A walk with "Trespassers Will" - with apologies to Piglet’s grandfather (A A Milne)

The events of Sunday, April 24, 1932 have long since entered the realms of rambling mythology.

Turned off by gamekeepers on Bleaklow a few weeks before and frustrated by the lack of progress made by the official ramblers’ federations towards the Right to Roam, members of the Lancashire branch of the British Workers’ Sport Federation decided they would make a public mass trespass on Kinder Scout. Further details can be found at Kinder Trespass

Our group wished to mark the 80^th anniversary of the mass trespass, and so we did our own mini-re-enactment. 

Stuart was leading us today and he took us from Rivelin Dams up Wyming Brook up to Stanedge Pole, via Redmires reservoirs and back via Moscar Cross.

For those not in the know, the Rivelin Dams were part of a series of reservoirs built to the west of the city by the Water Committee of Sheffield Corporation. The Lower Dam being completed in 1845 and the Upper one in 1848.

And so to Wyming Brook - described on one website as “A stunning woodland reserve home to an abundance of wildlife. A little bit of wilderness on the western edge of Sheffield, with easy strolls by the streams or higher, rockier routes with dramatic views of the Rivelin Reservoirs and the City beyond”

It was once set aside for the exclusive use of the nobility - but that was when it was part of the hunting and hawking grounds of Rivelin Chase.  

Wyming Brook is now part of the Eastern Moors Site of Special Scientific Interest. There is an abundance of wildlife at the reserve, including bizarrely named moths – the Dusky Slug, Common Lutestring and Northern Spinach. There are also many kinds of birds including crossbills and black and white dippers. In autumn, a feast of fungi is on display, with Jew’s Ear, Plums and Custard and Amethyst Deceiver, just a few of the species to be found. 

We then headed towards Redmires and Stuart and Eric negotiated the stepping stones before ascending ... 

... to Redmires Road, where we came across this curious stonework. This is the stone that was over the door of the 'Grouse and Trout' pub that used to stand on the site; it is the only surviving fragment of the pub. Both component elements are depicted in the stonework above an inscription which translates as 'I Serve Dinner'. The pub was a popular watering hole for Irish navvies working on the construction of the Redmires reservoirs but was closed after being purchased by the Water Authority in 1934. It was demolished in 1957.

The Redmires Reservoirs are a group of three reservoirs. They are fed from the Hallam Moors by various small streams including Fairthorn Clough. The three reservoirs are named Upper, Middle and Lower and date from the mid-19th century. They were built to provide clean drinking water via a Water Course down to Barker's Pool 5½ miles away following the devastating Sheffield cholera epidemic of 1832.

Stanedge Pole - a famous landmark on Hallam Moors close to Stanage Edge. It marks the border between Derbyshire and South Yorkshire and can be seen for several miles around. The pole is a way marker on a medieval packhorse road known as the Long Causey or Long Causeway which runs west from Sheffield. It was also used for centuries as a boundary marker between the parishes of Sheffield, Hathersage and Ecclesfield. Although it is widely believed that the Long Causeway follows the line of a Roman road that ran from Templeborough Roman fort to the fort at Navio (Brough-on-Noe), archaeologists have cast doubt on this.

The group were surprised to learn that, although it does not have a Flush Bracket number, Stanedge Pole is classed as a Trigpoint on Trigpointing UK website. It is ranked joint 4729^th in the triggy charts along with 29 other trigpoints.

Then onto Stanage Edge itself, where we had another "mass gathering"

Some splendid views over Hope Valley before reaching High Neb and its trigpoint

The guys readily recognised this as a trigpoint ... 

... especially as it had a Flush Bracket. This trigpoint is ranked joint 1387th in the triggy charts with 23 others.

As we progressed along the Edge we came across a number of these early 20th-century drinking basins ... 

... they were designed to collect pure rainwater for grouse to drink.

They were carved all over nearby Hallam Moors from 1907 onwards at the request of the owner, William Wilson. There are 108 in total, and the first ones carved are near Stanedge Pole.

View over Ladybower ...

... before descending to the A57 near Moscar

Moscar Cross, a mediaeval cross, is also known as "Humblestone Cross".  The present Moscar Cross is a guide post, showing the direction of Sheffield (note mis-spelling “Sheffeild”) ... 

... Hathersage ...

... and Bradfield

Over lunch we had a debate about whether those of us who use the team’s rectangular green mats, sat on them “portrait” or “landscape”. 

It seemed that I was in a minority of one who preferred the portrait mode. There was much discussion on the merits (or otherwise) of each position – the things that grown men discuss will never cease to amaze and entertain ...

