Beverley, not Sutton-in-Ashfield and Ripley

The plan for today was to go to Sutton-in-Ashfield and Ripley with my support worker, two towns I've not visited yet. I'd made all the plans; worked out the routes, the car parking, and decided where to eat but when I finally went to the Ashfield District Council page online I discovered that there are currently extensive roadworks in Sutton town centre and decided to change my plans and opt for Beverley instead.

On the way back from Beverley we called at some tearooms in the village of South Cave for tea and cake - I had a slice of mixed berries crumble cake. 

Brodsworth Hall and Gardens

Another visit today to an attraction that's participating in the National Lottery Open Week scheme, Brodsworth Hall. It's only six miles away and so I was able to get there without needing to go with my support worker. There's a bus service to the village of Brodsworth but it's infrequent and the timings are inconvenient. However, I was able to get a bus to the shops at Woodlands, walk through the housing estate and then briefly enter Brodsworth Community Woodlands before continuing along country lanes to my destination. 

I was able to time my departure so that I was able to catch the bus as it passed through the village on its journey to Doncaster.

I was disappointed with my visit again today, only the servants' quaters were open and there wasn't a lot to see - the weather turned out to be better than forecast though.

Hardwick Hall

This week is National Lottery Open Week when properties which have received funding from the National Lottery offer free admission, actually you need to produce a lottery card though. A few months ago I found four used scratchcards on a bus seat and so I used two of them today to go to Hardwick Hall with Siobhan, my support worker. There are actually two halls, the Old Hall which is in ruins, and the new hall.

Convient access to the ruined old hall was blocked off because of building work and so this was the best photograph I could manage. There was a longer way to get nearer but it was too far for Siobhan though.

The new hall didn't open until eleven o'clock and so we had an hour to enjoy the gardens.

We were very disappointed with the building; it was very dark inside so as to protect the tapestries from sunlight, and since large tapestries were hung on nearly every wall there wasn't much room left for paintings...there was very little furniture and only a few pieces of art.

We stopped at Bolsover on the way back for a pub lunch and then stopped again at a farmshop near Worksop for tea and cake at the cafe.

Blacka Moor, Big Moor, Longshaw Estate and Fox House

I caught the Castleton bus from Sheffield and got off at the first stop inside the Peak District, on Hathersage Road where the footpath goes into Blacka Moor Nature Reserve. I walked through the woods and then out onto open countryside on Totley Moor. I made my way across the moor to the Owler Bar road and then continued onto the next moor, which I've always called 'Big Moor.'

 

I didn't attempt to do any navigation; since I lost my map (and my mapcase) a couple of months ago I find it annoying having to keep stopping and getting my map out of my rucksack - fortunately I've found a cheap source of secondhand maps...£5 for six. I just followed the paths; none of them seemed to be leading me anywhere in particular but eventually I spotted people walking along the path which goes along the top of White Edge. I joined them and headed north to the Longshaw Estate and then the bus stop at Fox House.

Longshaw Estate

After yesterday's problem with my shoulder I was feeling a lot better when I woke up this morning and so decided to go walking in the Peak District. I caught the early train to Sheffield and then the bus to Fox House. I did a five mile loop around the Longshaw Estate and the neighbouring moorland, exploring areas I'd not visited for a few years. I would have walked further, but my left knee was a bit wobbly.

It was busy today, possibly the busiest I've ever seen it at Longshaw - there are people featuring in several of the photographs I took.

Rheumatism

I should have been walking in the Peak District today but I've got a painful and seized up left shoulder due to rheumatism. I was doing my shopping in the town centre yesterday and was really struggling getting my rucksack on and off and decided that I didn't want that to be the case today. I've bought some Deep Heat spray and that seems to be working, I get several hours relief. I'll give it a few days and then see how I feel. 

Idle Valley Nature Reserve

 
An easy walk today; I travelled to the Idle Valley Nature Reserve, just a couple of miles north of Retford and did the Riverside Discovery Trail - a distance of 5.8 miles according to the information boards.

Bakewell, Ashford in the Water, Little Longstone, and Great Longstone

I travelled to Bakewell and then walked alongside the river to Ashford in  the Water, a beautiful village, one of my favourites in the Peak District. As I was leaving Bakewell I took a slightly different route, going by Lumford Cottages. I've always thought this way was a dead end but I saw a man walking his dogs and so followed him.

When I reached Ashford I found a [very short] footpath that I'd not used before - it just led down to the river bank...this time my chosen route was indeed a dead end.

I then headed north to Little Longstone, not really entering the village as I took the path over to the right going across the fields to Great Longstone. I walked through that village [but not along the main street] and then  made my way back to Bakewell using the Monsal Trail. 

During the last few weeks they've been felling a lot of trees along the route of the Monsal Trail; it's certainly opened up the views at either side. Previously I wouldn't have been able to take this shot.