Carlton in Lindrick, Kiveton Park, Todwick, Hardwick, and Thurcroft

I needed to spend a few minutes last night transferring all of my walking equipment into a different rucksack; my regular one is now no use since a shoulder strap snapped in the Peak District yesterday.

Today I chose to go walking in north Nottingamshire and over the boundary into Rotherham borough, and so caught the bus to Carlton in Lindrick. I got off and headed off across the fields in a generally westerly direction, regularly turning around to look behind me to enjoy the view of the church in the distance.

The bridleway just beyond the point from where I took the first photograph has been re-routed; it's clearly signposted and looks to be more suitable.

My first destination was the club house at Lindrick Golf Course - it's easy to locate on the map. I then needed to walk across several areas of the golf course before reaching the Chesterfield Canal at Cinderhill Lock, lock number 41. The canal isn't very busy and so I was pleasantly surprised to see a barge passing through the lock...crewed entirely by elves of various sizes.

Obviously the walk along the towpath is easy going and I continued all the way up to the bricked up entrance to Norwood Tunnel.

I walked past the Old Colliery Offices and the shops at Kiveton Park and then found my way across the fields to the northwestern corner of Todwick, from where I had to walk down a road until I reached a footpath for Hardwick.

The fishing lake at Hardwick is a lovely spot.

Every stile along the final stretch of the walk across the fields as I approached Thurcroft was damaged, and a couple were in quite a dangerous state...I don't know if this is due to negligence, or sabotage. I emerged safe and sound...but quite muddy as I walked down the road towards Thurcroft. I increased my pace, hoping to reach the main road in the village in time to catch the bus back to Doncaster; I wasn't sure at what time it departs, but surely it would be better to get a move on rather than dawdle. I was disappointed to get to the bus stop five minutes after the bus was due to leave and so would have to wait fifty five minutes for the next one...or go back home via Rotherham. Just before the Rotherham bus appeared at the far end of the lane the Doncaster bus popped around the corner on its journey from Dinnington. It was running twelve minutes late...and this had worked in my favour today.

Apart from a twenty minute break to eat my sandwiches at the first bench I passed on the canal towpath I was walking non-stop, and quite briskly at times today, and reckon I must have completed a distance of about fifteen miles - I'm very pleased with that. 

A Short Walk Up On To The Moors From The Suburbs Of Sheffield

This wasn't the walk I had planned to do today but due to more equipment failure I had to abandon the walk and return to the nearest bus stop; I did manage to get out for a few hours in the best of the weather though before it clouded over. I covered about seven miles...even though I wanted to go further.

I left the railway station at Sheffield and walked up Howard Street to catch the number 51 bus on Arundel Gate.

It's only a short journey to the start of the walk at Hallamshire Golf Club but it took longer than it should because the bus was very busy with schoolchildren and hospital workers getting on and off.

The footpath goes down by the club house and then right across one of the fairways before turning to the left in the direction of the Peak District.

Although still only in the suburbs of Sheffield and not very far from the built up area at all there were some good views down into the Rivelin Valley, in front of me looking towards the Peak District, and behind me looking back towards the city centre...and the conditions underfoot were quite difficult in places too.

After about half a mile or so I could hear the noise of the engines and the reversing beepers of the heavy plant working at the lower of the two Rivelin Dams. I was out of earshot though by the time I was walking down through the woods to the upper dam and the track which goes along the bottom of the valley. 

I needed to climb back up again, onto the moors this time - still heading west until I reached the remains of Oaking Clough Reservoir. When I was looking at this area on an online map and noticed that there was a building here I automatically assumed it would be housing for the old pumping machinery. As soon as it came into view though I new this wasn't the case; the building is quite substantial...and has a chimney. 

There's easy access by using a series of walkways and so I decided to stop and eat my sandwiches inside. It looks like the building is two substantial and separate overnight shelters, maybe for waterworks employees, or even shepherds...I don't know. There are fireplaces, tables and storage cupboards; or at least the remains of...it's all a bit dilapidated now, although the roof is almost completely intact.

As I was struggling to take off my rucksack one of the shoulder straps snapped and broke off. Another piece of equipment failure after my recent problem with my boots. I decided to abandon the walk and make my way back to the nearest bus stop; the terminus at Lodge Moor. Fortunately the walking conditions were easy, a wide level track on the moors and then the rest of the way along the road - Redmires Road.

Peak District Pubs I've Visited

Following on from my post about Peak District cafes and tearooms a few months ago:

I've visited quite a few pubs in the Peak District and I'll probably struggle to remember them all; I've only ever ordered a pot of tea or a glass of Diet Coke/Pepsi though...oh, and when I've been visiting places with my friend Justin we'd usually have a meal.

I'll start with the towns:

BAKEWELL: I had a nice, but rather expensive carvery meal at one of the pubs. I'm not sure which one, but my best guess is The Peacock.

BUXTON: Milton's Head - a very strange pub with an even stranger clientele. Visiting with Justin we had a poor meal, matched by poor service. 

Railway Hotel - A Wetherspoon's pub, so you know what you're getting.

MATLOCK AND MATLOCK BATH: The Crown - another Wetherspoon's pub. It was very busy both times I visited with Justin...but it was during the Victorian Christmas Market though.

The Midland - at Matlock Bath. We had a nice, but rather expensive, fish and chips meal.

The villages - approximately from north to south.

