Cromwell Valley
This route is only a stones throw from from the club HQ. Once we were all collected at the pickup point we were soon arriving at the start. A late start as the clock changed last night so everyone is a little disoriented!
Parking outside the church was easy and we headed to Barlow Fishing ponds down Furnace Lane leading to Smeltinghouse Lane.
A lovely single track road. Once at the fishing ponds we followed the footpath that ran adjacent to the site.
A lovely single track road. Once at the fishing ponds we followed the footpath that ran adjacent to the site. There was a warning with this route of a high number of stiles, some 28 in fact. This could prove interesting!
The path left the fishing ponds behind and wended its way the the Cromwell valley to the clanking of , well not quite sure what it was but a persistent metallic clanking. 
The directs then said to pass through a gate by the side of a bridleway and keeping the bridleway to the left follow the field wall until your path is blocked by a wall with a style with it. This was a little disconcerting as there was no obvious path as it had been obliterated by off-road vehicles and with everyone else using the bridleway we were thing the path had been diverted.
The directs then said to pass through a gate by the side of a bridleway and keeping the bridleway to the left follow the field wall until your path is blocked by a wall with a style with it. This was a little disconcerting as there was no obvious path as it had been obliterated by off-road vehicles and with everyone else using the bridleway we were thing the path had been diverted. After a long time said wall came with the inserted stile, which we crossed with glee only to find the path on the other side had been ploughed and seeded with no obvious reinstatement. But about 20 -30 metres up the field on to the bridleway. Thankfully the map did confirm our route was legitimate and also joined up with the bridleway further up. Next time well just use the bridleway.
We followed the bridleway and came upron Brindwoodgate again the route was less than accurate but with perseverance a the map we negotiated the little difficulty to bring us to Cartledge Hall. Form here our goal was Unthank but between us was 16 stiles of various types and 2 footbridges. However this did not in the slightest detract from the beautiful countryside through which we were travelling. Gentle rolling hillsides and the start of the autumnal colour change.
Unthank to our right followed our road and entered the woods. Is wood was full of the autumnal colours and we found a fallen tree to act as a seat whilst we par-took of some sustenance.
The colours were spectacular. Once lunch was finished the route through the woods was taken up. After a trot across some boggy ground we came to the stream running through the woods once crossed it was an energetic but short ascent to exit the wood and yet more stiles!
The colours were spectacular. Once lunch was finished the route through the woods was taken up. After a trot across some boggy ground we came to the stream running through the woods once crossed it was an energetic but short ascent to exit the wood and yet more stiles!But from here it was but a short stroll to Moorhall. The walks was easy and in known time we were coming to Barlow Grange.
From here to the main road heading in the direction of Cutthorpe and chesterfield we came to the bridleway to Oxton Rakes. All is well until we try to follow the route out of Oxton Rakes.
From here to the main road heading in the direction of Cutthorpe and chesterfield we came to the bridleway to Oxton Rakes. All is well until we try to follow the route out of Oxton Rakes.It took three attempts to find the way ( as it turned out the second attempt was correct but the farmers had slightly redirected the route so it did not match the map. Hey but we got there on the end and we all know routes we take do change over time!
Back on the route and more stiles we soon found the hidden stile near Newgate Farm. 
We were on the last leg back to Barlow Church but first we had to see it nestled in the the valley and the as we came closer all the paths lead in every direction but to the church. Don't you just love it when the fields have been ploughed and the farmers 'forgotten' to reinstate the path!
We were on the last leg back to Barlow Church but first we had to see it nestled in the the valley and the as we came closer all the paths lead in every direction but to the church. Don't you just love it when the fields have been ploughed and the farmers 'forgotten' to reinstate the path! We altered our route just slightly to bring us back to our start. Guess what although we had some navigational nightmares this could become a club standard and next time without navigational hiccups.
Hope to see you soon on this little gem.
