I'm walking 30 Miles in September for Dementia UK
This September, I'm walking 30 Miles and raising funds to help ensure no family faces dementia alone. I'm taking on the challenge for Dementia UK, the specialist dementia nursing charity, and would be grateful for your support.
Your donation, big or small, makes a difference. £33 could fund a new dementia specialist Admiral Nurse to spend an hour helping a family in the community, offering practical solutions and emotional support to cope with their loved one’s distressed behaviour.
Thank you!
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My Updates
Wednesday the 9th of September 2026
Saturday 19th Sep
Even before leaving the house I had one idea in mind, which was to go down Chesterfield Road, then Little Debdale, Burlington, Oxlose Woods, Bull Farm, Broomhill Lane, Fairholme Drive, and home - a usual thing.
That was fine until I reached Burlington, when I thought that as soon as I hit Oxclose Woods I would change my mind and thought that I would turn right at the first area, but when I got there I once again changed my mind again, thinking "no, go with the original plan!"
That was fine until I reached Burlington, when I thought that as soon as I hit Oxclose Woods I would change my mind and thought that I would turn right at the first area, but when I got there I once again changed my mind again, thinking "no, go with the original plan!"
However, as I was coming off the nature trail I changed my mind again, and walked along a public footpath at the front of a farmer's field that brought me out onto Radmanthwaite Road, where upon that plan of going from there, taking a right down Chesterfield Road North and then a left onto Pleasley Hill Way also changed.
Instead I did turn that way onto Chesterfield Road North, but carried on by the turn for Pleasley Hill Way, making my way about a mile further to Roots Lounge Coffee Bar, for a coffee and a toilet break.
Even then when I finished that coffee, I decided to carry on up Chesterfield Road North, turned into Pleasley Village and make my way up High Street, where I was going onto Water Lane. WAS!
When I saw the entrance to Water Lane, I saw that a very busy narrow road with no pathway for as far as I could see. A bit of self-assessment told me that it was safer to carry on up High Street, which I did.
Even then I was going to go up Bagshaw, but changed my mind then as well!
I decided to carry on a few yards and go down Church Street, and cut through the grounds of St Barnabas Church onto Bagshaw Street. A scenic/photographic decision.
From there it was down Poplar Drive, then right down the alleyway by what was the social club that my mum worked at.
That led to Mandalay Road, which led to Hillmoor Street - my old stomping ground as a kid, that looks nothing like that anymore.
That led to the T junction that was Pleasley Hill Way, whereupon I turned right, and then eventually turning left onto the safer half of Water Lane, that led to Abbot Road.
At Abbot Road it was a right up there, and then a left down Westfield Lane.
From Westfield Lane it was a right onto Broomhill Lane, and then a right down the alleyway home.
It was a very strange journey in that every decision was a heat of the moment change. The thing is thought that that kept it interesting in a way, and it was 6.1 miles all told, which is a huge chunk out of the 30 miles goal for the month.
Truth be told I knew before starting the month that I would smash that goal, because of how I am with walking anyway. I enjoy going out for walks, while I am listening to podcasts, and I usually hit around 26 to 28 miles in a week when I am feeling well. I've got this.
For you, mum. I miss you. xxx
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Monday the 7th of September 2026
Saturday 19th Sep
Originally my plan was to have done a nice longer walk again to Pleasley, hoping to hit the Roots Cafe at around 8am when they open, grab a coffee, after the initial five or six miles that it would take through Oxclose Woods, Mansfield Woodhouse, and Pleasley Vale, and then a three or so mile walk from Roots back home.
My idea there was to hit the thirty miles in the first eight days alone (with more miles planned for Tuesday).
As it stands I am still close, in that in the first seven days alone I am around eight miles away from the thirty mile goal, with 23 days left.
Because of waking up so late I left it until later, and made it another one of my convoluted routes, this time to go and buy milk.
Down Chesterfield Road, and then turned up Marlborough Road, then left onto Fairholme Drive that becomes Broomhill Drive.
It's strange because in my head I can still see the Green Dragon pub at the top of Marlborugh Road, even though it isn't there now.
