Via Gellia – Cromford area Ramble

The Sutton-in-Ashfield Rambling Club continue their winter programme with a 12 mile, near circular walk, criss-crossing the Via Gellia in the south of the White Peak area. The Via Gellia is a steep sided wooded dry valley/road probably named after Philip Eyre Gell who was responsible for constructing the road around 1790. The walk starts in Cromford from a bus stop on the B5036 and heads up past Scarthins Bookshop alongside an attractive little pond .It then passes through an old quarry and across field paths to Bonsall village.and cuts across to Bonsall Dale. We then move north following a network of paths to Winster village for lunch. Winster is a quiet little village which used to be a centre of the lead mining industry. There will be refreshments available here. In the afternoon we turn south and cross the A5012 at Grangemill and follow pleasant paths down to Griffe Grange and then eastwards through Hopton quarries The final section takes us through Middleton by Wirksworth and then north along a quiet lane back to the A5012 (Via Gellia) to board the coach adjacent to the Via Gellia Mills at 5.30pm

We are always pleased to welcome new members to the club offering a day of healthy exercise, attractive scenery and friendly company. The Skills coach sets off from the “Staff Of Life” pub in Sutton-in-Ashfield at 9.15am and the Bancroft Lane end of Stockwell Gate (near the Mansfield Asda supermarket) at 9.30am There are other pick-up points between these locations The coach fare is £12, accompanied juniors free. For further information please ring John on 07749164455 or Helen on 07592886381