There is a choice of two walks for the next ramble date. You don’t have to decide which one you want to go on until the time comes to start the walk.
A) The main walk titled Yoxhall is as follows. It is a shorter, pleasant and easy route, with plenty of time for conversation, tea, cakes, or beer and includes a visit to the National Memorial Arboretum (free entry).
Starting at the hamlet of Rangemore, a small diversion will be made to Byrkley Garden Centre for toilets and light refreshments.
Following that, it will be a steady pastoral walk down to Yoxall, taking in an automated cow wash, and hopefully, bluebells in Yoxall Park. The village of Yoxall has two pubs, the Golden Cup, and The Crown, available for a lunchtime break.
The self-caterers can make use of a pleasant church yard, weather permitting. Please leave no litter.
Following lunch, the coach should be available for a short ride to Alrewas for a walk-through sight-seeing tour.
This village has managed to retain much of its old world charm and is well worth a visit.
After dropping off, the coach will proceed to the National Memorial Arboretum The walk continues from Alrewas via the careful crossing of the busy A38 to the Arboretum for a look around and a cuppa and toilets Closing time is 5 p.m. Then it’s back to the coach to pick up Richard and the main group, and then home.
B) Longer 12 mile alternative walk.
Alternative Group Walk, 14th May 2023
The main group walk on 14th May will be from Rangemore to Yoxall, followed by an extended visit to the National Memorial Arboretum near Alrewas. Fred Marsh is leading this walk.
For anyone preferring a full day’s walk, I shall be leading an alternative, ‘informal’ ramble from Rangemore to Hilton. This will be approximately 12 miles long. If you would like to accompany me, there is no need to let me know in advance. It will be far less physically demanding than the Gritstone Trail, I promise!
We shall alight from the coach with the main group at Rangemore. We then proceed north to Hanbury, east to Tutbury and north east to Hilton near Derby, via Marston-on-Dove. Main stops are provisionally planned at the delightful villages of Hanbury and Tutbury, but may vary depending on group preferences. A brief stop will also be made at the memorial to the RAF Fauld explosion near Hanbury, one of the largest non-nuclear man-made explosions in history – and the largest ever on UK soil.
he walk will generally be gently rolling countryside. There are long views from the hills near Hanbury and Tutbury, across the River Dove towards the Peak District. The Cock Inn at Hanbury to be rebuilt after the Fauld explosion and displays information about the event. St Werburgh’s church was the original resting place of the Anglo-Saxon St Werburgh. Her body is now buried in Chester. The chancel has impressive Victorian murals. Tutbury is a fascinating place, with atmospheric buildings in the village centre. St Mary’s church has an intricately carved west face, including a unique alabaster carved archway. The ruins of a large hilltop castle overlook the River Dove from atop a large hill, surrounded by a huge Iron Age ditch.
There are only limited refreshment facilities en route, so please bring food and drink with you. There is a pub at the end of the walk, the Old Talbot, in the centre of Hilton. The coach will pick us up at an adjacent bus stop after collecting the main group from the Arboretum. The departure time is to be confirmed, but will probably be sometime between 5:30 and 6pm. It is then a relatively short drive up the A38 back home.