... but Steve was agnostic on the issue

We strode it out as we descended back towards home ...

... but we had to slow down as we re-entered Wyming Brook

A great walk, and a great pint of Farmer's Blonde later at The Ladybower Inn.

Up, up and away - Tansley, Riber and beyond

Today James led us on a circuit around Tansley, taking in Riber Castle, High Tor, Matlock Bath, Matlock and finally the splendid Arkwright Society's Lumsdale Project.

For those who don't know anything about Tansley - which included me before today - it is 1.5 miles east of Matlock. It is recorded in the Doomsday Book of 1086 as Tanslege. Tan means a branch of a valley. Lega/leah means a wood/glade. So Tansley is the wooded glade in the branch of a valley

We climbed out of Tansley to Riber Castle ...

... a well known local landmark some 600 feet above the River Derwent. It's a 'pseudo castle', complete with four turreted corner towers and entrance block. It was built in 1863 as a private residence by the local textile entrepreneur, John Smedley (who also built Smedley's Hydro).

In 1892, the castle was bought for use as a school.  During the Second World War, Riber became a food store and it then passed into the hands of Matlock Urban District Council.  Over the years, the building deteriorated, but in 1963, the Hallam family established the Riber Wildlife Park there, which closed in 2000.

From here we had a splendid view of Matlock Town's pitch - they were to play FC United of Manchester in an Evostik Premier Division game later in the day. Little did we know that Matlock would win 2-1 in front of one of their largest crowds of the season - 1,319.

We then descended for a while before climbing High Tor. This is a lofty limestone crag which towers over Matlock Bath. It is reputed to be the last place in England where eagles nested. In 1879 the Matlock and High Tor Recreation Company leased the grounds from the Arkwright family and reopened the grounds in 1880 complete with new entrance from Matlock Bath and a refreshment building on the summit.

Although the grounds were bought by Matlock Urban District Council in 1924, the Matlock and High Tor Recreation Company stewardship of the High Tor Grounds continued until 1975 when the District Council took over the management and maintenance.

The view from the summit area of the tor is very impressive, all the more so because the cliff edge is totally unfenced and even those with a head for heights are likely to find the drop unnerving. There is an excellent view of Matlock Bath and the Heights of Abraham on the opposite hill.

For those with strong nerves - and we did have two such people with us today - a narrow walkway called 'Giddy Ledge' winds around a section of the cliff and even though this is not the highest buttress of the tor, the situation is impressive.

Since first opening its gates to visitors in 1780 the Heights of Abraham has remained one of the Peak District's most popular destinations. Originally the Heights of Abraham was reached on foot and required visitors to scale the steep slopes of Masson Hill. Since 1984 a visit begins with a journey on Britain"s first alpine style cable car system. Rising from the valley floor, the observation cars transport you in comfort and safety and allow stunning views of the Derwent Valley and surrounding Peak District. 

We then walked down, past these bones, to Matlock Bath

The Peak District Mining Museum is situated in The Pavilion at the centre of Matlock Bath. This former dance floor has been completely renovated and converted to provide a setting for the relics of the Peak District's oldest industry.

We then headed back up the hill to Matlock

In Matlock we came across this (now) rare VR Post Box. It is at the former post office on the corner of Matlock Green and Lime Tree Road. 

On our way back to Tansley we took a short detour to visit this gem of place.

The Lumsdale Valley is a small wooded gorge of outstanding natural beauty tucked away high above Matlock.  Lumsdale is one of the best examples of a water-powered industrial archaeological site in Great Britain.

In the part of the valley owned by the Arkwright Society at least seven mills remain, including a bleach works, all of which were powered by water from the Bentley Brook. By the 1600s there was at least one mill in operation, yet it was not until the late 18th century that the demand for water power reached its height.

The mills were put to various uses including cotton spinning, bleaching, and grinding corn, bone and minerals for paint manufacture. Cottages, situated near one of the Valley’s ponds, were created from a single building which once housed two lead cupolas with a counting house and smithy on the other side of the track. Industrial use of the site continued until the 1930s.

In 1939 it was purchased by Marjorie Mills whose passion for Lumsdale ensured its survival. Despite many offers for the building stone she refused to permit demolition of the mill structures, preferring to keep them as they were, surrounded by trees and undergrowth, offering a home to a wide variety of wildlife.

