I’m back… and first off, thank you for sticking with me. I know I haven’t posted a blog for a little while — life’s been throwing a lot at me, and I needed to get my head straight. As many of you know, my mental health always comes first, and sometimes that means stepping back for a bit.

But I’m here again, and I hope you enjoyed Part 2 of the Erewash Circular. Part 3 is a shorter one — the route got cut off thanks to the path to Dale Abbey being closed (still not sure why!). But don’t worry, I’ll be picking things up again in Part 4 next week, starting from Dale Abbey with a load of history to go with it.

Starting at Kirk Hallam Lake & Meadows

I kicked off this section at Kirk Hallam Lake and Meadows, and honestly… what a surprise. Kirk Hallam has had a bit of a reputation over the years, so finding this peaceful, beautiful spot felt like discovering a proper hidden gem.

While I was there, I ended up chatting with a lady from Switzerland in her late 80s — still hiking every single day. Her secret? She used to climb mountains when she was younger, and she never smoked or drank. So there it is… the secret to life. I’ve cracked it.

She was incredible — full of stories, full of life. Exactly how getting older should look.

Across to West Hallam

From there, I headed towards West Hallam. Most of it these days is housing, so I skipped the modern estates and cut across the farmers’ fields instead. Best decision ever — I was greeted by the cutest lambs and their mums, all chilling in the sunshine.

As soon as I reached the old part of the village, I couldn’t help but smile. The old cottages, the school house, the character… it’s beautiful. The old school is now a private home and I can only imagine the price tag on that place.

I had a wander around the church and bumped into the vicar — a lovely lady who told me how different the old village is compared to the rest of West Hallam. She also introduced me to Pippin, the church cat, who immediately demanded fuss. Absolute icon.

After five minutes of cat worship, I said goodbye to Pippin and carried on.

Towards Stanley (or “Stanleh”)

I followed a path beside the old school and down a private lane lined with gorgeous houses tucked into the hillside. Eventually I reached the road into Stanley — or “Stanleh” if you’re local.

This village always feels peaceful to me. A mix of old and new houses, but still somehow remote, even though it’s only a few miles from Derby or Ilkeston. I walked under the trees, past the war memorial and the pub, enjoying the cool breeze and the quiet.

Stanley has that friendly, calm vibe that so many villages are losing as more and more housing goes up. It still feels like a proper village.

The Heartbreak: Dale Abbey Closed

Then came the disappointment. As I turned off the main road towards the path to Dale Abbey, signs everywhere said it was closed. My heart sank — another hike plan gone sideways.

But that’s hiking for you. You adjust, you smile, you keep going.

So instead, I’ll be starting Part 4 from Dale Abbey itself next week, and I’ll pack it full of history and interesting bits to make up for this shorter chapter.

Until Next Time…

I hope you enjoyed this little update. I’ll do my best to get back into weekly blogs on Wednesdays.

Until next time — get outdoors 😉 Marv