Chatsworth House and Beeley Circular Walk

I started the walk at Chatsworth House and headed south to Beeley.

 

At Beeley I left the village walking along a dead end street which became a farm track and then the footpath continues up the side of Beeley Plantation until it reaches an area of tree felling near the top and then passes through woodland right at the top.

I crossed Beeley Moor and then re-entered Chatsworth Park high up in Stand Wood to be greeted by this sign as I was climbing over the stile.

I finished the walk by finding the easiest way down to the bus stop, which has had its basic facilities upgraded.

It's been a cold overcast day in the Peak District but when I got back home to Doncaster there wasn't a cloud in the sky...and it was a lot warmer.

Darfield, Little Houghton, Great Houghton, and Thurnscoe

I caught the X19 Barnsley bus to Darfield, it was the noisiest bus I've ever travelled on; everything was shaking, vibrating, rattling, and banging. I walked down to the River Dearne, and then continued to Little Houghton. I went along along the former pit lane to Great Houghton and then up onto the higher ground north of the village.

I followed a couple of well defined paths which aren't shown on the map and ended up coming out at the lower part of the village. I joined what I think is a section of the TransPennine Trail [there are several alternative routes in this area] and headed east towards Thurnscoe where I popped in to see my dad for a few minutes before catching the bus home.

Coplow Dale, Little Hucklow, Housley, Cavendish Mill...and then a lift to Calver

There was a serious crash early this morning at Eyam with local road closures which would be affecting my bus, however I was able to get to the start of the walk okay, but decided I'd better not finish at Eyam as planned though. The change of plan was now to extend the walk to Stoney Middleton or maybe even Calver if that was as far as the buses were going.

I got off the bus at Coplow Dale Lane End and walked along the lane to the hamlet and then continued  to Little Hucklow, which I suppose qualifies as being a village.

It's a bit of a climb up to the crossroads at Windmill and then a level walk along the road and the walled track across Stanley Moor, and some fields to another hamlet, Housley.

 

I crossed the road at Housley, it was much easier then usual, and then it's a bit of a climb up to Cavendish Mill, the ugliest place in the Peak District by a long way.

I'd just passed through Cavendish Mill when two middle-aged women stopped their car to ask for directions to Calver, they were going to a wedding. I mentioned that I was going going there and they kindly offered me a lift. At the top of the hill in Stoney Middleton they also gave a lift to a frail elderly woman who seemed to be in distress. We all agreed that if you're old, or frail or disabled, got an injury, or are just tired, going downhill is much more difficult then going uphill. The timing was convenient, I only had ten minutes to wait for the bus at Calver.

Lincoln Festival of History

It's been Lincoln Festival of History this Bank Holiday Weekend and so I decided to go with my support worker. I always enjoy a day out at Lincoln, it's one of my favourite cities to visit but the event was rather disappointing.

I was able to go inside the mediaeval Guildhall for the first time. This photograph was the only one which was clear enough to include.

Siobhan couldn't make it up Steep Hill and so stayed in the pub drinking coffee.

It's usually free admission into the castle but there was a charge today because there was an event there that was part of the festival...I didn't go in.

On the way back to the car we had to wait several minutes at the level crossing for three trains to pass.