Dunsville, West End, and Cantley

I travelled to Wyndthorpe Hall, the first place in Dunsville. On my paper Ordnance Survey map it looks like there's a footpath going right through the grounds, but when I got there I found out this wasn't so and my way was blocked by a high hedge - it did give me the opportunity to explore a bit since no-one was around...and take some photographs of the building, which is now a nursing home.

When I got home and looked at a zoomable online map I could see that the footpath goes right next to some adjacent houses. I'd actually walked straight past it without noticing it and so next I got on Google Street View and looked at the image; there was a footpath sign there, partially obscured by trees though which must be totally hidden from view by now...that's my excuse anyhow.

I had to walk further into Dunsville and then go down Woodhouse Lane; over to my right there was a partially flooded gravel or sand quarry. There was a strong unpleasant smell of marijuana at Dunsville and I was glad to leave the place.

I had a bit of fun precisely lining up this shot with the power station plume, especially since a police car was parked directly opposite - I think the two officers inside managed to work out what I was doing.

I picked up my original route at West End, it's just a group of quite expensive houses - as I approached there was the much more pleasant odour of freshly cut timber. 

I took my time photographing this attractive ruined farmhouse and got talking to a local woman whose brother-in-law owns the building.

I was chatting to another woman and her dog where this next photograph was taken, she told me that during the early weeks of the lockdown it was the location of regular rave parties by large numbers of young people.

I briefly needed to use the verge at the side of the A614 road before reaching Boston Park Farm and turning off for the bridleway which goes to Gatewood Farm.  

There are some tearooms at Boston Park Farm; I didn't visit them though because they were busy...it's a bank holiday today. This photograph is the farmhouse though.

 

I think Gatewood Farm produces poultry, so I don't know why they're using it as a wedding venue.

 

Beyond the farm it's a surfaced road all the way to Old Cantley. I didn't go to Old Cantley though, I went to the north through Cantley Park and then the housing estate at Cantley.

I've walked back home from Cantley Park several times during lockdown and have explored every possible slight route variation and so there's nothing interesting to write about for the final section of the walk.

An Early Morning Walk To Doncaster Lakeside

When I opened the curtains this morning and saw that it was sunny outside I decided to straight away go for a walk to Doncaster Lakeside. As I passed the football ground at seven o'clock I could see that the car boot market has been re-established and it was busy with many of the traders already set up. I didn't have my wallet and so didn't visit, but it's somewhere I will now be regularly visiting in the future.

When I reached Lakeside the sun was still low on the horizon giving me some good opportunities for photography.

When I arrived back home the weather was a lot cloudier, and that's what's forecast for the rest of the day.

West Stockwith, Harpswell, Hemswell Antiques Centre, and Tickhill

Another day out with my support worker. It rained for most of the time but during a couple of breaks I managed to get some photographs of two village churches .

West Stockwith isn't on the direct route to the antiques but we went for a circular drive to visit some of the villages in North Nottinghamshire to stretch out the day a bit. I didn't just take photographs there, I also bought some strawberries from a roadside stall that sells fresh produce.

The church isn't as you'd expect it to be; it's a Georgian building and doesn't look that different to several other buildings in the village.

Harpswell is only a couple of miles from the antiques centre. The church there is much more traditional in its architecture, however in one aspect it's quite rare...the tower is Anglo-Saxon. You can clearly see the distinctive stonework in the second photograph.

On the way back home we called at the cafe at the Retford and Gainsborough Garden Centre. We didn't stay long though and had nothing to eat there; the covid safety procedures were far too complicated, demeaning, and unnecessary and so we continued on to the tearooms at Tickhill which we regularly visit. Things are basically normal there.

Langold Lake Country Park and Letwell

A short walk with my support worker today, about four miles. We started at Langold Lake Country Park in Nottinghamshire and headed west to Letwell, a pretty little village that's in Rotherham Borough. We returned by a different route.

The village telephone box is now a tiny communal library/bookshop/book exchange; Siobhan bought three of the books.

The bus shelter is also an art gallery.

There's a pretty church at the far end of the village.

The old dovecote which features on Letwell's crest can just about be made out on this photograph - unfortunately there is no public access.

Conisbrough, Old Denaby, Mexborough, High Melton, Cadeby, and Sprotbrough

I caught the bus to Conisbrough again and tried to capture some unusual angles of the castle and church before heading out of the town along Old Road. Once I'd reached the limit of the houses I turned right down Hill Top Road. and about halfway down the hill there was a footpath which went along the edge of the woods to Old Denaby. 

At Old Denaby I turned right and took the path that goes to the roadbridge that crosses the River Don.

There was just enough headroom as I walked through the tunnel going under the railway line - I'm sure though that the last I came I had to stoop.

I then continued along Pastures Road until I reached the path that goes uphill across the fields to High Melton. 

There's a short path that goes part of the way to Cadeby, but most of the route is along the road. 

I used a different road and then a footpath that goes right next to the road to get to Sprotbrough. I've photographed the churches at Cadeby and Sprotbrough previously on recent walks and so didn't bother to today.

I went down to Lower Sprotbrough and finally it was the familiar walk back home, along the river and through Hexthorpe Flatts park. As soon as I'd crossed the river I was in the parish of Warmsworth and there's been a new sign erected to let you know.