We are the Chase & District Ramblers. We open the way for everyone in our local community to enjoy the pleasures of walking.
Barry C
Hello Everyone
A relatively shorter than normal walk for you this Sunday starting from Bloor Pastures car park set high above nearby Ilam and Dovedale. From here we'll make our way over to Thorpe, then on to Ilam Park before returning uphill to our start point. A warm day is forecast hence the reduced mileage but nevertheless please come prepared. We have a couple of prolonged but steady climbs but nothing steep i.e, to Thorpe and finally up through the pastures to the car park at the end of the walk. Approximately a dozen stiles.
As always, feel free to join us but please let us know a day or two beforehand if this will be your first time out with ourselves. Thank you.
Registration: 09.30. Walk start: 09.45. Walk leader: Barry C (07811 141484).
⚠️No facilities at the start but toilets are available upstairs in Ashbourne Leisure Centre (DE6 1DR, ///ombudsman.talkers.layers) via a half mile detour on the drive up. Allow an extra ten minutes for this. Otherwise loo's will be available on the walk, but not until after lunch.
☕🍺Post walk refreshments venue to be decided on the day.
See you there on Sunday morning folks!
Directions primarily for our own members or anyone arriving from the south via the A515. What3words if you're using satnav as the postcode is not accurate. Also note the the roadworks in Ashbourne town centre are still current so avoid if possible.
The start is located some six miles northwest of Ashbourne via the A52 Leek Road which is the most straightforward way unless you're familiar with the lanes route from Mayfield via Okeover Park.
From your home location pick up the A515 all the way to Ashbourne where turn left at the first island* then left again 500 yards later onto the A52, direction Leek. Follow the course of the road for 4 miles via Mayfield and Swinscoe to the first crossroads where turn acute right signed for Ilam.
Proceed for a further 1.5 miles to Blore Crossroads and turn left for Ilam taking care to clear the large stone gatepost as you round the corner. Now continue for 350 yards where the car park is situated on your right hand side slightly below road level. Please note there are a series of similar parking areas linked together here but the walk will start from this first one. Photos above.
* For the loo's at Ashbourne Leisure Centre carry straight on at the first island, over the next one 200 yards later, then turn left into the car park a further 500 yards away. When done retrace back to the second island and turn right for Leek and the A52 as above.
Anglesey Street rail station car park, adjacent to Hednesford Ex-servicemen's Club midway down the street, not the Poundstrecher car park nearer to the town centre. ⚠️Height restriction. Meet here before 08.15 for a prompt departure at that time
Blore Pastures car park situated on the lane from Blore Crossroads to Ilam. Park in the first car park you come to on the right approximately 350 yards north of Blore Crossroads.
