My Photographs

When I started this blog five years ago I only made use of photographs to illustrate the places where I'd been walking. At that time there was a limited capacity for uploading images and so I tended to only include a couple of pictures per post. However, more recently I've been taking more time actually taking photographs and giving a lot more thought to the quality of the images. I've been quite happy with the results and have been posting a lot more photographs on here now that bandwidth use isn't an issue. I've received a few positive comments about the artistic merit of my photos; this is appreciated and is certainly an incentive to continue to experiment...and hopefully improve.

I've noticed that several of my images have been published elsewhere online. Three of them have had their locations misidentified; Cusworth Hall here in Doncaster is being used to promote a golf resort and spa in southern California, a view of the River Don taken from Conisbrough Viaduct is masquerading as a river in Germany, and a picture I took from the viaduct at Monsal Head showing the River Wye was genuinely mistaken for an image of the River Wye in Herefordshire - when I contacted the blog owner she promptly removed my photograph and apologised. Finally, a photograph of a pretty cottage in Baslow is being used on the website of a holiday cottage company...I suspect it might be one of their properties. 

Tideswell Dale, Litton Mill, Cressbrook, Upperdale, Asford-in-the-Water, and Bakewell.

Some people boarding the number 65 service this morning en route would have been slightly confused when a Doncaster Park & Ride branded bus turned up. The vehicle was quite small with limited legroom, in contrast to the usual double-decker. I was quite squashed and uncomfortable for part of the journey and needed to do some stretch exercises when I arrived at my destination. 

The toilets and carpark at Tideswell Dale are right next to the bus stop. It didn't take long for me to walk along the mile or so of the accessible trail to reach the road that leads to the pretty hamlet of Litton Mill.

I then walked along the concessionary footpath towards Cressbrook, noticing the sign just before reaching Rubicon Wall at Water-cum-Jolly Dale.

I thought there was a good chance that I might be needing to use the diversionary footpath....and I was correct; the path was flooded to a depth of about eight inches - it looked as though the water had been a lot higher though.

I wasn't disappointed though; I haven't walked along the high level route to Cressbrook before and always enjoy covering new terrain.

I continued along the road to the small settlement of Upperdale and then took the footpath leading up to the Monsal Trail. I remained on the Trail for only a few hundred yards before descending to the valley bottom again just before the Headstone Viaduct near Monsal Head and headed downstream along the bank of the River Wye.

It wasn't long before I could hear the roaring noise of the weir; I have never seen it looking so spectacular; complete with spray and foam. I couldn't get a really good photograph because there were too many people around: this section of the riverbank is very popular with families enjoying picnics.

It's about another mile to the carpark at White Lodge. I was hoping to find an ice cream van there, but was disappointed. I went to the toilets though. These facilities are composting toilets and so there isn't a flush - there are detailed instructions and explanations though.

I then took the footpath which leads through Great Shacklow Wood to Ashford-in-the-Water. When I reached one difficult section where you need to basically crawl along a stony riverbed and then climb up between some rocks I met a couple who were considering turning back. I told them I have walked this route before, and that although it was much wetter than on my previous visits, it is perfectly passable. So...they continued; we walked together for a couple of minutes until I found a sunny spot to finish off the last of my sandwiches.

The path continues through the wood and then gently descends down to the riverbank.

The last few minutes of this section are along roads until reaching Asford-in-the-Water where I had a quick drink of Diet Pepsi sitting outside the pub and then popped into the shop because I noticed that they sold Bradwell's Ice Cream - my favourite. I asked for my favourite flavour, lemon curd, but they didn't stock it - so I had cherry Bakewell flavour instead.

I timed my stay in the village so that I could have a leisurely walk along the riverbank into Bakewell.

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Miller's Dale, Priestcliffe, Brushfield, Hassop Station and Bakewell.

A bad day today for public transport between Doncaster and Sheffield. Although it was misty and not very good conditions for photography, it was fine for walking and I really enjoyed myself - I even took the opportunity to photograph this footpath sign which refers to part of my anatomy.

The were no trains to Sheffield, the regular X78 bus was delayed because of problems with a new ticket machine which needs to scan all concessionary travel passes...and then the bus broke down at Rotherham.

It took over an hour and a half to reach Sheffield, on a service which is supposed to be an express. Obviously I'd missed the bus I was intending to catch at Sheffield, and so had to change my plans.

I caught the Buxton bus and got off at Miller's Dale, walking down the road for a few hundred yards and taking the Limestone Way, up over the hill to Priestcliffe.

I then walked across fields and along the bottom of a lovely little dry valley called High Dale, which reminded me of similar valleys in the Yorkshire Wolds. This section was a joy to walk along; gently sloping downhill with springy grass underfoot.

There was then a short section of road leading to the hamlet of Brushfield, and then a byway of varying standard almost to the Monsal Trail just below Monsal Head - the last few yards down onto the trail is a steep, rocky footpath though.

I walked across the viaduct and through the Headstone Tunnel to arrive at the combined café and bookshop at Hassop Station. I enjoyed a rather nice scone with marmalade, and a pot of tea. I thought it was a bit expensive, but the surroundings were rather posh, and the service polite and efficient.

It was only a short walk into Bakewell where I had enough time to spend a few minutes watching people feed the ducks and geese down by the river, and have a look round a couple of the hiking shops. I didn't buy anything though.