From number 14 head through a tiny strand of trees and then left down to the main road. CROSS WITH CARE - it is a 50 mph limit. Then head straight down the sunken track over the cattle grid and then left at the first stile. For the final five caches there may be cattle but all fields are short. If you really can't face it then the bridleway runs parallel through past the farm and into Dale Abbey. But you'd miss 4-5 caches.
Welcome to my series of caches with the contrived acronym DALEC. This is a Dale Abbey Lovely Evening Circular walk. I’ve done the walk plenty of times over the years and decided it was time to share it with the caching community. It’s a gentle stroll at just about 4 miles, with no significant climbing anywhere, except for the stiles. Some of these are high so if you cache with dogs that are rubbish at stiles then be prepared for some light lifting. There are occasionally cows in one or two fields but there is such a network of footpaths around here that you can usually divert to avoid anything you don’t like and rejoin the walk just 1-2 caches later. Other fields contain sheep, things that look like llamas but I think are guanaco and horses.
On two occasions you cross the Ilkeston – Derby road (A6096). This is a busy road and has a 50mph speed limit. Both times you cross it you have a very good view of traffic from both directions but please take care when crossing and get little cachers and canine cachers under close supervision.
Dale Abbey is a beautiful village so please park responsibly either in the village or at the small car park at the back of Locko Park. Parking waypoints for both are given on the first and last cache.
I would do the walk in ascending order if you want to find the multi that is part of this series. If you haven’t done the church micro cache in Dale Abbey (GC7Y9KQ) then get the information before you start – you will see why.
All my circular caching walks have caches that are placed to find. You will need tweezers and a pen, but this time you won’t need to climb trees this time. Being able to jump across a ditch will come in handy at one point.
Right, boots on and off you go, enjoy yourself and be careful crossing the A6096.