Historic vehicles steam through hills

Historic steam engines will be snaking their way through the hills to the delight of spectators.

The Wirksworth Assessment Trial will take place on Saturday, May 17, involving more than a dozen road steam engines dating from between 1875 and 1930.

The trial will set off from Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, in Wirksworth, at 9.30am, the engines will climb up Wash Green and down Long Way Bank to the A6.

Continuing along the A6, they will turn left at Ambergate onto the A610, preparing for the left turn at Bull Bridge Hill, up into Crich. They will reach Crich Tramway Museum at lunchtime, before heading off to Lea and onto Tansley and Matlock.

They will go through Matlock Bath and up Cromford Hill, before parking up at the Lime Kiln, in Wirksworth, at about 4pm.

Helen Debes, one of the organisers, said: “As engine owners, we don’t meet up and road the steam engines on the road around a set route. The Derbyshire Dales were chosen as there is stunning scenery, the Derwent Valley Mills world heritage site, and its central location.”