Multi-user path from Matlock to Rowsley

Happy New Year everybody!
I posted my previous update on the White Peak Loop last October, at which point the stretch from Churchtown, Darley Dale to the car park at Peak Rail's Rowsley South station (Phase 3 of the total MUP from Matlock to Rowsley) was being laid down. Soon after this, the Toptrek surface was completed and the path was ready to be used. I am pleased to report that this is now in constant use by walkers and cyclists, and although only 900 m long, I often use it as part of my route from home to the Monsal Trail. It really is very good. I rode it in the snow yesterday afternoon and the cold weather did not seem to have deterred anyone: it was as busy as I've ever seen it. Since the beginning of the new year, work has continued on this phase, along the A6 side of the car park, protected by a line of trees. I'm going to be away for the next few weeks and I'm looking forward, on my return, to seeing the progress which has been made; at the moment, my frequent visits to the site remind me of watching the proverbial paint dry, but that's probably my fault for going there so often! The guys working on the site there have told me that other gangs will be arriving "soon" to start the building of the other phases, all of which have been approved now by the DCC planning committee. Just to remind you, Phase 1 is Matlock to Old Road, Darley Dale; Phase 2, Old Rd to Churchtown; Phase 4, Harrisons Way to the A6 at Rowsley. More can be found on this on DCC's "Pedal Peak Phase II" website (click for details). Below are pictures which were taken between last December and this month.

Last workday of 2015

Catherine and David, Paul Taylor and I met on the morning of New Year's Eve at the Hulme End car park. The weather was perfect for the time of year: sunny and dry, and relatively mild. We rode Route 549 to Beresford Dale, crossing the Dove at Frank-i'th-Rocks Bridge and climbing (including some walking) up the Derbyshire side of the valley, eventually arriving at Hartington Youth Hostel, where we turned and descended into the village. The Peak District countryside was stunning in the bright sunlight and we were reminded what a privilege it is to live in (or near) such beautiful surroundings. From Hartington, we travelled over the gated road to Pilsbury and up the steep hill climbing away from the Dove, ending our Route 549 journey at the crossroads below Pilsbury Lodge. Over this whole 13 km stretch of NCN we found plenty of signing to do and needed to stop frequently. From the crossroads we turned into the wind, which was much fresher than I had noticed all the time it was on our backs, and returned by direct roads to Hartington. There we had a well-deserved pint at the Devonshire Arms, before continuing on to Hulme End and departing on our separate ways. Pictures were taken at the ford in Beresford Dale, just a few metres away from the cycle route.

Next workday: Thursday 28 January.  

Next workday/social ride

The last workday of the year will be, as determined by our new schedule, Thursday 31 December 2015. Meet at Hulme End car park at the usual time of 10:00. The plan will be to ride Route 549 to where it joins the High Peak Trail (NCR68) at Sparklow. We can check the signage as we go. A little further north is the Royal Oak pub, which offers some very good local ales. After drinking the old year out (!), we will continue on the HPT to Parsley Hay, where we will finish (I'll carry on, on the HPT towards home). 
Weather is predicted to be sunny with a temperature of 7 C and a moderate wind from the SW. Pretty good for the time of year! See you all there! 

A merry Christmas to all our members and all our readers!

As we come once again to the end of another year of rangering for Sustrans, I would like to thank you all for the hard work you have put in. As in previous years, most of our efforts this year have been expended in signing our trails, something about which we need to be always vigilant in order to provide clear directions to the public, as well as being a constant reminder that these routes form part of a much bigger network. It is expected that new stretches of multi-user path, at Staker Hill near Buxton and between Matlock and Rowsley will be added to the network in the near future and that these too will require our attention. 2015 has seen the organizing of a programme of led rides for the public which we hope will come to fruition in the new year; a number of our members have been trained as ride leaders by Sustrans. We have welcomed this year a new Volunteer Project Officer, Dan Robertson, with whom we have met a number of times. Dan is very energetic and pro-active, and we all look forward to working with him in 2016. I hope you all have a well deserved break from rangering this Xmas holiday, and I look forward to seeing you all at the next 'workday' on Thursday 31 December, which - weather allowing - will probably consist of a ride and a visit to a pub. (BTW, I'm always looking for a snowy cycling picture when it comes to Xmas! This one was taken in the Grin Low car park early in 2013, under the auspices of the Erewash Valley Sustrans Rangers and before I officially took over this group from Jeremy. But I'm running out of such pictures - maybe it will snow a week next Thursday!) 

Workday on the Tissington Trail

Robin and I checked the signage, and renewed where necessary, on the Tissington Trail yesterday. Making our way from Ashbourne to Parsley Hay, we found no other problems on the trail. This was our first workday on the new schedule of last Thursday in the month. At the same time, David and Catherine did their Level 2 Ride Leader training in Nottingham. We now have seven accredited ride leaders for public rides. The next workday will be Thursday 31 December, New Year's Eve. I think maybe a pub is called for...

Sustrans takes a prize in the European Greenways Awards 2015

The European Greenways Awards were announced last month, and Sustrans has taken second prize in the Exemplary Initiatives category for its Greener Greenways project. Click here for a link to an article on the Sustrans website, and here for the European Greenways Association website. The prizes are awarded every two years. This year's ceremony was held in Namur, Belgium. 

Amusing video from 1951

Click here to see "Pram Car" on Pathe News. I wonder what the cost of this was back then (in relative terms). Maybe that's the reason it never caught on!