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A Suffolk Lane

~ A diary of my life in rural north Suffolk.

A Suffolk Lane

Tag Archives: Peak District

Ramshaw Rocks

07 Mon Nov 2016

Posted by Clare Pooley in Days out, holidays, plants, Rural Diary, walking

≈ 48 Comments

Tags

heather, hills, Peak District, Ramshaw Rocks, Rosebay Willowherb, walking

The day following our climb up Hen Cloud was very wet and chilly.  We did a little shopping and visited the Book Barn at Brierlow Bar where we both found some interesting books to buy.  We spent the rest of the day resting and reading.  Richard was feeling unwell as he often does on a Saturday which is when he takes a once-weekly tablet for his osteo-porosis.

The next day was our last full day in the Peak District.  It began with rain but by lunchtime the weather was beginning to brighten up.  We went into Leek and indulged in some more oatcakes and on our return to the caravan we were pleased to see that the awning was dry and so we emptied it and took it down while we could.   We drove to Ramshaw Rocks and took our last walk in the Peaks this year.

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I had to take a photo of the colourful plants we saw at the beginning of our walk

The Rosebay Willowherb (Chamerion angustifolium) had started to change colour because of the cooler temperatures.  The bright green grass, the cooler green of the fir tree, the purple heather and the bright pink of the willowherb looked so good together.

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There was still some Rosebay Willowherb in flower

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Ramshaw Rocks

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The purple hill in the centre of this photo is Hen Cloud where we had climbed a couple of days before

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I love the way these limestone rocks have been eroded by wind and rain

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The path was a little wet after all the rain we had had.

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Ramshaw Rocks

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Very strange!

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The path

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I always think this looks like a pointing finger

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Ramshaw Rocks

There was very low light and the rain was never far away during the whole of our walk.

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Looking towards Hen Cloud again

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Another view from the rocks

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Richard found a pleasant place to sit. Underneath him was a shelter from wind and rain. I can imagine that sheep would like it here in the winter.

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Looking down to the road beneath.

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Ramshaw Rocks

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I call this rock the Top Hat. Those of you who know the 1995 TV adaptation of Pride and Prejudice with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth may recognise this rock.  

We returned to the car and went back to out caravan to spend our last night away from home.  The next morning we set off at 6.00 am to travel to Sheffield to collect Elinor before Alice set off for work at 8.00 am.  We took her back to Blackshaw Moor, collected the caravan and went home.

Thanks for visiting!

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Rain Almost Stops Play

01 Tue Nov 2016

Posted by Clare Pooley in Days out, holidays, Rural Diary, walking

≈ 44 Comments

Tags

good food, Hen Cloud, Meerbrook, Peak District, Rain, Ramshaw Rocks, The Lazy Trout, The Roaches, Tittesworth Water, views, walking

We woke on the fourth full day of our holiday to thick cloud and while we ate our breakfast we heard the first raindrops on the roof of our caravan.  We spent a little time tidying and cleaning the caravan and then drove into town to do some shopping in the supermarket.  It was very wet by the time we had finished so we were glad to get back and have a hot cup of coffee.  We had arranged to have a meal with Richard’s brother Chris and it was booked for 1.30 pm at ‘The Lazy Trout’ in Meerbrook, a village a few minutes drive away.  We set off at 1.15.

Photograph borrowed from the internet.

My brother-in-law arrived shortly after we did and we enjoyed an extremely pleasant meal in this very welcoming place.  If anyone is in the area I would heartily recommend the food – it is delicious!

We had thought we might have a walk round Tittesworth Water after our meal but the rain was still heavy so we returned to our caravan for hot drinks and a chat.  Chris stayed with us until 6.30 pm by which time the rain had stopped.  Richard and I decided not to waste a nice evening and so drove to Hen Cloud and did our once yearly clamber up to the top.

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Looking towards Tittesworth Water from where we parked the car.

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Looking over the wall towards The Roaches

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Hen Cloud

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Hen Cloud again

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Looking East from halfway up the hill.  Ramshaw Rocks are on the left of the photo

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Looking towards Ramshaw Rocks from even further up Hen Cloud

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View down to the road and beyond to Tittesworth Water from the top of Hen Cloud. We noticed more bad weather approaching!

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Definitely more rain on the way!

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Threatening clouds

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It still didn’t look too bad in this direction

We decided to get back to the car before the rain arrived.

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One last look at the reservoir…

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…and at the views from the top

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We would have preferred to have stayed up at the top for much longer but the sensible thing to do was to get to the bottom before the rain caused the rocks to get slippery and the low clouds to lessen visibility.  We were surprised to see a group of young boys being taken climbing up the Roaches as we got to the bottom of the hill.  By this time it was about 8.00 pm and the thick cloud was making it very dark.

We were back at our caravan before the rain began again.

To be continued…

Thanks for visiting!

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The Cat and Fiddle

25 Tue Oct 2016

Posted by Clare Pooley in Days out, holidays, plants, Rural Diary, walking, wild flowers

≈ 70 Comments

Tags

Bird's-foot Trefoil, Cat and Fiddle pass, Cat and Fiddle pub, Cladonia pleurota, Common Cottongrass, Common Hawker dragonfly, common knapweed, common ragwort, conifer plantation, Crosswort, Derbyshire Bridge car park, driven grouse shooting, eyebright, Goyt Valley, harebell, Harlequin ladybird, heath bedstraw, heather, Kestrel, Knotted Pearlwort, Lesser Stitchwort, Lousewort, Meadow Crane's-bill, milestone, Mountain Pansy, old coach road, Peak District, River Goyt, Shining Tor, Sneezewort, tormentil, Upright Hedge Parsley, walking, yarrow

On the third day of our stay in the Peak District we decided on a slightly longer walk than usual and took a picnic with us.  We drove towards Buxton but just before entering the town we took the A54 road off to the right and then a minor road off that road and parked the car in the Derbyshire Bridge car park.  This is a pleasant spot and is used as a picnic area.

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A ladybird on our rather dusty windscreen

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A Ladybird larva on the car.

Unfortunately, both ladybird and larva are Harlequin Ladybirds which have now outstayed their welcome in this country.  I wish that those in authority were more wary about using introduced insects to control other insects.

We were delayed at the beginning of our walk by the car beeping an alarm whenever we tried locking the doors.  After disturbing a couple who were having a picnic with their little grandson we decided that we ought to look at the car’s manual.  We found that the car was telling us that we were locking the spare key inside the car and that it would rather we didn’t.  I took the key out of my handbag which I had left in the boot and we were then able to start our walk.

