Tags
Bakewell, bridge, Butterbur, Canada Goose, Coot, donkey, ducks, eyebright, Fernilee Reservoir Dam, Field Scabious, Goosander, Goyt Vallry, Great Burnet, Greater Bird's-foot-trefoil, gulls, harebell, marble galls, Peak District, River Goyt, River Wye, sheep, St James' church Taxal, Taxal, Water Mint, watercress, Whaley Bridge, White Beak-sedge
The day after our walk on Ramshaw Rocks we met Alice and Elinor in Bakewell so that we could see how they were and have a meal with them. They travelled to Bakewell on the bus after Alice had finished work for the day in Sheffield. We went for a coffee together and told them the sad news of Richard’s mum’s death. They were both upset but were grateful that we had waited so that we could tell them face-to-face. We then went for a walk through the town and ended up by the river – our favourite spot.
After a pleasant meal together Richard and I saw the girls onto their bus and then we returned to our caravan.
The following day we went for a walk along the valley of the River Goyt. We left the car in a lay-by just south of Whaley Bridge and followed a track, steep at first, from the lay-by down through woodland towards the River Goyt.
The day was very cloudy and there were frequent showers of rain but they weren’t heavy and didn’t diminish the pleasure of our walk. Richard had walked here very often when he was younger, either with the Scouts or with friends but the area was new to me.

The meadows next to the river were pleasant to walk across. You can see from this photo how gloomy the day was.

Richard walking along the track next to Wild Rhubarb/Butterbur (Petasites hybridus). It was about as tall as me (5′ 4″)
We were making our way towards some water-works buildings. I took some photographs of them and some plants I saw but (fortunately for you!) they didn’t come out. The light wasn’t good enough I think.
We walked up the very steep drive belonging to the waterworks and then, at the top, turned towards the road that crosses Fernilee Reservoir Dam.
Richard told me that this bridge is probably an original one for the dam and therefore quite old. Bridges aren’t built this way any more.

We then walked back along the other side of the river which is down in the trees below. There were some lovely views from the path.
This donkey had a job to do – eating its way through all the overgrown grass and plants in the yard. The veil kept the flies out of its eyes.

We crossed the river by a wooden bridge, walked up the steep path to the lay-by and found our car again.
Thanks for visiting!
Ah…the church is so beautiful, Clare. I love so many of the photographs in this post, but I especially enjoyed the photo of Richard strolling down the lane…so lovely! Oh yes, and the lounging cattle. 🙂
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Thank-you Jill! I liked the cattle – they were enormous beasts which isn’t really evident in the photo. I hope you have had a good week and enjoy the weekend ahead. Clare 🙂
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That donkey 🙂 thanks for sharing all the lovely photos of your trip!
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Thank-you so much! 🙂
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I really enjoyed your walk Clare and seeing the things which you both enjoy too. Someone had a very good idea to place a donkey in the churchyard, very eco friendly! We have have a field in our lane where 3 rescue donkeys live, cared for by a couple from the next village. I have the spare key in case they ever get snowed in and cannot make it down the hill to where we live, but I haven’t been needed yet.
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Thank-you Julie. We thought it was a good idea to have the donkey clear the rough ground.
I expect the donkeys in your lane would be pleased to see you if the owners couldn’t get to them to feed them.
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What wonderful photographs and the donkey…both exceedingly gorgeous and stylish 🙂
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I am so pleased you liked the chic donkey!
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Not everyone could rock that headgear 🙂
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😀
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Marvelous walk and a great review!! really, you should write a hiking book! xo Johanna
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Thank-you Johanna! How kind you are! Clare xo
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I don’t think a donkey in a churchyard is anything we would ever see in the U.S. Maybe I live in la-la land, but these old fashioned things in your country are so charming! May they continue. 🙂
I’m very sorry about your mother-in-law’s passing.
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Thank-you Lisa! I was pleased to see the donkey in the churchyard too. It was probably cheaper than hiring a gardener to clear the rough grass and brambles!
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The wild rhubarb is pretty amazing and still lots of wildflowers around. Well spotted.
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Thank-you! These photos were taken in the middle of August when we were away on holiday.
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It was another wonderful stroll through the English countryside, the views of the river were lovely, as were the photos in the slideshow.
I like donkeys also, but I’m not sure about one in the churchyard, maybe it’s an English thing. 😉
It must be wonderful to live in an area where so much history has been preserved, things like the church and the bridges. We have nothing like that around here.
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Thank-you Jerry! We are fortunate to have so many old buildings and bridges but we are also in danger of preserving everything no matter what the quality is and leaving no room for new building. It is very difficult to have improvements put in old buildings as we have found with our church. The donkey was helping to clear some rough ground at the end of the churchyard and was fenced off from the main graveyard. It was probably a cheap option – not as expensive as employing a gardener and the donkey got fed too.
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It looks like that donkey has a lot of work ahead of him. I wonder if they eat everything like a goat will.
You’ve still got quite a few plants blooming. It’s nice to see some flowers. Ours are about done until spring.
It looks like there were some nice lichens here and there as well!
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Thank-you Allen. Donkeys have a similar diet to horses but they also eat bark leaves and brambles. This donkey was helping to clear some rough ground at the bottom of the churchyard.
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A lovely goosander picture at the top of the post. They are very timid round here and it is hard to get such a good picture as yours.
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Thank-you! All the birds on the river in Bakewell are very tame as are the trout that swim in the water.
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Thank you for another lovely walk, Clare. We don’t have goosanders here. Nor do we have wild rhubarb. Is it edible? How funny to find a donkey in a churchyard!
I love the stone church and the bridge. I hope you are all well and have a wonderful weekend. 🙂
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Thank-you Jane! Butterbur isn’t edible though it has been used in herbal medicine for some time. I include this link
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petasites
We don’t see Goosanders here in Suffolk so it was especially good to be able to photograph one in Bakewell. We are fine as I hope you are too. Hope the rest of your weekend goes well. Clare 🙂
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I just love wildflowers. Such beautiful paths and fields to walk through. Great photos!
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Thank-you very much!
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That was a lovely walk through your countryside, Clare! Always a pleasant visit.
We are having some wonderful rainy weather here, much needed!
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Thank-you Lavinia. I’m so pleased you’re getting some rain at last!
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always a treat to be on one of your walks. I love harebells. We saw quite a few on our Keswick walks. My children didn’t know what they were!!
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I don’t think my daughters would know what they were either!
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Loved the bridge
Youâre lucky to have such a nice older structure in that setting
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Thank-you Mark. I love finding these old bridges.
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Clare, This was such a lovely walk! What a lovely river the River Goyt is and I loved the little cascades and the little bridge. It’s so nice for me to see the British wild flowers. I was so interested to see the photos of the Great Burnet. That is a really pretty one, and a plant I do not remember from growing up…probably we did not really live close to water meadows. The church was so charming and ….oh goodness …that donkey!! I absolutely loved him and what a clever idea to keep a little donkey in a churchyard to help with the maintenance! I think more churches should try that idea and it would be a lovely retirement for an old donkey!
Thanks again
-Kate
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Thank-you Kate. I agree with you about the donkey – much cheaper than hiring a gardener. I had never seen a Great Burnet before but recognised it from my ID guide and I’d also seen a post a few weeks before about a visit someone had made to a wildflower meadow where Great Burnets grew.
Best wishes,
Clare
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What a lovely walk! Thanks for sharing… 🙂
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Thank-you!
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I really enjoyed this post, thanks for sharing! Loved the photos of the birds and donkeys. I used to look after a donkey called Tinker! 🙂 x
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A great name for a donkey! 😀 Thanks Becky! x
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