A group of 24 walkers, drawn from Computer Science staff, friends and family, set off from Rowsley for the 6 mile Nine Ladies walk on Sunday 11th April with ages ranging from 2 years upwards! The two-year old had the easiest time, with a comfortable seat on daddy's back. Starting in the valley close to the junction of the Wye and Derwent rivers, the route gradually climbed up to a height of 1000 feet, with fine views across the Derbyshire countryside in the April sunshine. Only one brave volunteer, who later admitted to being an experienced mountain climber, succeeded in reaching the summit of the Cork Stone on Stanton Moor.
The path wound through woodlands and fields, past Earl Grey's tower commemorating the 1832 Reform Act, to the Nine Ladies Stone Circle, which has given rise to the legend of nine ladies turned to stone for dancing on the Sabbath. However a more likely origin of the circle is that it was a central point for bronze age settlers in the area 3000 years ago. On the return journey through the Wye valley, a group of llamas was a popular attraction and obligingly posed for photographs.
The walk culminated at Caudwell Mill, where most people headed for the cafe and enjoyed a well-earned drink.
Posted on Tuesday 28th February 2012