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The first part of the walk was along a path beside the infant River Goyt.

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I saw this Common Hawker dragonfly (Aeshna juncea). It was typically wary and didn’t settle where I could get a good photo of it.  Only its head and wings and a little part of its thorax/abdomen can be seen here.

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Upright Hedge Parsley (Torilis japonica)

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The Goyt was running along merrily

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Lesser Stitchwort (Stellaria graminea)

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Bird’s-foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) and Upright Hedge Parsley

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A bridge across the water

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A view of the surrounding moorland

This is a typical sight in moorland where driven grouse shooting takes place.  The patches on the hillside show where the heather has been burned to promote new growth shoots for the grouse to feed on.   I have recently signed a petition to have this sport banned as I think that instead of conserving wildlife these estates try to eradicate any creatures that may be a threat to their grouse.  All raptors, including the scarce Hen Harrier and Golden Eagles are considered a threat and are regularly shot or poisoned illegally by some, not all, gamekeepers employed on some of these estates.  In Scotland hundreds of thousands of Mountain Hare are culled every year.  I’ve signed another petition about this too!  I feel very strongly about this as you no doubt have realised.

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The Heather (Calluna vulgaris) was in full bloom

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The path across the moor

At this point we turned onto another path which rose up towards a plantation.  We entered the forest through a gate.

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The forest path

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Inside the forest were walls and the remains of buildings

This reminded me of the stone walls that Allen from New Hampshire Garden Solutions  finds in his local forest.  In this case the land that was originally farmed for sheep was subsequently acquired by a company or organisation that planted conifers but didn’t bother dismantling the walls.

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A weir we found halfway through the plantation

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Richard on the bridge over the river

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The simple bridge

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The barrier just up-stream from the bridge and weir

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Lousewort (Pedicularis sylvatica)

This was a flower I had never seen before.  It is very small and the leaves are tiny!  It is semi-parasitic on other plants’ roots.

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We could see one of the local reservoirs from the path that went up by the side of the plantation.

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Our path….

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…. got rougher and steeper

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I think this lichen may be Cladonia pleurota

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Heath Bedstraw (Galium saxatile)

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I cannot identify this tiny bug. It marched purposefully across this rather bleak landscape.

The three photos above were taken while we rested and ate our lunch.  This last part of the walk I found exhausting as it was a continuous uphill climb and on very uneven and rough paths with large, loose rocks to walk over.

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This is the view I saw when I looked up from my seat on a rock

The weather was cloudier and cooler than earlier in the week.  We were glad of this!

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There was still plenty of late Common Cottongrass (Eriophorum angustifolium) in amongst the Heather

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This might be a slime mould but I am not sure!

View from the path
View from the path
View from the path
View from the path
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A Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) hovering high up in the sky

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A veritable garden of lichen and moss on top of a stone wall.  It’s a pity the photo isn’t any clearer.

Shining Tor from a distance
Shining Tor from a distance
Shining Tor close up
Shining Tor close up

We had thought we might go up Shining Tor but we changed our minds when we had got to the top of the stony path.  We were too tired.  Why is it called ‘Shining Tor’?  I don’t know.

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This is another view from where we were standing.

The visibility wasn’t great and the distant hills were lost in haze but the sky above us was clear and blue now.  We began to descend towards the Cat and Fiddle pass (I expect you were wondering why this post was called Cat and Fiddle) and the Cat and Fiddle pub.

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An out of focus photo of a wild pansy growing next to the path. I think it may be a Mountain Pansy (Viola lutea)

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More pansies

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and even more pansies!

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Just one more!

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I eventually looked up and noticed the view. The road you see in the middle distance is the Cat and Fiddle Pass.

Harebells ( Campanula rotundifolia)
Harebells ( Campanula rotundifolia)
Tormentil (Potentilla erecta)
Tormentil (Potentilla erecta)
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The Cat and Fiddle pub (on the right of the photo)

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I saw more Cottongrass next to the path but this was definitely past its best!

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I then saw an interesting-looking stone just to the left of the path

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On closer examination I found it was an old mile-stone and realised that the path we had been walking on since Shining Tor was part of the old coach road.

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I looked at the path and saw that it looked very much like an old road. Richard is ahead of me here as usual and is near where the path joins the new busy road.

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I found a very late orchid in the grass. It was faded and I couldn’t identify it.

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We were disappointed to discover that the pub was shut and we weren’t to get a drink after all.

It does seem sad that the place that the pass was named after should be shut and empty.  We walked past the pub.  Through the windows we could see everything had been left as it was on the day it had shut months before.  There was even a menu board extolling the virtues of a meat pie!

We soon turned off the main road onto a narrow road that would eventually bring us back to the carpark.  I saw many different plants on the way.

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Meadow Crane’s-bill (Geranium pratense)

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Lots more Common Cotton Grass

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Common Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) and Common Knapweed (Centaurea nigra)

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Yet another poor photo I’m afraid! This is another flower I had never seen before – Knotted Pearlwort (Sagina nodosa)

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A very pink Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

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Sneezewort (Achillea ptarmica)

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Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis agg.)

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Crosswort (Cruciata laevipes)

We found the car, drove back to our caravan and made ourselves a nice cup of tea.  We were quite tired after our long walk and found it difficult to stay awake.  We had arranged to have lunch with my brother-in-law the next day so Richard booked a table at a local restaurant and phoned his brother to let him know when and where we were to meet each other.

To be continued….

Thanks for visiting!

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Peveril Castle

09 Sun Oct 2016

Posted by Clare Pooley in Days out, holidays, plants, Rural Diary, wild flowers

≈ 54 Comments

Tags

Castleton, courtyard, English Heritage, harebells, maidenhair spleenwort, Mam Tor, Peak District, Peveril Castle, ruins, the keep, views, wild marjoram

The day following our walk at Ilam we had arranged to meet Alice and Elinor at Castleton in Derbyshire.

Castleton is a pretty village and a great place to stay if you want to walk in the hills or visit the mines.  For some years we stayed at a site just outside the village every Whitsun half-term holiday but gave up eventually because we got tired of the crowds of people everywhere.  Looking at the numbers of visitors when we went there this August, it seems that there are fewer visitors in the later summer than earlier in the year.

