For several years, even since before the pandemic, we have been talking as a group about riding to see the newly refurbed Bennerley Viaduct. It has featured on just about every annual work day plan for the last 5 years. Originally our visit was to be integrated into a ride led by our fellow rangers in the Derby Group, who had access up onto the bridge before it was finally opened up to public access. Now that the bridge refurbishment is complete, and full public access available, we were able to plan and lead our own circular ride on a lovely, warm, sunny september day.
Our route started in the lovely Shipley Country Park - yet another of the wonderful assets owned and managed by the Derbyshire Council Countryside team. It is a huge area with a multitude of paths and trails running through and across it. One of their well presented maps is essential. We don't mind paying £7 for the day's parking to help maintain these wonderful facilities. Myself and David S arrived in plenty of time for a coffee at the visitor centre and it wasn't long before Phil arrived on his bike, having come by train from Hathersage to Langley Mill. A great effort to endorse his very green credentals. We were also joined at the cafe by Chris Allen who leads the Chesterfield Sustrans ranger team. Peter and Gill completed our team and we joined up with them in the car park before setting off south along the Nutbrook Trail (NCN 67). This trail winds its way through the park, before joining up with the Erewash canal, alongside which it runs until the terminus of both at Trent Lock. We stopped here for our sandwiches and to watch a couple of boats leave the canal so they could head out into the River Trent and their onward journies.
After lunch we turned eastwards and, after initially following another short stretch of canal, we then weaved alongside the river, all the way to the Attenborough wet land reserve and gravel pits. We stopped for a much needed cup of tea at the visitor centre (thanks Peter and Gill) before carrying on towards the lovely little village of Attenborough (and a place of very happy memories for me!!).
From Attenborough we followed Erewash Valley signs through a winding ribbon of Nottingham suburbia, even crossing over the recently installed southern tramway extension. We got a little lost on the edge of Chilwell, but were soon back on track and into the quiet shade of Bramcote Hills park. After a drink stop and a short stretch by the side of a busy dual carriageway we dropped down to the tow path of the old Nottingham canal. There are only small pools of water dotted along its length for quite a way and in the main part there is just the dry, curved out shape of the canal lining, with trees and brush on the sides. The canal line follows the eastern edge of the Erewash Valley all the way up to where we saw our first glimpses of the Bennerley viaduct. It is certainly a magnificent legacy of the Victorian industrial era of these parts, which has been lovingly restored by enthusiasts. Access from the eastern side is by a short flight of steep steps, although there is a helpful tyre channel at one side to help with pushing bikes up. The viaduct is probably best viewed from afar as the ones along the bed of the bridge itself itself are not particularly interesting. From the sides there are open views to the north and south of the Erewash Valley isteslf.
On the western side of the valley there is a nice ramp for bikes to whiz safely down and after a short ride north along the Erewash canal it was not far to reach the boundary of Shipley Park once again. It had been a great day covering about 52kms of mostly level riding on a good traffic free route.
Next work day will be Monday 9 October, which will be led by David and Catherine.
