FOOTBALLS PART IN SUNRISE EXPEDITION

SUNRISE, CHAPEL RUINS AND THE PART OF FOOTBALL

ON THE COUNTRY LANES ROUND BASE

25 NOVEMBER 2021 --- VERY EARLY

SUNRISE FROM ALTON ON A COLD CRISP CLEAR MORNING

When the alarm clock went off at 5.20am on a cold Thursday morning just over a week ago it felt very much like one of my football expeditions into Wales, except for the day, although on this occasion there was every thought in turning back over and pulling the blankets up for another hour in bed.  Truth be told I was excitedly awake before the clock went off with the prospect of seeing the sunrise from a high viewing point with the horizon visible around seven to eight miles away on this crisp and clear morning.

LIGHTING UP TIME BUT NO SUN YET

About an hour after rising the outdoors were ventured into and as only the glimmering streetlights lit the footpath passing the Tap which was quiet of traffic save for the bread delivery van and the rattling crates of a milk wagon.  The sunrise would be with us just after quarter to eight but general advise was to turn up thirty minutes before so with good speed we soon departed the last street illumination as we departed Holmgate towards Hollins Green and then Deerleap.  Now though the moon was offering a real good walk as suburbia was left behind to the country lanes of North East Derbyshire, although there was still a slight shock as a fellow walker approached in the subdued light.  The climb would now start and Stoney Lane was a nice test this early as we approached the roads to the east of Ashover Rock a famous piece of granite perched on a ridge that offers commanding views to the east which include Clay Cross, Alfreton and beyond.  To the west the Ashover, Ashover Hay and the valley that the snuggle into, talking of which where is that duvet it was now feeling very chilly as I stood around waiting for the arrival of the sun.

SUNRISE FROM BROWNHILLS LANE ALTON

Strangely enough the sky was showing some encouraging signs of light from just before 7am and this rather disarmed me to walk faster thinking I may miss the planned event.  After looking for the best position for a little while the option of a small incline on Brownhills Lane that runs down to the hamlet of Alton was selected, this was particularly important as the sun was giving the signal that it would be rising more south easterly than just easterly.

I had seen sunrises over houses and in towns but never from a vantage point with a clear view towards a distant horizon and soon pictures were taken before, during and after the hands were now vouching for how cold it was.

But come the time wow, wow, wow, was it worth it the experience of the sun first just showing a brief glimpse to its full development as it rose on our side of the world was a fantastic experience and something a mature, questionable I know, chap could get excited about.

OGSTON  RESERVOIR WITH RATCLIFFE POWER STATION ON THE SKYLINE

With photography done the time had just broken 8am and a little walk planned to the nearby village of Littlemoor for a chance to take Ogston Reservoir in this early morning condition.  With the pictures taken the slight mist was forming in the undulations and the Ratcliffe  Power Station around 25 miles away was steaming up in the far distance.

The decision at this point was to extend the walk and while I was out I might as well make a morning of it and here is the tenuous football connection.  Firstly leaving the Ashover v Furness Vale game a few weeks ago there was the chance to capture a wonderful sunset while climbing up Milken Lane on the way back to base.  But the extension is probably as loose, while planning a trip on foot to Cromford and Wirksworth FC early on in the season I looked for a route that would take me off a narrow, busy and steep section.  In this time I discovered on the map the old ruins of Trinity Chapel in a wooded area overlooking Ogston, this was something I had no Idea about and it appears to be a hidden gem.  There is another football part of this story shortly so hang on in there.

SUN RISE AND MIST AROUND OGSTON RESERVOIR

Moving out of Littlemoor and down the narrow declining lane of Dalebank there is time to stand and admire where the former Ashover Light Railway passed through the valley alongside the river.  Without it being a history lesson the railway is well worth taking time to read about if you are not familiar with it, serving  Clay Cross Works to Ashover Quarry for the purpose of the company and also offering passenger travel especially at holiday times.  Climbing out into Ashover Hay the commanding views were now becoming well illuminated as morning had well and truly broken.  Visible from the vantage point at the top of The Hay is a view back to Woolley Moor with its former colliery building viewable at the front of the recreation football ground which was the home for the now defunct village football side who plyed their trade in The MRA league for many years before moving to ground share with Clay Cross Town FC.

WOOLLEY MOOR AND ITS FOOTBALL GROUND FROM ASHOVER HAY

Trinity Chapel was now calling and through the ford at Berridge Lane, something else I did not realise was there, which is listed as the county councils number three ford.  Steep climbing is the nature of walking around Ashover and this one was steep but commanding views were the order of the day as we reached the furthest point from base before turning back at the site of a very close Crich Stand a monument to the Sherwood Forrester's regiment situated in the pretty village that also offers up The Tramway Village a well recommended visit.

COMMANDING VIEWS WITH OGSTON TO THE RIGHT

Turning back down White Carr Lane the footpath that leads along a stone wall in the field leads to a gate into a wooded area that was quite muddy around its entrance but as soon as you got near this you could see the former church on the nearest edge to us.  So a venture up to the ruins to take a look reveal a remarkably well intact building save of course for its roof, however bearing in mind the building was closed in 1856 this is pretty impressive.  The bell tower is just about visible under the growing ivy and apparently until recently one of the two bells had remained to ring in the blowing wind.  With the wooded area taking up the view from the front of the church the once amazing site of rolling fields to the reservoir was now denied to visitors but you could imagine it in its day for the parishioners.

BRACKENFIELD TRINITY CHAPEL

There is a superb picture online of a chap leaning against the wall which I guess is now the edge of the wood looking in towards the church and he was on the former lane known as the Hollow Way allegedly a road that was a support to the nearby Rykneld Way the Roman Road that the now A61 in the area mirrors.  Although a church on this site apparently dates back to the 1000's this one was built in the mid 1500's serving Brackenfield and was part of the nearby Morton parish.  Near the church there is a water source trough which provided a vital supply to the village amazingly this remains today by the roadside.  The new church that replaced the chapel is situated at the east end of Brackenfield and on a much larger scale there have though been times on Trinity Sunday when the church members walked to the old site and held a service in the adjoining field to remember the times and people gone by who had played a part in the history of the church in the village.

TRINITY CHAPEL LOOKING TOWARDS OGSTON

Time to move on as the morning was developing nicely now back over the ridge of Ashover Hay and down towards the head of the reservoir that as been with us from so many angles on this walk.  Climbing up past Temperance Hill in Woolley Moor and leaving behind the former Napoleon public house the cross roads that offer up a right to Stretton or a left back to the main village however we take the homeward bound trip straight over the junction.  This road gives one of the best mid range views of Ogston Reservoir but today there was another photo opportunity that had surprised me on recent walks around here a small collection of sheep with large upright ears that makes them look semi rabbit like.  The Border Leicester breed is quite unique in looks and appear a fairly happy animal in their surrounds around Handley.  The village of Handley again offers up a smart collection of dated stone houses including a converted Methodist Church, there is also a VR red post box and a stone painted bus stop sign in the wall of the old post office to bring back the times gone by.

Departure along Woodhead Lane offers commanding views east again and the town of Clay Cross features heavily, this ridge although a little lower than viewing platform than our sunset viewing point but non the less offering one of the best vistas in the area.

From here there was a sharp forty five minute walk back to complete the fifteen miles to base in the light with dinner to prepare there was time now to enjoy the experience of the sunset and discovery of a hidden gem and football played its part in it.

BORDER LEICESTER IN DERBYSHIRE