Alice and Elinor took the bus from Sheffield and arrived ten minutes before us.  We had got delayed by having to make a detour round an accident on the Leek to Buxton road.  We met them in a pub and decided to stay there and have some lunch.

After lunch we wandered through the village and noted all the changes made since we had last visited.  We all agreed that it would be good to climb up to Peveril Castle.  I didn’t manage to take any pictures on my ascent to the castle.  I found it much more tiring than I remembered and in retrospect maybe I shouldn’t have had quite so much for my lunch!  The path zig-zags up the steep climb from Castleton and we got very hot in the bright sunshine.  Alice sped up the path before us; she lives in a very hilly city and is used to walking everywhere.  Eventually we got to the entrance to the castle which is through the remains of one of the gatehouses built in the 12th century.  We then entered the main courtyard of the castle which is now a large lawn.  Originally this space had many buildings in it; a great hall, a kitchen, perhaps guest halls, servants and retainers homes,  store sheds, stables and the like.  It is possible to see the outline of some of these long-demolished buildings.

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The keep at Peveril Castle with the steep lawn which is all that is left of the castle.

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Looking down the courtyard to the remains of the curtain wall and beyond to the surrounding Peak District hills.  Mam Tor is the peak to the left of centre.

The curtain wall which surrounded the courtyard was constructed early on in Norman times.  It was built by the Peverils and apparently includes Roman tiles probably taken from the ruins of the Roman fort at Navio (Brough).

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The curtain wall and gatehouse.

William the Conqueror’s supposedly illegitimate son William Peverel was a great favourite with the Conqueror and after the conquest he was granted the Royal Manors of the Peak.  In this way he became the administrator of the Royal Forest of the Peak in Castleton on behalf of the Conqueror.  He built a castle in 1080 on this site which is naturally strategically strong; it is quite difficult to get to and also easy to defend.  It was originally built of wood but after some years it was thought expedient to replace it with a stone structure and this was done in about 1175 and the remains of this later building is what is seen today.

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Looking over the curtain wall to Castleton below

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One of the views from the courtyard

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An information board at the castle

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Mam Tor

 

 

Castleton
Castleton
Castleton
Castleton
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The entrance to the Keep

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The Keep

The Keep was originally 60′ high and was faced with fine gritstone blocks.  These can still be seen on the south and east sides of the building.  You can see them at the top of the Keep and around the lower window in the photo above.

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Harebells (Campanua rotundifolia) and what looks like Wild Marjoram (Origanum vulgare) growing in the courtyard.  There are a couple of other plants here that I can’t ID.  I wish I had looked more carefully at the time!

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Looking down into Cavedale at the rear of the castle. Originally the approach to the castle was from this side with a bridge across a moat.

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Cavedale

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Inside the Keep

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Inside the Keep

When the castle was rebuilt in stone in 1175/6 this Keep with round-headed windows was added.  The Keep was never meant to be lived in but was the administrative centre of the castle and would have been a place of refuge if ever the curtain wall was breached.

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A drawing of what the Keep was thought to look like when it was built

In the 17th century the castle was considered too uncomfortable to live in and all the apartments except the Keep were demolished.  The Keep was retained to serve as a courthouse.  From then on until the early 19th century the place was left unoccupied and it quickly deteriorated.  Repairs and reconstruction work was carried out by the Duchy of Lancaster in the early 1800s who retained the castle until it was taken on by English Heritage.

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Maidenhair Spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes)

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More Wild Marjoram

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A model showing what the castle was supposed to look like when newly built

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From another angle

We spent a most enjoyable afternoon together.  Eventually it was time for the girls to catch their bus back to Sheffield.  Richard and I then drove back to Leek, stopping briefly just outside Castleton at the top of Whinnat’s Pass to take the following photograph.

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The entrance to Speedwell Cavern 

Thanks for visiting!

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Peak District Holiday 2016

07 Fri Oct 2016

Posted by Clare Pooley in Days out, holidays, plants, Rural Diary, trees, walking, wild flowers

≈ 48 Comments

Tags

annual meadow-grass, Betony, bull, calves, cows, Devil's-bit Scabious, enchanter's nightshade, eyebright, flowers, former industrial landscape, garlic mustard, grasses, greater plantain, harebell, hart's-tongue fern, Hawthorn, Ilam Country Park, Ilam Cross, Ilam Hall, Ilam village, industrial landscape, lamb, Lesser Burdock, Maidenhair Pleenwort, Paradise Walk, Peak District, power station, Rabbit, River Manifold, rowan, Sheep's Fescue, Small Teasel, stile, The Battle Stone, tormentil, unimproved grassland, wind farm

Richard and I had a weeks holiday in the Peak District during August and stayed in our caravan as usual and at a favourite site.  We travelled on the 15th taking Elinor with us and once we had set up the caravan and had had a short rest we then drove to Sheffield as Elinor would be staying the week with Alice.  We had a cup of tea, a nice chat with Alice and Richard met Mona, Alice’s cat for the first time.

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This is Mona

Richard and I then returned to our caravan near Leek in Staffordshire calling in at the supermarket on the way where we bought enough food to keep us going for most of the week.  We couldn’t find anywhere to buy a take-away meal so we heated up a ready-made lasagna in the oven and had a very late but tasty dinner.

The weather forecast was for four days of good weather followed by cooler rainy weather so we thought we’d do as much walking in the dry at the beginning of the week as we could.  Our first full day was also Richard’s birthday and we decided to have lunch at the White Hart in Leek where we know we can get very nice Staffordshire oatcakes filled with cheese and bacon or cheese and sausage.  Before going in to Leek we had to put the awning up on the caravan.  An awning (for those who don’t know) is a tent, shelter or canopy which is attached to the side of a caravan which provides a little extra space to live in.  We find ours very useful, especially in wet weather as we can keep our soggy shoes and coats out there.

After lunch we tried to find a wood I wanted to walk in but we had great difficulty following the directions to it.  In the end we gave up and went to Ilam Park and walked from there.

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Ilam Hall which is now a Youth Hostel

From the carpark we walked towards the remains of the hall and through the archway to the other side of the building.

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The gardens at Ilam

The gardens are very attractive and have places to sit and admire the scenery.  We made our way through the pleasure grounds, the path descending towards the River Manifold.

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Hart’s-tongue Fern (Phyllitis scolopendrium) and Maidenhair Spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes) decorate the wall behind the handrail.

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The underside of the leaves of the Hart’s tongue Fern have stripes of spore sacs.

