Summer off road adventure

What a beautiful day for our July work day! After probably the best pre-ride coffee ever at David and Catherine's house (lovely date loaf and ginger biscuits) we set out from Warslow along quiet lanes to Longnor. From there we had a lovely down hill whiz to Crowdecote and the start of our off-road adventure. 

The track was a bit tricky at times, but in such glorious weather we were all happy to be in the big outside 

Doesn't that look fun? .... and not a single Sustrans route sign to replace in sight!

Eventually we reached Pilsbury castle and after surveying our kingdom from the top we had a bit of gate trouble before being able to move on

If you know the gated road from Pilsbury to Hartington then you'll know how lovely a route it is. It is also part of NCN 549 and so technically we were then on official business, and not just out on a work day "jolly"

We arrived a little early for lunch at the YHA but this gave us the chance to sit out and enjoy their lovely gardens in the warm summer sunshine. 

After a lovely lunch stop we carried on along NCN549 towards Berresford Dale and tested out the new gravel path into the Dale itself. A magnificent improvement but, with the contacts I thought we had with Peak Park, I would have hoped they would have contacted us about providing regular maintenance. Heavy rains have already started to create destructive channels into the surface. Such a pity, but I will contact them about doing some remedial work, even at this late stage. 

Thankfully we did manage to find some vegetation to cut back and some signs to replace during the afternoon, which gave complete justification for our pretence of this being a work day. 

Rather than follow NCN549 we took another cross-country lane which eventually took us up to Wetton and then down to Weags Bridge and the Manifold Trail. From down in the valley we had quite a steep climb back up to Warslow, with Maldwyn setting a quick pace for us all to follow; mostly envious by this time of his electrical assistance. 

Many thanks to David and Cathrine for organising the route and for providing such incredible hospitality at the start and end of our ride. Pity we couldn't all stay for an evening of croquet, but perhaps next time? Clare, Naomi, Maldwyn and Philip made up the rest of our group. Thanks to all for making it such an enjoyable and successful day out. 

Next work day scheduled for Monday 7 August when I will be trying to organise a route that takes in Bennerley Visaduct. (Please note: We will have to look to change our October work day from Mon 2 October to 9 October as David and Catherine are away, and they are organising it.