Pilsbury Castle

Don't you feel that we walk through the English landscape and take it for granted ?

If you stopped nearly anywhere in the countryside and started to dig the chances are that you will find something of interest whether it be an old coin, a piece of pottery or perhaps something even more exciting. Certainly I've always fancied carrying a metal detector with me on the ancient paths we use. Bearing in mind the thousands of people who have followed these paths there must be no end of items that have been dropped or mislaid over the centuries.

Pilsbury Castle is one of the places I have walked past and hardly given a second glance. The Peak Park have now created a website all about this old site - http://www.pilsburycastle.org.uk - and very interesting it is too. You can even download a couple of walks - a four and a half miler from Hartington and a six miler from Longnor. These cost £2 when purchased - nothing when downloaded.

If you're interested in history, the countryside or archaeology then you'll find it worthwhile I hope. I will certainly be following both walks before long.

Derwent and Howden Dams in Winter

This is Howden Dam in Derbyshire. Yesterday the sun shone and it was a glorious day for walking. We walked around Derwent and Howden Dams which [according to a leaflet I have] is eleven and a half miles long. We did it in just over four hours so I don't really believe it can be as far as that.

After parking at Fairholmes and paying the £3 parking fee [I really must get a season ticket] we walked beside Derwent Dam initially. Here we saw the memorial to The Dambusters [see http://www.dambusters.org.uk/dermus.htm ] as well as the memorial to Tip [also pictured].

After that the walk didn't feature anything of great import until we got up to Slippery Stones where we crossed the old packhorse bridge which had been moved from further down the valley and rebuilt by public subscription 100 years or so ago. That isn't quite true of course because by the time we'd got to Slippery Stones we'd already walked through all that remains of Tin Town [or Birchinlee as it was properly known]. Here at the beginning of the 20th century, the navvies were housed and with their families there were 910 people at one time. This little village had a grocery store, and all the facilities that the navvies needed. All that remains are a few flat earth platforms and the odd wall here and there.

After Slippery Stones we walked down the other side of both Howden and Derwent Dams enjoying the sun and being thankful that we'd walked it this way round as we would have been in the shade otherwise.

There were plenty of walkers out [and just as many cyclists. Most of whom didn't say 'Hello' or 'Hi' like most walkers do to each other]. Two cyclists had bells and used them - the rest didn't. Perhaps someone could tell me why cyclists don't have mudguards now ? They'd all got muck and mud up their backsides ....

Stroll on ......

More words are required for the manuscript ! This makes a change as usually I am a thousand or more over budget but not this time. So it's back to the grindstone! It shouldn't be too much of a job but once the manuscript has gone off I always hope it won't come back with queries quite so quickly.

Paula at Countryside Books has called the photogaphs "wonderful" which is of course wonderful.

Here's one that isn't in the book though it might have been if the walk hadn't been so tough. We followed this path up to Pike Low in August on my 55th Birthday. Now me and my beloved managed it but as it's a book of strolls I decided that others might not be so keen on it so we went for the low level walk ..... for the book. However, all is not lost as we had a great day and I'm recycling this walk by following it on Easter Sunday. This is the only walk in the Derbyshire Dales Group programme that weekend so I just wonder how many walkers will turn up ....

This is looking down at Ladybower Reservoir.

Nearly done ....

Just another three or four walks to finish off ... as in 'finish typing up the fine details'. Then I can send them off to Countryside Books and they will have the manuscript. Then I will be free !

I've enjoyed working on 'Drive and Stroll in Derbyshire and the Peak District' but having revamped 'Pub Strolls in Derbyshire' as well during this last year it's meant a lot of work. That's over 50 walks I've walked. This is a man who doesn't just talk the talk - he actually walks the walk.

So later today I hope to go out on a walk without having to think about the book. Pictured is one of the images that has been sent to the publisher so it might feature in 'Drive and Stroll .....' - it may be too dull however. They usually like 'sunny' photos and whilst I can see why, sometimes mist is more evocative. The photo itself was taken in Holmesfield Park Wood and I do recommend walking in that area, just south of Sheffield, very near to Totley.

