Days 415, 15/31, 14,153, 416,  16/31, 1,8371 and 417, 17/31, 12,273.

Writing on Sunday 16th May.

Although, on Saturday, the sky was “many shades of grey”, the day was far from miserable.  I needed to go on a decent walk in order to remain ahead of schedule in my fundraising challenge of 300,000 steps by May 31st.

My starting point

The road to Hurdlow was closed, and I missed the turning for Parsley Hay!  No problem; I would join the Tissington Trail at Hartington, and walk against a southerly breeze towards Tissington.

Writing Monday 17th May.

I probably walked for just under three miles, admiring the rolling countryside until I reached a huge arched over-bridge, a wonderful relic in well maintained condition from the time trains would pass underneath. This was a suitable point to turn around and retrace my steps back to Hartington.

A former London and North Western Railway line-side mile post.
The old railway, now a cycle, horse riding and walking route, looking south towards Ashbourne.
Views from the trail
Looking south towards Alsop-en-le-Dale, Tissington and Ashbourne
And now, having walked under the bridge, looking north towards Hartington and Buxton

Writing Monday 17th May…continued…

I don’t recall any blue sky on this walk, and I fully expected to be drenched in one of the promised downpours during that afternoon. Apart from a few spots of rain, the showers didn’t materialise, and for a fifth consecutive day, despite ominous weather reports, I remained dry.

I was surprised how quickly I seemed to return back to where I had left the car, and drove home to spend Saturday evening quietly.

On Sunday, I was on duty at church, my first “commitment” there since April 30th 2017 when, while preparing the church for Sung Eucharist, I “came over all weird” and ended up being in hospital for three weeks! My duty, yesterday, was not an onerous one, and I rather enjoyed operating the sound system, reminding me of “past glories” as a DJ, but not treating the congregation to Soul and Motown! I had walked to church, eventually through the ever lovely Pavilion Gardens. However, knowing that I was walking again in the afternoon, I took a taxi home. I was treated to an al fresco lunch by my neighbour who had devised another fascinating exploration of around four miles in the Taddington/Chelmorton area, another vastness of gorgeous countryside.

The start of Sunday’s walk
The path ahead. It did feel steep after a “light” lunch.
In the bottom of the distant valley, the A6 main road is completely out of sight.
Note, in the distance, lines of narrow stone walls. In medieval times, it was a tradition that on the death of the farmer, his fields would be divided equally between his children, and the same would happen when they passed away, and so on. The result is a number of long narrow fields, divided by stone walls which are still evident in the two illustrations above.
Taddington Moor High Mere
These “dog-leg” stone walls which can be seen from or near the road side could well mark a Parish Boundary. What appears to be an engraved mile post can be seen to the right of the second wooden pole. Any engraving has eroded to the point of being illegible. See the illustration below.

Can you make out what is written?

Today, former colleague Carl Evans joined me for the now routine but nonetheless attractive walk from Hurdlow to the former junction at Parsley Hay where the Cromford and High Peak Railway would branch off in a south easterly direction to Cromford. It had rained heavily all morning and it really did look as if I might take a day off from walking. We enjoyed an indoor lunch at the Royal Oak at Hurdlow, the first day establishments could reopen fully as the Covid lockdown restrictions were eased further. The weather dried up, as in previous days, and we walked as originally intended. Today, I passed the 200,000 steps mark of my 300,000, steps challenge by the end of May, in aid of Christian Aid Week 2021. I feel a little bit pleased with myself!

Many thanks for reading, David, 21.41 hrs 17th May.

Leave a comment