The Secret Gardens Of Winster 2017

My first visit to an open gardens event this summer, I've not been able to arrange one until now - but I'm hoping to fit in at least one more. I went to Winster Secret Gardens last year and really enjoyed the day; this year was even better though because the weather was absolutely perfect...unlike last year's cloud and an occasional short shower.

I went with Siobhan, my support worker, in the car. We arrived at one o'clock, well before the gardens opened at 1:30. Inside the church there was an exhibition of local art on display, so we headed there. We set off in the wrong direction though, but I ended up with a pretty cottage to photograph.

None of my photographs of the church was any good and so I haven't included them. We spent a few minutes inside waiting for the clock to chime for 1:30 and then headed up the hill to the first garden. Unusually, no photography was allowed in this garden - that wasn't the case anywhere else though.

These are the best of the photographs I took of the gardens and the village.

There wasn't just the gardens to look at and enjoy; there was also a jazz combo in one garden, several gardens where food was available, some serving alcohol as well, the art exhibition in the church, tearooms set up in the village hall, and a scarecrow trail for the children...and finally a sheep shearing demonstration which was pointed out to us all on the shuttle bus which we took back to the car park established in a field just outside the village. We didn't have enough time to take in all of the gardens, I think there were three we missed - we ran out of time and Siobhan's ankle was a bit sore because of all of the steps and the hills...as a walker I wasn't surprised at all when she told me that walking downhill and descending the steps was the worst.

Yet again we got lost driving through Sheffield city centre on our way home to Doncaster - I think this has happened every time.

A Bit Of Boatspotting At Sprotbrough

One of my regular runs out to Sprotbrough, concentrating on photographing the boats today; as usual I went in the car with my support worker Marshall...Sprotbrough is easy to reach on the bus though - it only takes fifteen minutes from the bus station.

After sitting in the car and eating our sandwiches because all of the benches were taken by members of a walking group we arrived at the lock just in time to see a barge from Leeds passing through.

Nearby, and right next to the towpath, a swan was making a nest.

The Wyre Lady was moored in its usual place; it's the large blue and white boat on the left in the photograph. It does weekend cruises up to Conisbrough and can be hired out as a party boat. The red boats are all dredgers.

The next photograph features the 'Sapphire,'  one of the boats owned by Yorkshire Narrow Boats, based at Sprotbrough; their other boat the 'Emerald' is slightly smaller...and I've rarely seen it on the river.

On our way home we called at the supermarkets on Barnsley Road and York Road. At Aldi I had to take a photograph of this, both myself and Marshall have never come across this term before and looked on the shelves if we could work out what 'Swimming Noodles' might be.

I do know now what they are though - here's a link to the Google Images search result page:

https://www.google.com/search?site=&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1920&bih=946&q=swimming+noodles&oq=swimming+noodles&gs_l=img.3..0l6j0i30k1l2j0i8i30k1l2.1896.5804.0.6180.17.17.0.0.0.0.76.980.16.16.0....0...1.1.64.img..1.16.980.0.MchBdaHABMA

Clarborough, South Wheatley, Sturton le Steeple, Fenton, North Leverton with Habblesthorpe, Welham, and Retford

The drivers, or conductors, on Northern Trains were on strike today so there were fewer trains than usual going to Sheffield - so that's a good enough reason for me to have chosen a walk that means just travelling on buses.

I caught the service number 99 to Retford and then only had ten minutes to wait for the number 97 and the short journey to Clarborough.

I got off the bus and walked down Church Lane, arriving at the church a few minutes later.

The route of the footpath across the fields towards the Trent Valley Way was difficult for me to find, and I actually went the wrong way, going about a mile and a quarter further than I'd planned. The path was quite overgrown in places with nettles, thistles, and brambles and wasn't signposted at all; there were just difficult-to-see kissing gates along the way. I didn't really mind about the extra distance though because I ended up quite high up with some lovely views.

As I entered South Wheatley I immediately turned right and headed for the ruined church, where I ate my sandwiches sitting on a bench in the well-maintained churchyard.

There's a footpath which runs alongside the churchyard and according to the map heads straight for the still active church at North Wheatley at the top of the hill. I followed the path across a field but couldn't find any way out, even after a complete circuit...so I returned to the road and headed off in the direction of Sturton le Steeple. As I left South Wheatley I took a photograph of the village's welcome sign, as I always do when I'm entering or leaving a village in Nottinghamshire. I really like these signs, and have photographed quite a few now - the ones for each village are unique and feature something associated with the place, either historic or cultural. I added three more to my collection today.

I chose to take one of the footpaths across the fields to Sturton le Steeple; I wish I hadn't though because just after I'd crossed the railway line which leads to West Burton Power Station I found myself needing to walk through a field of impenetrable rapeseed. I chickened out and walked around the edge, which was still difficult enough - somehow I reached the road without too much trouble, although my clothes were covered in seeds, insects and pieces of whatever vegetation had stuck to me.

Despite the name of the village being 'Sturton le Steeple' the church actually has a tower, not a steeple...although it is quite unusual and has some features which are maybe more like a steeple.

I popped in to The Reindeer pub across the road from the church and ordered a pint of Diet Pepsi; at only £1.20 it was the least I've paid for a very long time. Cheers!

I took the footpath across the fields to the next village, North Leverton with Habblesthorpe, which is the longest official place name in England, and the second longest in Europe...only beaten by Llanfair­pwllgwyngyll­gogery­chwyrn­drobwll­llan­tysilio­gogo­goch in Wales.

It's only a short walk along the lane to North Leverton Windmill, which was turning as I passed and took some photographs.

I continued to head due west across a variety of landscapes until I reached one of the back streets of Welham and then a lane which led to the outskirts of Retford, from where I caught my bus back to Doncaster, from the Market Place.

Hooton Pagnell Fete 2017

Visiting the annual summer fete at Hooton Pagnell is one of my favourite days out when the weather's nice; it's so easy for me to get there, just a short bus ride and then a walk of about a mile and a half. This is the third time in three years that I've been.

I caught the bus to Hickleton as usual and took a few photographs, some different subjects and angles I hope.

  

After a few minutes in the village I left by walking along the road and across a potato field and then returning to the road  until I reached Hooton Pagnell at about  11:15, I noticed that the car park which had been established next to the cricket field was already beginning to fill up.

I paid my £3 entrance fee and held out my left hand to have the back of it stamped. I had a quick look around at what there was to see this year, and there seemed to be more entertainment available...and a hog roast. 

I didn't buy anything, not even a cream tea at the church because each time I popped inside to check it was far too busy. The highlights for me were the solo singer on the stage in the car park at the back of The Hostel performing popular singalong favourites and the jazz quintet, the Doncaster Concert Band was okay, but seemed to play exactly the same tunes as last year...and in the same order.

My favourite subject to photograph was Corner Cottage, which it usually is whenever I visit the village.

I left the fete at two o'clock, after spending three hours there. I wanted to get back to town before the shops closed and the quickest, and easiest way, was for me to walk across the fields to Woodlands and catch a bus from there.