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Looking down through the trees to the River Manifold

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Looking back up the steps we had just come down.

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The water in the river is very clear.

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Interesting rock formations can be seen down by the river.

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A profusion of Enchanter’s-nightshade (Circaea lutetiana)

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The view across water meadows from ‘Paradise Walk’

Paradise Walk is a Lime tree avenue where, in its heyday, the owners of the hall and their guests could walk and talk and admire the parkland.

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The Battle Stone

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The description of the Battle Stone

This cross shaft, known as the ‘Battle Stone’ has been set in a little enclosure at the side of the Paradise Walk.  It is strange to us to find that people in former times were happy to use any material they found to build their houses, even part of a cross!

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We were advised not to use this bridge to cross the river.

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Small Teasel (Dipsacus pilosus) growing with Lesser Burdock (Arctium minus)

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Small Teasel

This was the first time I had ever seen this plant and it took me some time to ID it.   My photograph isn’t the best and I wasn’t too sure where to start my search.  The plant is often found on damp, disturbed ground near woodland edges and near streams and rivers.

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Lesser Burdock

We went over the river at the next bridge and then crossed a meadow the ascent of which gradually got steeper.

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Cow and calves

The calves were a little curious but the cow continued calling to them and they stayed with her.

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Bull and cows

At the top of the field was a bull and a couple of cows.  Fortunately, they were more interested in eating than in us because we were quite puffed by the time we had got to the top of the field and I don’t think we could have run anywhere!

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The next field was even steeper and the grass was dry and shiny.

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There were flowers everywhere! Tormentil (Potentilla erecta) (the yellow flowers) and Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia)

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Betony (Stachys officinalis)

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Devil’s-bit Scabious (Succisa pratensis) and Harebells

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Devil’s-bit Scabious and Tormentil

I’m afraid the photos got more out of focus the further up the hill I got.  It was all I could do to keep my footing.

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Betony and grasses

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Annual Meadow Grass (Poa annua)

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The view from the top of the hill

We were glad to get to the top and catch our breath.  There was still rising ground to cover but the really steep bit was finished with.

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I think this grass is Sheep’s Fescue (Festuca ovina) It caught my eye because the seedheads were shining in the sunlight.

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Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis agg.)

Eyebright is slowly becoming rarer because it is semi-parasitic on the roots of other plants and will only grow in undisturbed grass land.  There is very little undisturbed grassland in this country.

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Another shot of the same view but from further up the hill

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I love this rather untidy scene

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Through the gateway

Both pictures are typical of cattle-farming country.  The well-trampled area next to the gateway and water-trough which in wet weather is extremely squelchy.  The bank of nettles beyond the trough…

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A hedge in this part of the world is a rare thing

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A view of Ilam village below us

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A weathered Hawthorn tree (Crataegus monogyna)

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I like the stand of trees on the crest of the next hill

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I used the zoom on my camera to photograph a wind farm on the horizon

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A different source of electricity. This may be Willington power station or maybe Rugeley? I know both these places have/had 5 cooling towers and my camera has quite a powerful zoom. I would be interested to know which station this is.

This is the interesting thing about the Peak District.  The whole area has been industrial at some period in its history.  We may be out on the moors and seemingly miles from anywhere but industry or the effects of industry surround us.

We began the descent towards Ilam village.

p1010072flowers

Grasses and flowers

This may look like a rather uninteresting patch of grass with a few flowers in it.  However, in this approximately 40cm x 40cm piece of land there are at least three different types of grass and more than six different flowering plants, not all in flower.  True diversity!

p1010075lamb

Having had cows, calves and a bull on this post we had to have a lamb too. Look at those ears! Richard called him/her ‘Wingnut’!

p1010076stile

One of the many stiles we clambered over that afternoon

p1010077path

The path across the meadow

The path was much clearer in real life than in my photograph.  An indentation in the soil; the grass growing differently on the path and the light reflecting off it in a different way making it look lighter, sometimes darker than the surrounding grass.  I’m sure it would be more obvious at sunset or sunrise or with a dusting of snow on it.

p1010078rowan-tree

A Rowan tree (Sorbus aucuparia)

p1010079stile

Another stile. This time a squash stile’; my favourite (I don’t think!)

We had descended to the valley again and entered Blore Pastures Wood by the stile.

p1010080lamb

A brown lamb in the late afternoon sun

p1010081garlic-mustard

I was surprised to see Jack-by-the-Hedge/Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) in flower this late in the year

p1010082plantain

Greater Plantain (Plantago major)

We saw this enormous plantain next to the road as we approached Ilam.

p1010083cross

Ilam Cross, built by Jesse Watts-Russell (who also built Ilam Hall) in memory of his wife.

The cross was badly damaged in a storm some years ago but has recently been completely restored.

p1010084cross-info

A plaque with all the information about the cross

The village was full of people enjoying the evening sunshine.  I had hoped to photograph the houses and the bridge but there were too many people in the way.

p1010085rabbit

A Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) seen on our way back to the carpark

A most enjoyable walk in glorious sunshine.

Thanks for visiting!

 

 

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Another Walk up Hen Cloud

15 Sun Nov 2015

Posted by Clare Pooley in plants, Rural Diary, walking, wild birds

≈ 30 Comments

Tags

butterfly, caterpillar, eyebright, harebells, heather, Hen Cloud, painted lady, Peak District, Staffordshire Moorland, walking, wild flowers, yarrow

We didn’t have much time for walking on our last full day in the Peak District as we had packing, tidying and cleaning to do as well as taking our awning down.  The ideal walk had to be a short walk and one that was near at hand so we returned to Hen Cloud.  It is just a few minutes drive from where we stay and once there, within quarter of an hour we can be away from the road and up high, looking down.  We try to do this walk every time we visit the Peaks and when we stay there at the end of May/beginning of June we use it as an evening walk.  It is great to be at the top of the hill at 9.00 pm with the sun still shining and the swallows and martins flying round us.  Peregrines nest in the rock crevices of the hill and their calls mingling with the sound of the wind blowing across the tops fills me with such joy.

This time the walk was done during the afternoon in the second half of August so no nesting peregrines and not too many swallows and martins either.

IMG_5557View from road at foot of Hen Cloud

This is the view from the place where we parked our car.

This last day of our holiday was warm at last and quite bright too.  Before setting off on our walk I noticed these flowers by the side of the road.

IMG_5559Pink Yarrow

Some very pink Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

IMG_5560Eyebright (2)

Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis agg.)

