I'm getting into familiar territory with this walk. Duffield is one of the closest places that I can easily drive to and climb a hill, so I've done lots of walking around here. It's surprising how many new places I still see, though. Temperature: warm. Likelihood of being attacked by hordes of nettles: low. I decide to wear shorts. It's a good choice. The paths are well-trodden, and the sun is bright, though there's a pleasant breeze. There's plenty of free parking by Duffield church, so I drive there and walk across a field to the main road. Veering left up King Street, there is lots to see: the Methodist church, a butchers, and a penny-farthing gate. At the cemetery, I turn right and pick up a path towards the golf course. I'm heading towards the Chevin Hills here, which are the absolute lower reaches of the Pennine range. The ancient trackway along the ridge of the hills is another favourite walk. But today I'm just going straight down the other side ...
The name Belper comes from Beaurepaire , meaning pleasant retreat, and the town certainly lived up to its name on this sunny day. Even the car park had a good view! I started off across the market place and past St Peter's Church. There were three crosses in the churchyard and an unusual Easter garden - I've never seen one like this before. The road went up past a dinky pub, with a view of the old mill, down by the Derwent, on my left. I would be getting a closer look later. mill in centre, above the orange extension The next section was a long straight path squeezed between lots of back gardens. This must have been an old route which had a modern housing estate built around it. I met nobody until, at one point, a lady cutting her hedge, another woman coming the opposite way with a pushchair, and I all converged at the same time. We made way for each other with very British apologies. old gate posts; new houses Eventually the path escaped from the housing estate and crossed mea...