Ollerton, Hardwick Village, Clumber Park and Worksop

There were very few trains running again today and so I've been travelling on the buses in Nottinghamshire.

After arriving at Worksop, I caught the bus to Ollerton and then walked back to Worksop passing through Clumber Park.

The church at Ollerton doesn't feature on the blog because I couldn't find any suitable angles to photograph it from. 

After spending a few minutes exploring I headed north along the western bank of the River Maun.  After a couple of miles I needed to walk along the road for a short section until I joined the Robin Hood Way. At this point there were hundreds of caravans and a lot of dogwalkers attending the 'Fake Festival' nearby. 

A bit further on I arrived at a location known as 'Robin Hood's Cave.'

I continued heading north until I reached Hardwick Village at the eastern end of Clumber Park.

Last year this ford at Hardwick was also closed to pedestrians because the wooden walkway has collapsed, but I managed to walk through the water. I didn't do that today though; a few days ago there was torrential rain in the Worksop area and the River Poulter was a lot higher, and angrier.

I stopped for a drink of tea at the refreshments concession down by the lake and then did a short detour into Hardwick Village, the estate village for Clumber Park.

I finished the walk by taking the most direct route through the park back to Worksop, the bus station is quite close to the priory and its gatehouse.

Moscar to Totley

I travelled to Moscar Lodge on the county boundary with Derbyshire and headed south across the moors towards Stanage Edge. I waked along the top of the edge for the entirety of its length and then continued along the top of Burbage Rocks.

For the first time ever I explored Robin Hood's Cave; it's usually busy. I didn't go all the way inside though because I needed to do some stretching and twisting and was worried about pulling a muscle.

Just before reaching Fox House I spotted a path going towards Parson House Outdoor Education Centre. I assumed it would be a shortcut taking me to the Sheffield road but it seems that it's just what people studying there use as access to the Burbage Valley. I had to walk along the outside of the perimeter fence for a few hundred yards; it was still a shorter route than going to Fox House though.

I then joined the Sheffield Country Walk as it crosses Totley Moor and finished at the Cross Scythes Inn on Baslow Road in Totley where I caught a bus back to the city centre. 

Just after coming down off the moors I spotted this impressive statue of a stag on some private land - I obviously couldn't get up close for a better shot.

Further down the hill there were two more animal statues, also on  private land. The first one featured a bear, but this was all I got when I photographed it.

I had more look with the second one though.

For the second consecutive walk I didn't need to consult my map; whether or not I complete my hat-trick will most likely depend on whether or not I'm on my own when I go on my next walk...there's a realistic chance I won't be though because I've been invited to go with Kim and her friends on some of their training walks as they prepare for the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge in August.