IMG_5562Hen Cloud

Hen Cloud

The path we choose to walk up isn’t the steepest of the paths to the top, in fact it is a nice steady ascent – just right for two middle-aged, not very fit people.

IMG_5563

The Roaches seen from the path up Hen Cloud

IMG_5564Ramshaw Rocks

Ramshaw Rocks seen from the path up Hen Cloud

We had never been to the Peaks when the Heather (Calluna vulgaris) was in bloom before.  The pink-purple flowers with the bright green grass was very beautiful.

IMG_5565Climbing Hen Cloud

This is the path we usually take to the top. You can see Richard is quite a way ahead of me.

IMG_5566Ramshaw Rocks

Ramshaw Rocks seen from the top of Hen Cloud.

IMG_5567Tittesworth Reservoir

Tittesworth Reservoir

IMG_5569View from Hen Cloud

View from Hen Cloud.

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Heather
Heather
Heather
Heather
IMG_5578Painted Lady

We saw this rather battered and faded Painted Lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui)

IMG_5580Caterpillar

I saw this caterpillar making its way across a rock. I can’t identify it.

All too soon, it was time for us to return to the car.

IMG_5582Harebells

We saw these Harebells (Campanula rotundifolia) on the way.

IMG_5584Hen Cloud

Our last view of Hen Cloud from the road.

The following day we got up very early and drove to Sheffield to collect Elinor from Alice’s house.  We only stayed for a couple of minutes and were then on the road back to our camp-site to hitch-up the caravan and then set out for home.

Thanks for visiting!

 

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A Walk in the Goyt Valley – Peak District Holiday

05 Thu Nov 2015

Posted by Clare Pooley in churches, Days out, domestic animals, plants, Rural Diary, walking, wild birds

≈ 38 Comments

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.

IMG_5505Bridge

The attractive old bridge over the river Wye.

IMG_5496Duck's nest

There is always plenty to see on the river. This duck sitting on her nest, for example.

IMG_5498Female Goosander

A female Goosander (Mergus merganser)

IMG_5500Coot

A Coot (Fulica atra)

IMG_5502Gulls and Canada Geese

Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) and Gulls

IMG_5507Duck

A duck – partly Mallard I think!

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.

IMG_5509R on walk

Richard on the track through the wood.

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.

IMG_5510Field Scabious

A Field Scabious flower (Knautia arvensis)

IMG_5512Meadow

A meadow between the track and the river (which is under the trees).

IMG_5513R Goyt

The River Goyt

IMG_5515Cattle

Cattle

R. Goyt
R. Goyt
R. Goyt
R. Goyt
IMG_5517Meadow

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

IMG_5519Eyebright

Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis agg)

IMG_5521Harebells

Harebells (Campanula rotundifolia)

IMG_5522Greater Bird's-foot Trefoil and other plants

Greater Bird’s-foot-trefoil (Lotus pedunculatus)

IMG_5523Little cascade

A little cascade

IMG_5524R Goyt

The River Goyt with a wooden bridge just visible under the trees.

IMG_5525R Goyt

River Goyt

IMG_5527Wild Rhubarb

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.

IMG_5528Goyt Reservoir

The reservoir

IMG_5530Old Bridge

I liked the look of this old bridge from the road to a maintenance building.

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.

IMG_5531Goyt Valley

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.

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IMG_5536Ferns Moss and grass

A variety of plants and textures

IMG_5539Great Burnet

We saw some beautiful Great Burnet flowers (Sanguisorba officinalis) in the field next to the path.

IMG_5541Great Burnet

Great Burnet – these plants are becoming increasingly rare as water-meadows are drained.

IMG_5542could be water-cress

This could be Water-cress (Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum)

IMG_5543Water mint

Water Mint (Mentha aquatica)

IMG_5545White Beak-sedge

White Beak-sedge (Rhynchospora alba)

IMG_5546Oak galls

Marble Galls on Oak.

Sheep
Sheep
Sheep
Sheep
IMG_5549Church

We eventually got to the hamlet of Taxal where we had a look at the church dedicated to St James.

IMG_5550Donkey

We found a very friendly donkey in the churchyard wearing a rather fetching veil.

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.

IMG_5551Donkey

I like donkeys!

IMG_5552Church

St James’ church

River Goyt
River Goyt
River Goyt
River Goyt
IMG_5556Wooden bridge

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!

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A Walk on Ramshaw Rocks – Peak District Holiday

26 Mon Oct 2015

Posted by Clare Pooley in Days out, plants, Rural Diary, walking

≈ 30 Comments

Tags

bilberry, church of St Edward the Confessor, cotton grass, heather, Leek, Peak District, Pride and Prejudice, Ramshaw Rocks, rocks, Staffordshire Moorland, walking

Sunday 16th August was Richard’s birthday and we marked it quietly by attending one of the churches in Leek and then having an early lunch at one of our favourite cafés.  My own father died shortly before my birthday five years ago and so I knew a little how Richard was feeling.

The church we attended was St Edward the Confessor and we were comforted by the familiar words of the service and afterwards were made very welcome by members of the congregation.  I mentioned this church in a post I wrote about the visit we made last year to the Peak District.  In that same post is a mention of the favourite café.   We were concerned to see that the café was up for sale.  Would it still be there next time we visited Leek and if it was, would it still provide us with tasty oatcakes?

I didn’t take any photographs of the interior of the church but Richard did with his phone.  The church contains some beautiful embroidery and stained glass.

DSC_0558

Stained glass in the church of St Edward the Confessor, Leek

DSC_0559

Stained glass window – St Edward the Confessor

I know that one window in the north transept was designed by Edward Burne Jones and made by Morris and Co.  Not having any means of finding out for certain which of these two windows is the window I cannot tag the photo.  (I think it might be the round window).

IMG_5449Hen Cloud

Hen Cloud from Ramshaw Rocks

The following day, we drove the short distance to Ramshaw Rocks as we wanted to walk on them again.  We parked the car by the side of the narrow road and walked up to the first of the rocks – the one we call the ‘Top Hat’ rock.

IMG_5450Top hat rock

‘Top Hat’ rock. I expect you can’t understand why we call it that!

I can see another photo-bombing bee!

IMG_5451Heather and bilberries

Heather (Calluna vulgaris) and Bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus)

IMG_5456Bilberry

A sweet and juicy bilberry!

