Leading a group of 7 people this day, the route was: Haywood Car Park-Froggatt Edge-Durbar Edge-Baslow Edge-Baslow-Bubnell via the hilltop path-Townsend Wood-riverside footpath-Calver-riverside footpath via The Goit to Froggatt Bridge-Spooner Lane-riverside footpath to Upper Padley-Grindleford Train Station-Oak's Wood-Tumbling Hill-Haywood Car Park. This has always been a favourite of mine, particularly the walk along the edges. It seemed to me to have a certain smell about it, hard to explain, but it seemed different to me from the rest of the White Peak. It was a confident stride along the well-used footpaths along the ridges, then across the river at Baslow and up the hill through grassy fields. We followed a wall, enjoying views down the valley from here as we descended through the fields to Townsend Wood. The riverside footpath was always very sludgy but enjoyable to see the trees and birds here. Spooner Lane was an easy stroll and I always liked the houses at the start of this lane. An easy walk across the fields led to Grindleford Train Station and the cafe which was always packed and did very nice bacon sandwiches! Then it was a pull up through the trees back to the car park. This is a good walk for wildlife, particularly on the valley bottom beside the river in the trees.
