Looking Forward To The First Week In 2026

My sister and her husband are coming over to visit from Australia at the beginning of January and I'll be spending several days with them, so there'll be plenty to post on the blog. The itinerary as I know it at the moment as that I'm going to stay overnight in a hotel at Liverpool; on the first day we're going for a short boat trip on the Mersey and then taking The Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour coach tour and finishing off at the Cavern Club where I think there's always a Beatles tribite act playing. I'm not a particular Beatles fan, but I don't mind them, they're alright. 

The two of them are making an early start the next day to drive to York, there'll be no room for me in the car though because they're travelling back to Australia by sea and it takes six weeks so they need to pack a lot of clothes. So I'll have the day to myself; I've never been to Liverpool before and so I don't know where to go - I think I'll go to the Royal Albert Docks if the weather is nice, it looks to be quite interesting. I'll have to check online about the museums for if it's raining.

We now get to the Tuesday when the plan is I go up to York to spend another day with them; my brother might join us, but he probably won't....he literally said "I'll not bother, I've been to York plenty of times before." I'm not staying overnight at York, I shall get a late train back to Doncaster.

I think they're going to Whitby on the Wednesday and finally we'll all meet up for a family meal at one of the local pubs, which I'm assuming both my brother and my dad will be attending.

Rossington, Stancil, Wellingley, and Wadworth

I caught the bus for the short journey to Rossington today. I got off at the church and walked through the housing estate to reach the open countryside to the south of the village. I found the path that goes over the River Torne to the hamlet of Stancil and then walked along the narrow country lane to Wellingley and then across the fields, where the footpath had been diverted. I finished by walking along the track to Wadworth to catch the bus back to Doncaster.

It was a very Christmassy start at Rossington with the festive topper and the Nativity scene...and the bus driver was dressed up as a snowman.

Why Do I Continue To Update My Blog?

I've been writing this blog for about fifteen years, with over a thousand posts and it doesn't seem to get much activity these days. I certainly used to get replies and comments, but now I rarely do. I still enjoy taking photos and writing the blog though and now I suppose the main reason I continue is because I use it as a personal journal. I post a link to each new post on Facebook and these often appear on the 'memories' feature - it's nice to click on the link and read what I was doing several years ago.

Maltby to Tickhill

I got off the bus at Maltby, about ten miles south southwest of Doncaster and walked along Tickhill Road until I reached the end of the urban area where there's a path that goes over to the right through Maltby Wood and then across Maltby Low Common and Maltby Far Common. 

I then reached the narrow country lane known as Sandbeck Lane. This lane makes a sharp left turn just before Woolthwaite Farm, where I took the bridleway going across the fields to Tickhill.

There's a small reservoir at Sandbeck Lodge, which I think might be the source of the River Torne.

I entered Tickhill from a different direction and found some new angles to photograph.

Ashford in the Water, Bakewell, and Edensor

Before I started today's walk I had forty minutes to spare in Bakewell and so took some photographs before going to the bus stop on Buxton Road to catch the bus to Ashford in the Water.

I explored the village, although this really isn't the best word to use since I know Ashford well.

I headed out along the road that goes to the north; after a few hundred yards there's a path that goes to Churchdale Hall and Churchdale Farm; the last time I tried to take this route I couldn't find the path and ended going up to Thornbridge Hall. Yesterday I looked at the images on Google Streetview so that I'd be prepared and know exactly where to look for it. When I got there I noticed that a new footpath sign has been erected.

I then walked along the Monsal Trail for about half a mile before finding the path that leads to Bakewell. At Bakewell I didn't go to the town centre, I walked up to the old railway station and then continued going uphill using the road and then taking the track down into Edensor. Edensor is a beautiful village but I didn't have much time today to take photographs.