We'll see what happens.

Off the beaten track

Some days I set off and it's damp, it's foggy, and I wonder what the heck am I doing out here. Then I find something which makes it all worthwhile - and so it was yesterday.

I was walking from Holmesfield, which is just south of Sheffield. I walked up the field in this picture towards this white metal gate which at the time was closed. It has hinges at both ends so I couldn't see [initially] how to open it. Obviously someone else had had the same problem as they had clambered over the gate, judging by the clod of mud on the top bar.

Then I realised that it splits diagonally so I opened it at one side and clambered over the other end of it which is lower.

If anyone wants to know exactly where it is then be in touch.

Well it fascinated me anyway.

There's an unusual [for these parts] stone step stile further down the fields too.

What happened on the North Lees working party ?

Following up the previous blog ...... six of us got up to Hollin Bank car park for 10am. The sky was overcast and misty .... and there was snow in the air.

Also there were three Peak Park volunteers - Tony, Mary and Brian - plus six Asian lads from Birmingham. It was good to see them up in the Peak District in their hoodies and jeans. Note for the Peak Park : why not let us work together in future instead of them being sent off on one job and us off on another ? It would be good to get to mix the cultures surely.

We were set up on Sheepwash Bank planting rowan trees. It is hoped that as these grow the bracken will die down because it doesn't like shade. If we go back in 10, 15 or 20 years we may see if our efforts in 2006 pay dividends.

It was another enjoyable day out - a privilege to be able to stand on the hillside, near the old hollow way and just enjoy 'being'. It's a very primal thing for me - I don't know why I like it so much.

Pictured are Rob and Philippa clearing the ground and digging out the rhyzomes before planting a rowan sapling.

For anyone who is interested - we'll be working with Plantlife in Deep Dale on February 12th. Be in touch if you'd like details.

Working on the North Lees Estate

Tomorrow, Saturday, the 7th January, me and a few walking friends are off up to the Dark Peak where we're going to be working with the Peak Park Rangers somewhere on the North Lees Estate. We don't know what we'll be doing but it's usually good fun and we head home feeling that we've done something useful.

Pictured are Rob Ashton and Juan Other [in camouflage blue] in Dennis Knoll Wood the last time we worked with the Peak Park. We were clearing some of the smaller saplings in the wood mainly to ensure that the habitat that suits pied flycatchers is not lost.

Look out for more information on our day sometime from Saturday onwards. [Incidentally - thanks are due to Philippa House for supplying the photograph.]

Lyme Park

Today we travelled up to Lyme Park where of course the BBC's version of Pride and Prejudice [starring Colin Firth] was filmed. The Hall itself [pictured] was closed but the grounds were open, as I believe they are most days.

We were here during the summer working on a short route [a 'stroll'] for my forthcoming walks book. On that particular day the sun shone [I believe it was either August or September] and we saw very few walkers. Today was very different - it was dull, slightly overcast and cold but there were so many people and families walking. Perhaps they're trying to lose the calories they all put on over Christmas.

Well the walk was fine and we enjoyed ourselves. The next few days will be taken up [after work] with tidying up the manuscript etc. before sending it off to my publisher.

Back to work tomorrow after ten and a half days off.

Starting the New Year off as I mean to continue ...

After an excellent short walk in Longdendale near Glossop we travelled back towards Darley Dale and decided to stop off at The Devonshire Arms in Beeley. I'm in here fairly regularly .....

Just one of the joys of the Devonshire Arms is the beer and I have yet to taste a better pint of Theakstons Old Peculier than you get at the Devonshire. The Landlord, John, also let me try one of Peak Ales' beers - Noggin Filler I think it was - and that tasted very nice too. I tried this somewhere else recently but it hadn't been kept so well.

Pictured is Old Peculier on the right. I can thoroughly recommend the Devonshire Arms [as well as their ham and eggs!].