However, by 1976 she had recognised that she could not protect and manage her property single-handed. The buildings near the road were in danger of falling onto the highway; the dams which once retained the mill ponds had either to be pulled down or repaired; and these issues now had to be considered against a background of an increasing awareness of the archaeological significance of Lumsdale’s derelict mills and water courses.

Accordingly, the Arkwright Society was offered the lease of much of Marjorie Mills' Lumsdale estate on a peppercorn basis, provided it was prepared to undertake the preservation of the valley and on the understanding that it would inherit the area leased.

We all agreed that it was well worth a visit

Euro Hockey League - Easter 2012

Rotterdam Hockey Club hosted the top 16 European teams in the knock out stages of the Euro Hockey League. England were represented by Beeston, East Grinstead, and Reading.

Beeston were on first thing on Good Friday morning against Club de Campo from Madrid.

Beeston came back from being a goal down to win 2-1 and earn their place in the quarter finals on Sunday

Uhlenhorster HC Hamburg (playing in light blue shirts) beat RC Club de Polo from Barcelona 3-0 and would now play Beeston in the quarter finals

Dutch champions, Amsterdam H & BC - captained by penalty corner legend Taeke Taekama - beat Dinamo Kazan from Russia 6-0

Taeke Taekama, in action against Dinamo Kazan - but he didn't score from this one!

On Friday afternoon, HC Bloemendaal and their vociferous supporters were in town

Captained by the legendary Teun De Nooijer, Bloemendaal overcame Spanish champions Atletic Terrassa but the Spaniards gave the Dutch team a scare. 

Bloemendaal led 4-1 in the fourth quarter ...

... but two goals by Terrassa made for an exciting final few minutes as Bloemendaal clung on for a 4-3 win.

On Saturday, English champions, East Grinstead were first on and were too strong for French team CA Montrouge and won convincingly, 8-0. Ashley Jackson and Mark Gleghorne each scored hattricks.

In the noon game Belgian champions, KHC Dragons, took on and beat Russian runners up Dinamo Elektrostal 2-0. 

Host team, HC Rotterdam were next up against the German runners up, Ulhenhorst Mulheim. Rotterdam raced into a 3-0 lead and then extended it to 4 at the beginning of the second half. However, Mulheim steadily clawed their way back into the game with three goals. They then scored the equaliser three minutes from time. 

Extra time produced no further score and so we went to a penalty shoot out – in this competition, the attacker starts on the 23m line and has 8 seconds to score a goal.

The game was still tied after the first set of 5.

Rotterdam eventually won 8-7 in the sudden death shoot out. Rotterdam would then play East Grinstead in the quarter finals. 

In the last game of the day Reading beat Club an der Alster from Germany 3-1 and earned themselves a quarter final place against KHC Dragons

Reading's Richard Mantell seemed pleased with the win

And so to the Quarter Finals which were played on Easter Sunday and Easter Monday

UHC Hamburg thoroughly outclassed Beeston in the first quarter final match to be played on Easter Sunday. 

They ran out comfortable 7-1 winners and fully deserved their place in the semi-finals at the end of May.

The prime time TV slot featured Amsterdam and Bloemendaal. 

These two teams clearly knew each other well and it was played tactically like a game of chess ...

... with the emphasis on defence. 

Amsterdam opened the scoring through penalty corner ace, Taeke Taekama. They extended their lead before half time.
 

Bloemendaal pulled one back through a very neat penalty corner routine. 

However, Amsterdam quickly restored their two goal advantage. Bloemendaal scored their second from another penalty corner in the final minute ...

... but it was not enough and Amsterdam went through to the semi finals.

On a very wet Easter Monday - so wet that I left my camera at our campsite - KHC Dragons played Reading. These two teams met at this stage in last year’s competition in a game that went to extra time – with Reading eventually winning the penalty shoot out. However, this year the Dragons got their revenge and ran out 3-1 winners but they needed extra time to earn their semi final place against UHC Hamburg. Dragons opened the scoring in the first half but Andy Watts equalised late in the second half to send the game into extra time when the Belgians scored twice.

East Grinstead against hosts HC Rotterdam was the prime time TV slot game and was perhaps the most entertaining game we had seen all weekend.  Rotterdam’s captain, Jeroen Hertzberger, opened the scoring and then he doubled the lead with another fine strike before half time – he now tops the all-time EHL scorers list with a grand total of 26 goals.  Mark Gleghorne pulled one back for East Grinstead from a penalty corner but Rotterdam extinguished any hopes of a comeback with their third goal in the dying minutes.  Rotterdam now face Amsterdam in the semi finals at the end of May.

Video highlights of all matches can be found on the EHL TV website