Instead, a couple of houses reside where that place I always wanted to go into, but never did, had once stood.
That led me onto Westfield Lane, where I went all of the way to where it ends on the junction with Wood Street, West Gate, Saint Peter's Way, and Chesterfield Road South.
I followed up Chesterfield Road South, fetched milk from Tesco's, where I was also disappointed that they don't stock Cinzano Rossi, a drink I saw on Mad Men, that I thought "mmm, I wonder what that's like?"
That will have to be an Amazon purchase at some point!
Cinzano used to be all over the ads when I was a kid, ironically considering what got me thinking about it.
Wasn't Cinzano the advert that Leonard Rossiter and Joan Collins used to do in the late seventies/early eighties?
After Tesco I carried on up Chesterfield Road, turned up Mount Street, then Cannon Street, back home on Albion Street.
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Sunday the 6th of September 2026
Saturday 19th Sep
I walked around two miles or so from home to Mill Waters near to Kings Mill Hospital, getting there via Broomhill Lane, Howard Road, Westfield Lane, Harrop White Road, Beck Crescent, Farndon Way, Watnall Crescent, Keyworth Close, Ladybrook Park, Armstrong Road, Jenkins Road, Ladybrook Lane, and then down the alley that leads from Skegby Lane to Sutton Road, passing Appin Green on the left and the ambulance station on the left.
I had a fun walk around Mill Waters, before leaving back onto Sutton Road, passing Costa - I can get a drink at home, and rain is forecast for 8:30am.
From Sutton Road I turned onto Botany Avenue, Bancroft Lane, Oakdale Road, Ladybrook Lane, Winkburn Road, Devon Drive, Broomhill Lane, the alleyway, and back home.
I'll set up a setting on the Steps app on my phone tomorrow and see if I still have trouble with it!
It was probably too long a walk, because I still don't feel great, with the cold elements of my recent poorliness still hanging around.
C'est La Vie.
Saturday the 5th of September 2026
Saturday 19th Sep
I still did a regular thing of going down Chesterfield Road South, Little Debdale Lane, Burlington Drive, Oxclose Woods...
Then however I had thought up until that point of going along a public footpath at the front of a field leading to Radmanthwaite Road, from which I made my walk to Pleasley Hill Way.
I followed that until turning left down Water Lane, leading to Abbot Road.
From there I went down Westfield Lane, then up Broomhill Lane, and finally back home by the alley way back to Albion Street.
Four and a half miles that I wish had been more.
If I had woken up earlier then it would have been a different matter entirely.
Still, it was a walk.
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Friday the 4th of September 2026
Saturday 19th Sep
I was still feeling poorly, but pished myself.
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Thursday the 3rd of September 2026
Saturday 19th Sep
Then I crossed over Rosemary Street's juntion and down the other half of Westfield Lane, towards West Gate, but instead turned up Chesterfield Road South, and up Albion Street, back home.
I had left later than I should have, and cut short the walk due to the forecast 95% possibility of heavy rain, which ironically we didn't get any of.
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Wednesday the 2nd of September 2026
Saturday 19th Sep
Convoluted walk into town up Chesterfield Road, Rosemary Street, Stockwell Gate, Market Place, Bridge Street, Church Street, Toothill Lane.
There I stopped off to chat with the owner of the Ground Zero Comics shop, Richie, as well as picking up a graphic novel stash - The Last Ronin by Eastman and Laird, and The Last Day of HP Lovecraft.
From there it was down Regent Street, then Westgate, Chesterfield Road South, and Albion Street.
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Tuesday the 1st of September 2026
Saturday 19th Sep
I'd rather be in a grave with this body than alive.
So, middle of the day walk for me, doing the hour and a a half to hour and three quarters usual route of Chesterfield Road, Little Debdale, Burlington Drive, Oxclose Woods, Bull Farm, Fairholme Drive (with a slight change) to home walk.
Instead of the usual time mentioned, I didn't stop at all, and did it in around an hour and ten to an hour and fifteen minutes.
It's the first of September, so the first day in a month of walking for Dementia Care UK, in tribute to my mum, my granddad Eric, and others.
Two point nine miles walked.
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