Crich Stand

On 7th March 2015 we did the AA walk Climbing up to Crich in search of Cardale. We did find three different sources for the same walk, all of which gave it various different times between 3 hours and 6 hours. Our walk took us 4 hours 5 minutes including a picnic stop at Crich Stand and a nice gentle walk back along the Canal. So you've got to take some major detours or have a couple of pub stops to take 6 hours.

Parking at Ambergate Train station was cheap enough, just £2.20 for the day. We always aim to set off on our walks about 10am and at that point the car park was virtually empty, by time we returned it was almost full. So if you're thinking of doing this walk on a nice Summers day get their early to ensure you can park up. From this station it's just a short ride to Matlock Bath so it's a popular little station.

This walk is a 7.4 miles (12km) walk setting off up to Crich from Ambergate before a nice decent back to the Cromford Canal and back to Ambergate. It's not a simple walk as the climbs to start are into woodland so it's very uneven underfoot especially in Winter. We had brilliant weather for the walk so it wasn't too muddy as we ventured up, however a couple of cyclists we saw on their way down looked caked in mud. The views from the top were amazing. Yes it was windy but that didn't matter at all. The one bad view from this point was how far away Crich Stand was and that was our aim for picnics.

Crich Stand in the distance.

Once we got to Crich we took a little detour in a field but ended up in the right place in the end. it was only a single field detour which for us isn't bad. At this point you're at the front of Crich Tramway Village. I haven't been in there for years, but I do remember when I went it was for a Teddy Bears picnic and I had a brilliant time. From this point it's a steep climb up to Crich Stand, the views were amazing and on such a clear day we could see for miles. According to Wikipedia "eight counties can be seen, including landmarks such as the Humber Bridge" - Wiki.

Crich Stand

Time to learn about the War.

Crich Stand

The joy of these walks we don't just walk some times we learn something new as well. This was one of those times as we all spent time to read the information on the various plaques with the history of the monument and The Sherwood Foresters. 

Once we set off walking again it was a good job we had all had light lunches as we didn't need extra momentum pulling us down the hills. Some had lighter lunches than others with the strong winds blowing couscous all over the place. Once we got past the back of the Tramway Village we entered back into some woods, after Googleing it was Oxhay Wood. It felt like we had gone into a magical forgotten woodland. Obviously it had been quarried years ago but now nature had claimed it back! 

We all had in our own minds different films/shows we could imagine being filmed there from Robin Hood, Star Wars, or Game of Thrones. But the best thing that could happen is it is kept as a brilliant little secret for walkers to stumble across on this walk. The woodland not only had clear little streams, trees growing out of the rocks but it also had a sweet smell of wild garlic growing. I imagine in Winter it could get very boggy in there but we get out without any magical creatures capturing us.

From here it's back to the Cromford Canal and a really nice flat walk all the way back to the car park at Ambergate. The Canal is currently being renovated and they are doing a brilliant job. The water is clear and wildlife is thriving. This is the one flat section of the walk, if you've got a young family or you're heavily pregnant this is part I would recommend. The paths are in really good condition and the views are really nice not only of the canal but over the railway line to the River Derwent and Shining Cliff Wood too.

Overall this has been the most enjoyable walk of them all. It had everything you could ask for, a mixture of terrains, amazing views, magical little places you didn't expect and some history too. The fact Mark went back the following weekend to walk it again with his wife as he was that impressed and I'm planning on going back in Summer shows there's something about the walk pulling us back for more.

Laser Tag

I organised a trip out for fitness clients to Wild Park Derbyshire for an afternoon of woodland laser tag. 18 of us went with a mix of 9 males, 9 females, aged 7 to 59. It was a very random bunch of people and it worked perfectly. Some people had played laser quest before, others had done paint balling, but it was the first time for all of us playing woodland laser tag.

We all got issued our camo jumpsuits, vests and weapons. I added the GoPro camera to my outfit with the chest and head mount so we could get some footage of the day.

Laser Tag Fitness Day Out

They put us into 2 teams Yellows V Pinks and we had 6 different games over the afternoon. 2 x capture the flag, 2 x attack/defend the van, and 2 x bomb the fort, with each game was worth 20 points.

Yellows too an early 40-0 lead after the 2 games thanks to Simon running like Forrest Gump and capturing the flag.


If capture the flag suited the Yellows, Attack/Defend the van suited Pinks as by the end of game 4 it was 40-40. Thanks to Lexie and myself attacking and capturing the van in game 3, and Rob and Danny getting very well camouflaged and defending the van in style in game 4. This game had a van at the bottom of the hill with one team defending and one team attacking. When attacking you had 5 minutes unlimited lives so it was all about how quick you could run up and down the hill to take out the enemy and get back up to re energise before going again. It was a killer on your legs!!!

2 games left all to play for!

In game 5 Pinks were defending the fort with Yellows trying to carry to bomb into it. Things weren't going well for Pinks as all but 2 people were killed. However those two who survived turned into Rambo and took out every single Yellow as they charged to the fort with the bomb. THEN!!! Rob picked up the bomb and carried it into our own base blowing it up! Doh!!!

This had the scores at Yellows 60 - Pinks 50 because even with every yellow dead the fort was blown up, but we claimed 10 points for killing everybody.

Winner takes all in the last game!! Who will come out on top?

PINKS!!!!

With a charge from Lisa and the two little minions into the fort clearing the way, it allowed myself to use Danny as a human shield and charge with the bomb into the heart of their fort.

End Scores Yellows 60- Pinks 70.

A brilliant day out and we will definitely be back for more laser tag and probably archery too. A top quality venue for team building, parties or just a fun day out. Really good instructors and good prices.