IMG_5452Grass

Beautiful grasses – possibly Tufted Hair-grass (Deschampsia cespitosa)

IMG_5454R at top hat rock

Perhaps you see now why we call it the ‘Top Hat’!

This rock may look familiar to some of you.  Perhaps I should give you a clue.  Stick with the link – you will see the rock eventually.  If you haven’t the patience, the rock appears at 4.38 minutes into the clip.

IMG_5495Top hat

This rock can be seen very clearly from the road on your left as you go north along the A53 from Leek to Buxton.

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The photos in the slideshow are all of the rocks we saw on our walk.

IMG_5459View from RamshawRocks

A view of the surrounding countryside from Ramshaw Rocks

IMG_5461Common Cotton-grass still in flower

I was surprised to see this Common Cotton-grass (Eriophorum angustifolium) still in flower in August

IMG_5462Lichen and moss on rock

Lichen and moss on a rock

IMG_5467Common Cotton-grass

More Common Cotton-grass

IMG_5468Cocoon on heather

A cocoon on Heather. I don’t know what made the cocoon.

IMG_5471Tormentil

Tormentil (Potentilla erecta)

IMG_5475R climbing

Richard climbing up the hill

IMG_5476View from R Rocks

A view

IMG_5477View of hills

and another!

IMG_5479R and carved rock

Richard and the carved boulder

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IMG_5463Alpacas

Alpacas

IMG_5488Unknown flower

This is some type of Bedstraw plant. Note the pink spots on the flower buds.

IMG_5493Tiny fir tree

I found this tiny fir tree next to the path.

IMG_5494Rosebay-willowherb

This colourful Rosebay Willowherb (Chamerion angustifolium) caught my eye.

We had by this time walked back to near where we had begun our walk.  We returned to our caravan for our evening meal and a hot drink.

Thanks for visiting!

 

 

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A Walk in the Peak District.

17 Sat Oct 2015

Posted by Clare Pooley in Days out, Insects, plants, Rural Diary, trees, walking

≈ 45 Comments

Tags

butterfly, caves, Manifold Valley, Peak District, plants, sheep, squash stile, Thor's Cave, walking, Wetton, wild flowers

Not only did we have a week’s holiday in the Lake District this summer but we also went to the Peak District for a week.  I have already told you about the sad start to this break – the death of my mother-in-law on the day of our arrival.  We spent the first full day of our holiday with my brother-in-law but after that there wasn’t anything else to do but wait until we were told by the Coroner that we could arrange the funeral.

We thought we might as well stay in the Peaks and not abandon our holiday.  If Chris (my brother-in-law) needed us we would be close at hand.  We thought we would find comfort in walking in this beautiful part of the country.

After lunch on Saturday 15th August we drove to the village of Wetton in Staffordshire from where we intended to walk along the Manifold Valley.  We drove along a very scenic road en route to Wetton.

IMG_5345The Roaches and Hen Cloud from top road

The Roaches and Hen Cloud (the nearest hill) seen from the road.

IMG_5346View from top road

Another view of The Roaches. The Rocks look like spikes on the spine of a dinosaur.

IMG_5348View from top road

We could just see the Welsh hills on the far horizon beyond the flat Cheshire Plain.

We got to Wetton and found the car park near the centre of the village.  The buildings and houses in the village are mainly made of stone and the church, which was built in the 14th century has an exterior staircase to the belfrey which contains six bells.  The Royal Oak pub, which owns a camping field next to the car park is also the venue for the World Toe Wrestling Championships which began in the 1970’s!

IMG_5349Barn

One of the buildings of Wetton.

IMG_5350Squash stile

Another of those squash stiles which let tall and/or thin people through but not livestock or short people with generously proportioned legs etc.

IMG_5351R and river valley ahead

Richard and I crossed this field which sloped steeply down into the deep valley of the River Manifold.

IMG_5352Cow pat

There were many hazards.

IMG_5355Seed-head

A colourful seed-head – probably Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium).  We also saw a number of Betony (Stachys officinalis) flowers but none of my photos were any good.

IMG_5354Down to river valley

The route down to the river valley

At the bottom of the field we crossed a couple of stiles and entered a wood.

IMG_5358Walk through the wood

Path through the wood

IMG_5359Rhododendron leaves

Lots of invasive Rhododendron seedlings

IMG_5360Steps up through wood

Steps up through the woods

IMG_5362Steps up through wood

Yet more steps! Gasp! Puff!

We were going to see Thor’s Cave.

IMG_5365Thor's cave

Thor’s Cave

This is a Karst Cave i.e. it was formed from the dissolution of soluble limestone.  The entrance is just over 18m up on the hillside and the opening is a symmetrical arch, 7.5m wide and 10m high.  I don’t think there is any connection between this cave and the god Thor; the name probably derives from the word ‘tor’ meaning a hill or rocky peak.   I was most disappointed to find that I didn’t have the ability to climb up to the entrance from the path.  I had to wait outside while Richard explored inside.

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You can see minute-me waving at Richard in one of the photos above.  This will give you some idea of the size of the cave.

IMG_5391Thor's cave

This is what the entrance to the cave looks like from the path below.

While Richard enjoyed himself in the cave, I kept myself busy looking for things to photograph outside.

IMG_5377Hare bells (2)

Harebells (Campanula rotundifolia) growing out of a crevice in the stone.

IMG_5380Tiny maidenhair spleenwort

A tiny Maidenhair Spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes).

IMG_5382Jacob's Ladder

Jacob’s-ladder (Polemonium caeruleum)

IMG_5383Another cave

I saw another cave entrance below us.

After Richard emerged from the cave we walked back down to the valley-floor.

IMG_5387Vegetation in the valley

Lots of different plants grew in the scree and rocks of the river-bed alongside the path. There were many wild raspberry canes with ripe fruit but again my camera failed to focus on them.

IMG_5392Meadow Crane's-bill

Meadow Crane’s-bill (Geranium pratense) next to the path.

IMG_5393Meadow Crane's-bill

I’m including another photo of these flowers because I like them! You can see that the seed-heads look a little bit like crane’s heads.

IMG_5394Wild Rhubarb or Butterbur

The large leaves of Butterbur (Petasites hybridus). Also known as Wild Rhubarb, the heart-shaped leaves can be up to 1m/3 ft across.

IMG_5395Meadowsweet

This Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) was so strongly and beautifully  scented!

