Newdigate To Hassock Lane - Part 02
w/e 05 February 2017
All of this week's pictures were
taken with a Kodak DX6490
For this second half of the walk from West Hallam
to Shipley, we pick up the route again shortly after Woodside
Farm and pass the buildings marked on maps as Lodge Farm.
The lane joins the Nutbrook Trail at the building seen in the
distant left which is the Nutbrook Coffee Shop. This is open
four days each week, Friday to Monday, during the summer but
is currently open only at weekends. When we have visited previously we had a choice of warming
tea, coffee or chocolate but as our walk was on a Tuesday our
only choice was whether to go left or right.
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We opted to go left and still within the bounds of the Derbyshire
Wildlife Trust's Nature Reserve followed the Nutbrook Trail northwards
towards Shipley Hill.
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We soon reached another junction in the paths and were greeted
by a couple of horse riders and their dogs. To the right at the
junction is the way to the car park at the former American Adventure
Theme Park but we turned left leaving the area of the Trust's
jurisdiction and stayed on the Nutbrook Trail.
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Immediately after turning the Trail crosses an overflow channel
from Shipley Lake where, with the mist descending again, was
this atmospheric view of the overflow pond.
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Peering through the mesh fence that surrounds the former Theme
Park site across the expanse of Shipley Lake the area looks rather
desolate. Although there are plans to redevelop the area, at
the moment it has been left alone to nature and the wildlife.
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The Trail now begins to rise up Shipley Hill and another path
to the left climbs to the top of the hill and the Shipley Hall
site but our route was straight ahead along the Trail. Some dead
leaves that had not fallen added an unexpected touch of colour.
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I said this was an undulating walk and after rising part way
up Shipley Hill the Nutbrook Trail now drops again to where we
mat a lady with five dogs.
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There were two Labradors, a cross breed and two Sussex spaniels
a rare breed which until a concerted effort by breeders was close
to extinction just a few years ago. Apparently the breed was
(is) rarer the the giant panda. After stopping to make a fuss
of all the dogs we walked on past one of three sculptures along
the Trail to join Dog Kennel Lane which is the next part of the
Nutbrook Trail. A fingerpost points back up Dog Kennel Lane to
the Hall site but we went the opposite way. Notice the robin
on the fence.
We expected the robin to fly away as we approached but instead
it flew to the top of the post and waited whilst I took its photo.
It even turned and posed as if to say "This is my best side."
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At the crossing of another water course, it's now a steady climb
to the end of the walk. The dog kennels belonging to the Miller
Mundy family, former owners of the Hall, after which Dog Kennel
Lane is named stood to the right near here.
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Where Dog Kennel Lane meets a built up area of houses, cottages,
Parish Rooms and a school among other buildings, the Nutbrook
Trail turns to the left to continue through Shipley Country Park
to Heanor. We however continued through the built up area contrarily
named The Field - you know Derbyshire folk like to be different
- to Hassock Lane North and a bus back home.
Back to Part 01
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