Ripalf three

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Walked from Ripley to Alfreton on a mild overcast winter afternoon, after rain followed by several very cold days. Mostly good, but the field path north of the heritage railway past the conference centre was wet and extremely muddy, partly thanks to the rather miserable looking cows. In drier conditions it might get another star.

The route out of Ripley is as per CRIRIP2, down Moseley Street, left through Barnes Wallis Park and under the old railway to Lowes Hill, then left under the A610 and down through Hammersmith. We take Butterley Land right, which leads past the reservoir to the B6179. Here we go straight on (use the left hand pavement as the right hand one doesn't continue far enough). We cross the bridge over the heritage railway by Butterley station, then take the path right over stiles and along the field boundaries (note that the trodden line is less direct than the right of way). Near the Hayes conference centre the path deteriorates as it crosses a sodden cow pasture - when I did this section almost every step risked a bootful of water. Eventually we reach another path where our right of way goes over a couple of stiles, along the gravel drive of a house and through a small wood. Alternatively use the trodden line through the field on the right. Beyond the wood the two trodden paths are obvious, and we take the right hand one which reaches Turners Lane over another stile.

We follow the lane half left up the hill to Cray's Hill, where we cross and turn right. There is a choice of lanes heading left towards the park - the warning about gates being locked at 4 p.m. is for cars. At the park we pick up a good surfaced cycle track which leads easily to Sleetmoor Lane. Here I took the corner cutting bridlepath straight on rather than following the GPX line left and right. The bridleway follows the edge of a wood to an industrial road (Wimsey Way), where we turn right - there is a choice of following the wide road or the little path left parallel to it. At the far side of the wood we take the slightly muddy path that leads to the underpass (where somebody has left most of an old armchair) under then A38 then along a fenced path on the edge of a school field. This path leads us to Marshall Street, which we follow down to the Alfreton meeting point at the bus station.

I walked this route from Alfreton. The route leaves on quiet pavements before taking to the footpath around the school field. After the A38 bridge the next section was muddy but not impassable. From the gates of Ferrero to Sleetmoor Wood section was also muddy but firm. The section from Crays Hill at Swanwick is on meadow paths. The stiles and waymarks plot a logical, easy-to-follow course (but not always where the OS show it) bringing you to the road crossing at the Butterley Midland Railway Centre. There is a quiet lane from here to Hammersmith. The footpath from the A610 underpass up to Wood Street was muddy and steeply uphill (in places), but there was firm ground available alongside. From the top of the playing field there are quiet roads to follow into the town centre. Overall this was an enjoyable route with good views.

A mix of surfaced tracks, muddy paths and short sections of roadside pavement. It corrects a fault and uses an unrecorded path but still offers an option to improve after crossing the A38 approaching Alfreton. There are stiles and cattle.

Leaving Ripley the route takes an off road route through a park but it can be wet and the path muddy, so Butterley Hill might be worth considering after rain. Alongside Butterley Reservoir which was built to feed the abandoned Cromford canal hidden below our feet in a tunnel. Pass the sad remains of Butterley Works the site which made the train shed at St. Pancras and much later the Falkirk Wheel boat lift. After crossing the heritage railway the route is back into fields again these can be muddy and the walked path may not be on the plotted line.

The next road is Crays Hill then on to the cycle track which is incorrectly located on OS. Follow the surfaced path now correctly plotted. The track continues along the edge of Sleetmoor Wood passing the entrance to what was Thorntons Chocolates bought by the Italian firm Ferrero in June 2015. The path follows a well used proposed cycle route linking to a short tunnel under the A38.

The plot uses a narrow footpath between the back of houses and a school field. It would be nice to think the school will offer a little more land to make a pleasant path but in the meantime after the tunnel bear left then right and join a road fronting the houses.

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