IMG_5396Common Knapweed

Common Knapweed (Centaurea nigra)

Wild flowers
Wild flowers
Wild flowers
Wild flowers
IMG_5399Former railway line

The path we were walking along was the former Leek and Manifold Light Railway line.  There had even been a station at Thor’s Cave!

This also explains all the well-made steps up to the cave.

IMG_5400View of hill from path

View of a hill from the path.

IMG_5401Meadow Vetchling

Meadow Vetchling (Lathyrus pratensis)

IMG_5402Red Campion and Bramble

Red Campion (Silene dioica) and Bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.)

IMG_5403Meadowsweet

More Meadowsweet.

IMG_5404Hazel nuts

Ripening Hazel nuts (Corylus avellana)

IMG_5405Indian Balsam

The pretty flowers of the terribly invasive Indian Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera)

IMG_5406The path

Another view of the path.

IMG_5407Rosebay Willowherb

Lots of Rosebay Willowherb (Chamerion angustifolium)

IMG_5408Dry river-bed

This is the dry river bed of the Manifold.

In anything other than very wet weather the river disappears into swallowholes and flows through caves and subterranean passages and reappears at Ilam further downstream.

IMG_5409Lady's Mantle

Lady’s-mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris agg.)

IMG_5410Field Scabious

Field Scabious (Knautia arvensis)

IMG_5416Gnarled tree

A wonderfully gnarled and twisted tree.

IMG_5417Cinquefoil

Cinquefoil.  I think this is probably Creeping Cinquefoil but the leaves in the photo aren’t quite what I expect from Creeping Cinquefoil.

IMG_5419Hill and valley

Hill and valley.  We had left the old rail-track behind us.

IMG_5420Musk Thistle

Musk Thistle (Carduus nutans) with its drooping flower-heads

IMG_5422Lamb

A black-faced lamb

IMG_5423R on our walk

Richard walking along the track

IMG_5425Creeping thistle

Creeping Thistle (Cirsium arvense)

It was about this stage in our walk that we missed a landmark and went up a hill on the wrong side of a wall.

IMG_5426Stream

A stream

IMG_5428Tufted Forget-me-not

Tufted Forget-me-not (Myosotis laxa)

IMG_5429Small Heath

Small Heath butterfly (Coenonympha pamphilus)

IMG_5430Farmhouse

I took a photo of this house little realising that we should have gone past it and then climbed the hill.

IMG_5431Sheep

‘You’re on the wrong side of the wall, you fools!’, said the sheep.

IMG_5432Sheep tunnel

I took a photo of this sheep tunnel (note my shadow) little realising we could have used it to get onto the right side of the wall!

IMG_5433Stone wall

The wall. We little realised we could have climbed over it at this point.

View from the hillside
View from the hillside
Another view
Another view
Sun setting behind a hill
Sun setting behind a hill
IMG_5441R on our walk

It was here that it dawned on us we were heading for the wrong valley.

We re-traced our steps right back to the house I had photographed earlier.

IMG_5443Rock Stonecrop

Rock Stonecrop (Sedum forsterianum). This specimen was probably a garden escapee as the plant is only native in the SW of England.

IMG_5445Possibly Bogbean

I am not sure what this plant is. I think it might be Bogbean (Menyanthes trifoliata) but I am not sure. My guide says that the emergent leaves of Bogbean have the texture and appearance of broad bean leaves which I would say these do.  However….

IMG_5448Knotgrass

Knotgrass (Polygonum aviculare)

And that was the last photo I took you’ll be pleased to know.  Only when we got back to the house and saw that the correct path went up the same, long, steep hill that we had just climbed and then come down again, but on the other side of that wall that we realised exactly what we had done and what we still had to do.  I must admit that our hearts sank and we suddenly felt very tired.  We did it though; and got back to the car before the sun set.  We were tempted to have a meal in the pub but thought how late we would get back to our caravan if we did so.  We were very thankful to find the car and then return to the caravan site.

Thanks for visiting!

Apologies for the length of the post.

 

 

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Peak District Holiday 1st to 9th July. Days 7 to 9.

09 Mon Feb 2015

Posted by Clare Pooley in domestic animals, plants, Rural Diary, trees, Uncategorized, walking

≈ 26 Comments

Tags

Peak District, The Roaches, Tittesworth Water, walking

As we were nearing the end of our holiday and the weather looked as though it would stay fine, Richard and I decided it would be a good idea to do another walk while we had the chance.  We had made a list of the walks we wanted to do before we came on holiday and we had already walked in Back Forest and up Hen Cloud.  Our third choice was a walk we had never tried before – along the top of the Roaches.  Our book of local walks suggested a circular walk starting at Tittesworth Water, walking across farmland up to where we usually park our car for our Hen Cloud walk and then up from there to the Roaches.   After descending from the rocks at the far end we would be able to follow paths and lanes back to where we left our car at the reservoir.  Richard made us some sandwiches, I washed up and packed our rucksacks and we set out about 11 o’clock.

001Tittesworth reservoir (640x480)

Tittesworth Reservoir

Tittesworth reservoir is a very short drive from our camp.  We had been there before but only for a short visit about seven years ago.  It has a visitor centre and people are welcome to walk all round the water and watch the many different types of wildfowl that live there.  Boating is also a popular activity on the water.

We walked from the car-park to Meerbrook, a village next to the water.

009Mossy wall (640x480)

I liked this mossy wall which surrounded someone’s garden.

I didn’t take many photos during the first half of the walk as it became quite hard-going shortly after we left the village.  The paths were very overgrown or we sunk into deep mud.  The local farmer hadn’t kept the ways clear and so it was difficult to follow the directions set out in our guide.

010Honesty (640x480)

Honesty (Lunaria annua)  A garden escapee that has naturalised all over the country.

012Thistle (480x640)

Spear Thistle (Cirsium vulgare)

013Self Heal (640x480)

Selfheal (Prunella vulgaris)

014Red Clover (640x480)

Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)

We found a man tying up a gate with binder twine and asked if we could use the gate to get to the path we needed.  He said we could use the gate and then commented on the humidity of the day – nothing else.  We walked on and found the way blocked by an electric fence which we had to crawl under – not easy for those like us who are past the first flush of youth.  Getting up again is much more difficult than getting down on the ground.  Why hadn’t the farmer/farm worker said anything about this to us?  It amused him, no doubt.  We had to pass through a farm yard next.

015Conveyor (640x480)

This old conveyor-belt caught my eye…..

016Barn (640x480)

and I liked the barn.

