Gringley on the Hill, Walkeringham, Misterton, Misson, Newington, Austerfield, and Bawtry

After a couple of hours of dancing, jumping up and down, stamping my feet, clapping, singing, cheering and even screaming at the 'Killer Queen' concert, a Queen tribute act appearing at Sheffield City Hall last night, I didn't fancy an early start for the Peak District this morning so I caught the ten o'clock bus for Gringley on the Hill, which is on the way to Gainsborough.

The church was open, someone was already inside; it was very dark and not very good at all for taking photos with my camera...so I've only included this one outdoor shot.

I continued to walk through the village, following the route of the Trent Valley Way down the lane to the Chesterfield Canal, walking along the towpath for only a few hundred yards before taking the bridleway that goes past Leys Farm.

I crossed over the canal again before reaching the road that leads in to Walkeringham. There was more for me to photograph at the church there.

I headed across the fields to Misterton. At some time the footpath here must have been diverted around what looks like some well-disguised oil storage facilities - the area is just marked as 'Depot' on the map. There are several oil wells nearby which you can see as you drive along the main road from Bawtry to Gainsborough.

I left Misterton and headed north along the main road to reach the River Idle at Haxey Gate Inn.

I turned to the west and walked along the bank for three miles until I reached a track that leads into Misson.

My feet were hurting me a bit by now and the gravel surface on the track to Newington didn't help at all. My feet are alright now that I've got home - the boots I was wearing aren't specialist hiking or walking boots and aren't really suitable. I was glad that the final couple of miles into Bawtry were along a road with a causeway.

Too Tired

I had intended to go walking today but I'm too tired after two successive late nights at the theatre, sitting quietly all evening and then yelling "Bravo! Bravo!" at the end of Verdi's opera Nabucco at Sheffield City Hall last night, and dancing in the aisles to an Abba tribute band at Wakefield on Saturday night.

Today's walk would have been the last walk when I would have been able to use my English National Concessionary Travel Scheme pass to travel for free to the Peak District; it's a lovely sunny day and I'm rather disappointed not to be taking the opportunity to be walking in the dales, or across the moors. I do feel rather fatigued though; it's probably the cumulative effect of the tablets that I'm taking for my acid reflux erosive oesophagitis - I bought some multivitamin and iron tablets this morning and I'm hoping these will help. 

I'll still be able to use my pass for travelling to local destinations, and I've already got plenty planned to last me throughout the summer. One local area I've not really explored much is North Nottinghamshire; Doncaster has got good bus services to Worksop and Retford and so I should be able to easily reach Clumber Park and Cresswell Crags.

I'm hoping that I'll still be able to manage an occasional walk in the Peak District; a couple of acquaintances who have cars have mentioned the possibility of getting out on the moors for a bit of walking.