Clayworth Common and Idle Nature Reserve RFM Blue Line

Clayworth Common and Idle Nature Reserve 

RFM Blue Line

13/05/25

This walk is another dry hot walk typical of this far from typical year. Its the driest, sunniest spring on record. I'm on my own and intend to combine this walk with an extension of my covering the Cuckoo Way along the Chesterfield canal and a look around the Idle Valley Nature Reserve.

I set off from the beautiful old church in the centre of Clayworth as I had parked opposite the church on quite a tight road. My first encounter was with a friendly guy with a Weimaraner dog just going on his morning walk. What a strikingly handsome and friendly dog. The chap said the dog needed several miles walking a day and luckily this area was good for walking. Quickly I reached the bridge and set off along the tow path.

The walk along the tow path ended at the bridge above when I headed off down Meadow Lane. There were a plethora of small and aquatic birds mostly audible from the tow path but I did manage to see a Garden Warbler for the first time. Good start to the day.

The last time I had walked in this area it was earlier in the year and the temperature was well below freezing but the views were essentially the same, huge flat fields in all directions.

I crossed what they call a drain in this area, long straight and steep sided.

 

The path just dissected the huge field and I crossed with the accompaniment of a few Skylarks.

I reached the River Idle where I could shoot off south and miss the nature reserve if  I wanted to. The long wavy weeds in the river looked cool. I decided to cross into the nature reserve and then headed due west.

The first hide I came to had a lovely view of the lakes with woodland and more lakes behind. Behind me I could hear 2 cuckoos one to the right and one to the left. On the other side of the lake I could faintly hear a third. A birdwatcher turned up and we had a chat and view for 10 minutes. We spotted a Black Tern and a Turtle Dove appeared in the tree behind us but quickly moved on. We could hear a Green Woodpecker and Cettis Warbler. There were many many more birds. I like this spot. I moved on.

It was very pleasant traversing these trails and I came across a pair walking a dog and we discussed directions. Amazingly I knew where they wanted to go so could help them.

I probably spent too much time bird watching but I did combine resting, having a coffee and observing at the same time. In one of  the open hides I saw a Greater Spotted Woodpecker, a Cettis Warbler and a Sedge Warbler whilst I supped my coffee.

Just before I reached Chain Bridge Lane a lady with a Golden Retriever stopped for a chat. She went on a bit and it took me a while to extricate myself from the conversation. I avoided Chain Bridge Lane with its dusty surface and huge vehicles churning up the dust every 5 minutes or so by going back into the nature reserve and following a parallel path which I remembered observing the last time I was here.

I passed more lakes with a large number of swans, various geese and some Lapwings before I got back to the River Idle, still full of trailing weeds. I paused a while and conversed with a cyclist who asked me some questions about a lane I just happened to have been on so I could help him. For an area I did not know I knew more than I thought.

   

This was exactly the same path I had taken to Hayton on my winter walk hard on the feet but also today dusty when any one passes which luckily was seldom.

At the canal bridge at Hayton I rejoined the Chesterfield Canal to walk back to Clayworth, about 3 miles away.

I paused to watch a family of swans on the edge of the canal.

Easy walking.

I have no idea what sort of dragonfly this was but there were lots of them and loads of butterflies and flying insects in some places too many midges.

I could see the familiar church in the distance but of course the canal would not make a straight line to it but rather a bend and a wiggle.

I passed one other walker on this stretch and we both commented on the weather.

It really is a pretty stretch of canal. There were a lot of moored narrow boats and the canal itself was brimming with fish. 

I left the canal side and headed down pretty St Peter's Lane towards my car outside the church. I even chatted about cuckoos with a chap in his garden.

This was an interesting walk especially if you like birdwatching. 7.5 miles with an ascent of only 175 feet but the ground is hard and tough on the feet. 18000 steps is not to be sniffed at. There were a lot more birds identified but I didn't want to bore you so have kept it to a taster.