We then lost the path at the corner of a field and had to scrabble about for a while til we found what we hoped was the right way.  We were discussing what our options were when, to our great surprise a man’s head popped over the wall above us and asked if he could help.  It is a very strange thing to think that you are in the middle of nowhere and then find that a man is hanging out his washing in his garden right next to you!  He was very helpful and we were on our way again.  By this time we were very hot and tired as the way had been difficult and uphill all the way.  Richard was getting annoyed and I had a great urge to laugh!

We had just entered the bottom of a steep field when we saw a muck spreader arrive and start its smelly work on the opposite side of the same field.  It was a race against time for us to get to the top of the field before the tractor had worked its way over to our side.  We knew that the driver would not have stopped his work just for us.  Fortunately we just managed it in time but we were so tired!  The main reason for this walk was to climb the Roaches and we hadn’t reached them yet.  We had thought the walk across the fields would have been a pleasant preliminary but we had sadly been mistaken!

We were now at the base of Hen Cloud and decided that we would stop for a short while and have our lunch after which we turned and walked towards the Roaches.  They, with Hen Cloud and Ramshaw Rocks, form a gritstone escarpment which marks the south-western edge of the Peaks.  The Roaches consist of two edges – a Lower and an Upper Tier.

018Crested Dog's-tail (640x480)

Crested Dog’s-tail (Cynosurus cristatus)

020Climbers (640x480)

The Roaches are very popular with climbers.

021Lodge in hillside (640x480)

This is Rock Cottage which is built into the rocks of the Lower Tier. It was formerly a gamekeeper’s cottage but is now a climbing hut.

022R at top of steps (480x640)

A set of rock steps connect the Lower and Upper Tier. Richard is at the top.

023Looking down through trees (480x640)
024View through trees (640x480)
025View up through trees (480x640)

The views through the trees from the top of the steps looking down and then upwards were very fine.

026Climber (640x480)

There were climbers everywhere.

These edges provide some of the best gritstone climbing in the country with famous classic routes such as ‘Valkyrie’, ‘The Sloth’ and ‘The Swan’.

027Strange rocks (480x640)

These strange rocks have been weathered by the elements.

029Pine tree (640x480)

The pine tree is growing out from a crack in the rocks.

031View (640x480)
032Rock (640x480)
033Rocks (640x480)
034View (640x480)

There was something of interest to look at whichever way we turned.  Please click on the images to enlarge them.

035Sheep (640x480)

Sheep are never far away in the Peaks.

036Cotton grass (480x640)

I was surprised to see what I believe is Common Cottongrass (Eriophorum angustifolium) flowering this late in the season.  It could be Hare’s-tail Cottongrass (Eriophorum vaginatum).  Either way, their flowering time is usually April to May.

Tittesworth water away below us
Tittesworth water away below us
A view of another escarpment in the distance
A view of another escarpment in the distance

 

041Doxey Pool (640x480)
040Doxey Pool (640x480)

Doxey Pool is on the top of the Roaches.  According to legend it is inhabited by a water spirit or mermaid known by some as Jenny Greenteeth.  The pool is said to be bottomless and connected by an underground passage to another Mere or lake which also contains a water spirit.  Doxey Pool is situated many hundreds of feet above any known spring.  We didn’t see anything ‘unexplained’ while we were there!

View from the path
View from the path
Richard is far ahead as usual
Richard is far ahead as usual
052Rock (640x480)
053Rock (640x480)
055Rock (640x480)

A selection of rocks.

056Heather (640x480)

Heather (Calluna vulgaris)

057R at trig point (480x640)

Richard standing at the trig point

058Trig number (640x480)

The bench mark. Triangulation stations have now largely been superseded by digital mapping and aerial photography but many are kept because of their usefulness to hill walkers and because many people are so fond of them.

061View and rocks (640x480)
062Rocks (640x480)
063Rocks (640x480)

Yet more rocks!

064Sheep (640x480)

Hello! says the sheep.

065Cattle grid (640x480)

This is a cattle-grid (for those of you who don’t know). They enable traffic to use roads through farmland but stop the cattle from escaping from their pasture.

We left the Roaches and started to descend down through moorland and meadows.

067Lamb (640x480)

We met a very friendly lamb.

068Rosebay Willowherb (480x640)

Rosebay Willowherb (Chamerion angustifolium)

069Water trough (480x640)

These drinking troughs that use spring water or little rivulets remind me of the picture of the spring bubbling out of the hillside in ‘Mrs Tiggywinkle’ by Beatrix Potter

 

070Grass (640x480)
071Grass (640x480)
072Grass (640x480)

I am not sure what this grass is and any suggestions would be much appreciated.  It may be False Oat-grass (Arrhenatherum elatius)  I apologise for the poor photos.

073Vetch (640x480)

Some pretty vetch flowers. Probably Bush Vetch (Vicia sepium) 

074Calves (640x480)

We walked past a field full of bullock calves. I can’t resist them!

075Calves (640x480)

They are so curious and playful ….

076Calf (640x480)

and have such lovely faces!

 

079White flowers (640x480)
078White flowers leaves (640x480)

I don’t know what this plant is either.  I tried to take photos of its flowers – pink-tinged white umbellifers – but none of them came out.  The stems are purple and hairy and the leaves are quite distinctive.  I thought at first it might be Cow Bane but that and Hemlock are hairless.

080Holly hedge (640x480)

A Holly hedge (Ilex aquifolium)

082Meadowsweet (480x640)

Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria)

We soon found our way back to the reservoir and then returned to our caravan.  The following day was our last day and we had hoped to spend it sitting, reading and relaxing.  Fate and farmers decided otherwise.  The muck-spreading fever had taken hold and the field next to us was being fertilized.  We couldn’t stay where we were so we returned to Tittesworth Water and walked around there and had some lunch.  We amused ourselves for a while by watching some boys being taught how to row.  There were about six boys to a boat and the group that we enjoyed watching most consisted of a couple of lads who did all the work and the rest just made a lot of noise.  The two who actually did the rowing were on the same side of the boat so they went round in circles.  In the end they had to be towed ashore.

The next day we got ready to leave but before returning home we drove to the station to collect Elinor who had been staying with Alice.  They both seemed to have had a good time together but both were very tired and needed sleep.  Our journey home was fortunately uneventful.

 

 

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I talk about what it's like living in a quiet part of Suffolk. I am a wife, mother and daughter, a practising Christian and love the natural world that surrounds me. I enjoy my life - most of the time!

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