5 Pits Trail - re-signing mission of NCN 67

 Another day when we ventured out of our area and into the lands just east of the M1along the Nottinghamshire/ Derbyshire border. 

Today, under Maldwyn's leadership and guidance we were tasked with putting in place almost a complete set of signage along the entire 7 mile length of the 5 Pits Trail,  from Grassmoor Country Park to the end of the trail near to Blackwell. Quite what happened to the original signage is unclear and no one seems able to answer the question either as to why NCN 67 finishes at Grassmoor, before reappearing in Chesterfield as a link to the Trans Penine Trail. 

We started the day with a very welcome coffee at the delightful "Claire's" cafe, just outside the boundary of the park in Grassmoor itself. Here we may have learned that the 5 Pits trail was created by Derbyshire County Council in 1989, following more or less the route of the Great Central Railway. The line closed in 1967 but part of its purpose had been to transport coal from the 5 collieries of Tibshelf, Holmewood, Pilsley, Grassmoor and Williamthorpe, which was the last to close in 1970. 

Much of the area also had opencast mining and so the landscape of today is very different from that of 50 years ago as old pit buildings have disappeared and spoil heaps have been transformed into great wildlife and ecological habitats. As we put our signs onto gateposts at Locko Lane we could only imagine the colossal structure that would once have towered high above us. 

Progress along the trail was extremely slow as every junction had to be signed. The main 5 Pits trail is signed by Derbyshire CC, but it is not always clear as to which way to go. On site committee meetings became commonplace as we debated amongst ourselves as to where the best places for the signs would be, once we had agreed which the correct path actually was. 

We did n't quite make it to the end of the trail by lunchtime but finished up munching our sandwiches overlooking the delightful Tibshelf Ponds. The tranquility of the location spoilt only by the drum of the M1 a very short distance away. We realised whilst we sat there that these are not actually on NCN 67, although they do sit on one of the feeder arms of the 5 Pits trail. First job after lunch was to change the signs to correct the mistake we had made. 

Just after the ponds the 5 Pits trail merges into the Silverhill Trail, and NCN 67 carries on a little way along this before it too reaches its terminus in the middle of nowhere. 

To mix things up a bit on the return leg we took the Holmewood/ Williamthorpe link back to Grassmoor CP. A long day, and still a bit of follow up work to do but overall a very successful, and enjoyable day. Thanks to David, Catherine, Maldwyn, David S, Andrew, Peter and Philip for a great team effort.