WALK 1 Date- 23 July 1992

Butterton-Longnor-Hartington-Alstonefield-Wetton-Grindon-Butterton

Participants :- Dave Thacker (Organiser)

Nigel Pinfold

Graham Cork

Keith Jackson

Mike Scott

John Perkin

Dave Stevens

Dave Fryer

Keith Phillips

This merry band of Surveyors and Engineers set of at 08.00 am. from The Black Lion, Butterton on this inaugural walk not quite knowing where it was to lead in the years to come.

Headed up stream to Longnor bypassing Warslow on route.

Met by Keith Jackson who decided to start at the 2-mile marker.

Breakfast stop just South of Longnor.

Bit of friendly banter with some attractive young ladies when we reached the crossing point over the River Dove.

The surveyors sneaked into The Packhorse Inn at Crowdecote and stood at the windows watching whilst the rest walked on by.

Lunchtime stop at the Devonshire Arms, Hartington, where sitting outside taking in the summer sunshine many pints were consumed by all.

Eventually we were persuaded to up sticks and continue on down Dovedale, eventually leaving the dale up Gypsy Bank towards Alstonefield. Graham lost his footing jumping over a style. Was it the ale or a slippy style? On realising it was closing in on 15.00 hrs. two of our party, (Yup and myself), decided to run ahead to ensure a pint was obtained before closing, only to find it was open all day.

Graham Cork was found to be suffering with severe blisters in his Doc. Martens and would not last much longer, a lift being arranged back for him from the village of Wetton.

From here the party seemed to fragment into smaller groups only for us to all meet up back at the Black Lion, the only grumpy one being Graham who claims he had to pay £5 for his lift.

But for the majority a very enjoyable day it was.

Nige (noel)