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                                WALKS  PROGRAMME  2011
                                                                            Next outing  ..
                                            
                      Eyam- 19th February 2012

A’ walk – 11 miles – Leader - Mildred Scott. Grade - moderate.
We begin in the village and head SE on a downward track leading to Stoney Middleton. From here we go due south into Coombes Dale to follow the track along the bottom of the valley. This section is often very wet ,especially after rain or snow. We walk as far as Black Harry Gate( not so scary as it sounds) before we climb out of the dale on to Longstone Edge where superb views await. We then descend once again into Great Longstone and then on to Little Longstone.We climb once again, this time on to Longstone Moor and walk northwards to Housley House and then on to Foolow and back to Eyam.
This is a superb walk taking in some wonderful scenery. Recommended.

‘B’ walk –8.5 miles. Leader -  Joyce Gubbins. Grade - moderate.
.We begin by walking through the village passing the plague cottages many of which now have plaques and information about the villagers who lived and died there during the summer of 1666.
A steady climb out of the village gives excellent views of the valley below and the village o Stoney Middleton ahead.In Riley Fields is an enclosed area with six gravestones and a tomb. These are the graves of the entire Hancock family who died of the plague between 3rd and 17th August 1666. 
On descending to Stoney Middleton we have time (services allowing) to view the Church of St Martin- Patron Saint of cripples. It is very unusual. There is only one other like it in England - in Teignmouth Devon.
After leaving Stone Middleton there follows a section of open country via Coombs dale (briefly) and by-passing Calver Peak. There are lovely views all round including calver Village and Curbar and Froggatt edges. Now a long section of downhill and level walking take us through Calver village and along the River Derwent, before briefly revisiting Stoney Middleton and returning to Eyam via the Boundary Stone.
This is a walk full of interest and lovely views (weather permitting) There are uphill sections but nothing too daunting as there is time to do them at a steady pace. A few sections are likely to be muddy following the recent snow.

‘C’ Walk – 5.75 miles.  Leader - Clive Hickman. Grade easy/moderate.

This is a lovely gently undulating walk from the car park, following tracks across fields and bridleways, via two villages, Foolow and Grindlow. We begin with tea or coffee  at the Stables cafe at Eyam Hall craft Centre before heading for Foolow through the backstreets of Eyam.
Our next destination is the village of Grindlow via a good track, but there are some stiles on this route!  We leave the village and head south, descending into 'Silly Dale' - your guess is as good as mine - but it may be due to the fact that it has no river running through it. The final stretch is along the Tideswell bridleway back into Eyam.
Splendid views throughout on this walk.

EYAM 
In August 1665 bubonic plague arrived in the village via a parcel of cloth from London containing infested fleas. As the plague took hold the population was gradually decimated and over a 14 month period it claimed the lives of over 250 villagers- a large percentage of the total village population.By November 1666 the plage had run its course and had claimed its last victim.
There are many reminders of this tragedy which still remain in the village to this day. Look out for them as you pass through the village.                                       
The local industries were lead-mining (the lead-miners were noted Non-Conformists and Wesley preached here), silk weaving and shoe-making. The discovery of the Hucklow Side Vein in 1777 led to a boom in lead mining in this area for the next hundred years and next to the village school is a mound which still houses the shaft of Glebe Mine, a lead mine which was later worked for fluorspar until 1965. At the West end of the village is Townhead factory, built as a silk mill, and there is a former shoe factory in the centre of the village. Eyam had one of the earliest public water supplies of anywhere in the area (1588) and parts of this system can still be seen around the village




                             Future  Walks                       

                    March 4th         ...  Clarborough/Hayton
                    March 18th       ...  Wintersett/Heronry
                    April 1st            ...  Winster
                    April 15th          ...  Farndale
 
 
 
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