading directly south is not available so head a little further east then south. Back on track the right of way passes through a large field which has been divided into fenced grazing areas with ten new stiles (8), was authority given? Highway Act 1980 section 137 and 143, plus compliance to British Standard 5709? if only.

The hedged track from the Shipley Brook was wet and damaged by equestrian use although I suspect this should be recorded as a bridleway. The approach to Blackbrook is across a large ploughed field (9) clearly the farmer is not aware of the Highway Act 1980 section 134 (3) make good the surface and indicate the line of the path on the ground. Even with GPS I struggled to locate the overgrown exit point from this field.

There is a pavement alongside the busy road at Blackbrook but failure to trim back the hedges forces users onto the half closest to the road. The footpath track passing Chevin Mill serves a number of properties but was quiet as I headed for the River Derwent which prevents direct access to journey's end. Keeping to the busy road would involve another hump to climb so this valley walk is easier but the mighty Derwent doesn't like this path and in recent years the river has made serious attempts to wash it away. More repairs are needed but the path was open on the day I passed. I suspect it will soon be closed and perhaps for a long period while funding is discussed. Admire the weir and mills, North, the oldest, dwarfed by the massive East (10), South having been demolished to build the now abandoned Pretty Polly site.

And finally, onto my favourite section of the Highway Act 1980 sec 130 “It is the duty of the highway authority (HA) to assert and protect the rights of the public to the use and enjoyment of any highway for which they are the highway authority, including any roadside waste which form part of it.” Now you may perhaps wonder what this has to do with footpaths? So I offer the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 sec 56 states “A definitive map and statement shall be conclusive evidence as to the particulars contained therein............where the map shows a footpath, the map shall be conclusive evidence that there was at the relevant date a highway as shown on the map” There we have it, a footpath is a highway and the HA has many duties to protect them for our enjoyment.

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