July’s Longer Walk

Ken Brockway, PNFS Member and Walk Leader

This article is from Signpost 57, Summer 2018

July’s longer walk (25th July) will start from Ilkeston, a station that closed many years ago but re-opened in April 2017.

Leaving Manchester Piccadilly at 09:43 via Sheffield, we can set off when the train arrives at 11:44. Bargain tickets should be available for Greater Manchester, while Derbyshire has its Senior Wayfarer at £6.30 (buy one by post). This ticket can be used from New Mills Central via Sheffield to Ilkeston and covers all day travel on trains (after 9am) and buses.

Our walk of 10 miles across relatively flat terrain starts in the countryside setting for the works by D.H. Lawrence. We follow the level towpath of two canals before heading for the pretty village of Stanton-by-Dale. Next comes Dale Abbey (see photo); as the name suggests, this offers the remains of a 12th century abbey. The walk ends beside the Grade I Listed post mill at Cat and Fiddle. From here we flag down one of the frequent buses back into Ilkeston where a Wetherspoon’s can offer food and drink before the journey home.

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