NCN 68 Ashbourne to Etwall – workday & ride

On Tuesday 30th June starting at 10 am, the three Ashbourne rangers will be sorting out some specific signage problems where the route goes off-road at Highfield Road; post code: DE6 1DX and Grid Ref: SK176458 At 11 am or when the above work is completed, (whichever is the sooner), we will follow the 68 south towards its junction with NCN 54 near Etwall. As we ride we will be checking signs along the way, especially to make sure they are not obscured by vegetation. Please comment below this post if you are likely to join either the initial work or the subsequent ride (or want more information).

NCN 68 at Longford

There no longer is a diversion from the signed route at Longford.
Sepycoe Lane is now fully open & complete with a new stretch of tarmac over the re-built culvert.
As you pass that way take a moment to look at the new building there – it is Sir Robert Coke’s Almshouses. Originally built in 1688 elsewhere and which fell into ruins; now replaced by a modern version which is the only social housing available within the village.

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Have you seen these skulls on the route of NCN 68?

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NCN 68 post repair

Some of the wooden posts installed by DCC 15 years ago for the opening of the Pennine Cycleway are beginning to rot.
The worst one was so bad it totally dintegrated:

Unfortunately although this was reported to DCC almost a year ago, it hasn't been replaced.
So when another was seen starting to go, it seemed best to make some kind of repair ourselves.

It seems that the route sign metal plate traps enough water behind it to allow dry rot to develop & spread.
Luckily in this case there still was enough sound wood left to fix a piece of board over the hole.

The metal plate was then re-fitted.

This is bound to be a temporary repair; there still is dry rot fungus behind the board; also the board was just ordinary thick ply and not guaranteed to be weatherproof. So how long this will last is uncertain; but at least there is a sign there at this important turning point in the route.

Ride leader training

Last Friday (17 April), Ian Keetley gave some of our group some ride leader training on the High Peak Trail. Paul Taylor, David Gray, Robin and Maldwyn took part in the training, which was held at the Derbyshire Eco-Center near Wirksworth, a great venue right next door to the Trail. The Center provided very good food for lunch and other refreshments. Ian gave the group excellent advice on leading rides and our intrepid four will now be qualified to lead official Sustrans rides in the Peak, hopefully starting soon. Thank you, Ian! (Sorry, I forgot to take any pictures!)  

Our celebration of the National Cycle Network

The National Cycle Network is 20 years old this year! On the Longest Day (21 June) 2000, as a new ranger, I had the pleasure of leading a group from Derby to Lichfield on the new Route 54. This was just one part of a celebration of the opening of the first 5000 miles of the Network, and similar rides were taking place all the country. How it has grown in 15 years! Now there are nearly three times that distance, and one-half of the UK's population lives within one mile of the Network. Yesterday, we played our part in celebrating this 20th anniversary of the National Cycle Network by riding 22 miles over four different routes: 68, 548, 54 and 547. Starting at Tissington car park, we rode up the Tissington Trail to Biggin 'crossroads', took Route 548 to where it joins the High Peak Trail (NCR54) at Minninglow, continued on the HPT to Hopton Bottom, and then Route 547 to Carsington, where we had refreshments; a mixture of trail, road and bridleway. I left at that point, but the rest of the group continued back to Tissington. The weather stayed fine, we had some stunning views, saw a bit of snow from a few days ago, found time to do a small amount of signing and were in great company! We also welcomed established ranger, Robin, as a new member of the group. Thanks to everyone for coming along and to Jim for suggesting this interesting and varied route. I'm anticipating more rides this year to celebrate the NCN's 20 years! Pic shows (from L2R) Jim, Catherine, David, Robin and Paul W behind the granite Kugel Stone at Carsington Water visitors' center.     

NCN 68 Closures

The normal route of the 68 between Ashbourne and Derby is closed in two places:
 1. At Longford – Sepycoe Lane is closed to all traffic; the Derbyshire County Council website states this closure can be until 7th May. Northbound instead of turning left into the Lane continue on through the village on Main Street (past the school) then turn left onto Long Lane to re-join the usual route after 0.25 miles. Southbound do not turn right where the Sustrans sign indicates but continue along Long Lane for another 0.25 miles then turn right onto Main Street, continue on through the village to re-join the usual route where Sepycoe Lane comes in from the right.
 2. A long length of the Mickleover Greenway approaching Derby after the NCN 54 has joined near Etwall. This is from Heage Lane bridge all the way to Mickleover station. Work has been delayed; dates are now expected to be Monday 20th April to Friday 15th May. Derby City Council have promised to sign a diversion. This will be on-road via Heage Lane, Radbourne Lane and Station Road and will add 1 mile to the route.