Crialf one

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I walked this route from Alfreton. It is pleasant throughout and not too muddy, despite recent wet weather. Some good views in this area that fringes the National Park.

I walked Alfreton to Crich on a misty December day after a fair bit of rain. There are stiles around which can be muddy, I didn't see any cattle but unlike me they are perhaps indoors. Well plotted but locals don't always stick to the recorded path.

Having passed through Alfreton many times along the road I had always wondered where the quiet road from the traffic lights led to, today I discovered. To the leisure centre and church, from the latter a footpath bursts suddenly into open countryside just a few hundred yards from the town centre.

There are some sturdy metal stiles along here which make a pleasant change from the usual poor structures mackled together with second hand timber. Fourlane Ends offers an Inn or is it a restaurant? Work continues on the restoration of Wingfield station claimed to be the oldest surviving railway station building in the world, trains no longer stop here. The path passes under the line by a bridge just wide enough for those on foot showing there was a footpath here when the railway was built in 1840.

South Wingfield village offers two inns one we pass and the other is just off route but within sight and the wooden trapdoor in the pavement suggests there was once at least one more. The dip in the next section is usually boggy but then as we climb, back to the left the ghostly outline of Wingfield Manor can be seen.

Park Head offered me a seat for lunch. A new development expanding Crich comes into view and the stream crossing here is not on the correct line so cross the bridge and head for the track then left you may not even notice you are off the plot. Hilts Quarry once had a tramway down to the canal at Ambergate, it still shows up on OS maps but it's generally not available to walk. The quarry claimed by OS to be disused is owned by Rolls Royce, I wonder what they use it for?

Crich has the essential services including buses to Alfreton and Ripley.

This was a good route that we took as the third leg of a long circular walk that started in Alfreton onto Matlock then into Crich.
Our finish was at the Travelodge Alfreton so may have been a little longer than 5 miles.
Points to note:
Crich has plenty of facilities, pub and local shop. There is also the National Tram Museum.
The directions were clear and easy to follow, the usual care needed as sometimes the paths are not always clear.
The route is on hard tracks, across fields with a small amount of road walking.
There are a number of stiles of varied types, the pinch can be very tight.
There were farm animals, sheep, cows and horses in some fields so a bit of care needed.
This is open countryside with good views.
Overall this was a good walk and I would recommend.

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