Ironville to Stoneyford

I was away last week on holiday so missed last week and there was only 3 of us today, Rob was off to a reptile fair. Geoff wanted to go and walk part of the unused section of the Cromford Canal between Ironville and Stoneyford. We parked at Forge Row in Ironville and just followed the footpath. It started along a track then through some woods until the track ended up at a railway footbridge where Geoff used to cross years ago. We kept on the same side of the railway line and the track took us through some more woods and then into open fields with long flowing grass. The sun was up and it was quite warm with only the sound of birds, absolutely bliss. The footpath took us to Stoneyford a very small residential settlement with of about 6 houses. There used to be a pub there on Boat Lane but sadly now boarded up. While we were there a large tipper truck came down the lane and he just squeezed past the bridge, looks like he's done it a few times before. From there we started to head back along the side of where the Cromford canal used to be, its been filled in at this section. Part of this section was a bit muddy after all the rain this week. The track passed through the Erewash Meadows Nature reserve and very nice it is too. After a short while the canal position became quite obvious and then water filled. We had our breakfast next to the bridge where i took the Flying Scotsman picture a couple of weeks ago. After that it was short walk back to the car.

Grazing horses

This weeks route

This style that Geoff is climbing through has a telegraph pole as one post and a railway sleeper as the other post.

Geoff recons this used to be a wooden footbridge years ago

Tracking off through the jungle.

Ike

Numerous types of grasses 

Ike and Geoff

Looks like this gate has been repaired about 10 times

Lovely long flowing grasses

Boarded up pub on Boat Lane

A very tight fit

Nice garden at Stoneyford

Round up

Me 

Looks like Ike is holding his nose to jump in

Overgrown Cromford Canal

Mother and babies

Water in the Cromford Canal

The old Mechanics Institute in Ironille

These houses in Forge Row are made from composite material some of it vitrified clinker material.

 This was a lovely gentle walk mostly on level even ground and only 3 1/2 miles through varied scenery. Woods, fields and alongside a canal from the 1790's. Nice peaceful morning with some SUNSHINE almost forgot what it looks like.
See you next week.