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SUNDAY, 13th. APRIL, 2008

COACH TRIP BUXTON

Looks like some tough walking this month for the ‘A’ and ‘B’ walkers! Having said that, the intrepid ‘C’s have an unusual 150m. climb!! The ‘A’ party starting from Chapel-en le- Frith, the ‘B’s from near Whaley and theca’s from Burbage, on the outskirts of Buxton, and all finishing in Buxton, where for the non alcoholics there is an abundance of free spring water.

A WALK STRENUOUS+ LINEAR 15.5 MILES

As I said for last year’s April Coach walk – pray for a good day, otherwise we are in trouble (again). As usual, I have been self-indulgent and this is a tough upland walk, involving most of the hazards mentioned at the leaders meeting;- several steep slippery ascents and descents; quite a few dodgy stiles; a lot of rough narrow paths; pest bogs; and stream crossings. In spite of all this it is a great walk with superb views of the Peak District. Oh, and, incidentally, the route climbs up from Chapel-en-le Frith to go along Combs Edge, then makes its way to Buxton via Burbage Edge (with just over 3, 000 feet of ascent - and slightly less descent). Leaders Martin and Yvonne

B WALK MODERATE LINEAR 11-12 MILES

We start out just south of Whaley Bridge on the B5470 and walk along the the Midshires Way to the very pretty village of Taxal. We then head slowly upwards to Taxal Moor Road and then up onto Taxal Edge. On a clear day there are wonderful views all round and on a beautifully constructed stone flag path, we head to the highest point of the walk at Shining Tor (height 559m). We then head down to Goyt Moss through a forest and then on to wild moor going through quite wild and desolate countryside. We pass a disused railway tunnel and quietly meander through golf course into the hustle and bustle of Buxton. Gaiters would be useful as it was muddy when we recced it. Leaders Alan and Lynn

C WALK EASY CIRCULAR 7 MILES We start our walk in Burbage on the Wye (Duke of York), and climb (150 metres) up Berry Clough, height and at this point, 480m, we can see the famous Cat and Fiddle Inn. Descending to the River Goyt, we continue to “old stone pack horse bridge”. The lovely Errwood Reservoir comes into view, and then after a steep but short climb we reach the disused track of the Cromford and High Peak railway. We descend down to Bishops Lane and then back to Buxton. Leaders Stuart and Paddy