YORKSHIRE BRIDGE: Yorkshire Bridge Inn - an interesting collection of old farming implements hanging from the ceiling...chamber pots too I think!

BAMFORD: The Angler's Rest - run as a community business this combined pub and cafe is quite cheap and has a large selection of cakes.

HOPE: The Old Hall - technically I've only visited the attached tearooms, but have gone inside the pub to use the toilets.

CASTLETON: Olde Nag's Head - an average, at best, game pie when I visited with Justin.

The Peak Inn - very handy location directly across from the bus station. Very happy to welcome muddy boots.

BROUGH: The Traveller's Rest - a large beer garden and outdoor seating area.

HATHERSAGE: The Scotsman's Pack - also has a nice outdoor seating area.

FOX HOUSE: Fox House Inn - a log fire [I think.]

PEAK FOREST: Devonshire Arms - a lovely pot of tea and a plate of biscuits served to me out in the beer garden at the back.

FROGGATT: The Grouse Inn - an isolated location up on the moors. My glass of Diet Coke/Pepsi was very expensive.

GREAT HUCKLOW: Queen Anne Inn - I had a glass of Diet Coke/Pepsi, that's all I remember.

BRETTON: The Barrel Inn - very handy for the toilets, they're just inside the door. I have been inside and ordered a drink a couple of times.

GREAT LONGSTONE: White Lion - I think my presence and custom was merely tolerated here.

ASHFORD-IN-THE-WATER - Bull's Head. Nothing remarkable.

BEELEY: Devonshire Arms - they operate a system of bartering at this pub; cash is also accepted though.

OVER HADDON: Lathkill Hotel - very snooty when I visited...I think they are even less welcoming to walkers now.

ROWSLEY: The Peacock - pleasant enough, nothing special though.

BIRCHOVER: The Druid Inn - nice location at the western end of the village.

TANSLEY - The Gate Inn - I remember being very thirsty when I visited this pub.

Thanks to Google Maps for helping me with my research - my memory isn't that good!

Stanton in Peak, Winster, Brightgate, South Darley, Darley Bridge, and Darley Dale

As usual when I go walking in the Peak District I caught the train to Sheffield; I then caught the bus to Bakewell and then a local bus to Stanton in Peak. The final stage of my journey, from Bakewell, was only twenty minutes, and wasn't I glad about that because it was colder on the bus than it was outside.

After taking some photos of the church at Stanton I climbed up towards Stanton Moor, initially going the wrong, but soon realising my mistake - at least there was a nice view for me to to photograph before turning back.

My photograph of the church isn't up to my usual standards, but the light was terrible and the church itself and its location aren't particularly attractive either.

As I approached the moor a few snow flurries started to fall; as there was already lying snow on the ground from a previous snowfall a few days ago, today was definitely my first snow of the winter.

I took a slightly different route across Stanton Moor today but still managed to visit the Nine Ladies Stone Circle and the Earl Grey Tower. When I reached the Nine Ladies I was alone...the ladies obliged by posing for me and my camera.

Quite near to the tower I noticed this brightly painted pebble left at the side of a stile...it must have taken quite a bit of time and effort to produce this. I removed it to take the photo...then put it back - maybe it's some sort of pagan good luck charm.

I took the footpath over the fields to Wensley; it would have been very muddy in places if the ground wasn't frozen hard. I didn't take time to explore the village - I've been here several times before. I quickly found the footpath which goes out of Winster just beyond the Old Market House.

The path soon joined up with the Limestone Way, which I followed for about a mile before walking along the road to the hamlet of Brightgate, from where I turned north towards South Darley. I had better results when photographing the church there.

Finally I walked the rest of the way to the bus stop at Darley Dale along the road. As I was passing some of the older houses at South Darley I noticed that they had all been given Welsh names - not the names of places in Wales, but actually Welsh words...most likely descriptive I should think. One of the houses is called 'Plas Newydd' and I can have a guess at its translation: 'New Palace.'

When I got on the bus I placed my pass on the scanner, and it fell off because the scanner had been placed at an angle, at a slope. The driver didn't seem to be surprised or annoyed at all - it must happen all the time. He just bent down, picked it up and handed it back to me.

Everything went well on public transport today and I enjoyed my walk, yet I spent over an hour and a half waiting for buses and another thirty minutes standing on platforms waiting for trains. This a far too long really.

UPDATE: It appears that the painted pebble was placed there by a group called Chesterfield UK Rocks

Another Visit to Leeds

I met up with a friend in a pub in Leeds today for lunch, an 'all you can eat' or 'all you can get on your plate' carvery - I certainly got my money's worth...even though I wasn't the one who was paying. Thankyou Damo for the meal.

I took my camera along and took some photos; the weather conditions were variable though.

After our meal we wandered around the city centre; this gave me the chance to take some more photos.

When we walked past the 'Kitty Cafe' on the corner of Fish Street, an establishment where cats are allowed to roam freely, my friend fancied popping inside. After struggling with the complicated and heavy external front door, and reading the strict and proscriptive house rules we weren't actually let inside because we didn't have a booking...although the place looked quite empty, of both cats and humans.

A few minutes later we found some quiet tearooms in one of the arcades; I ordered my usual pot of tea and Damo had a milkshake with toffee popcorn.

We then gradually made our way up to a pub near to where Damo works and had a drink and a chat for about an hour before he had to start his shift.

Living the high life.