Floundering around in the dark ...

We enjoy things for different reasons, me and you ...

For instance, when I go walking I love beautiful scenery but I also just enjoy the very act of walking; of being part of the countryside ... the world. 

Perhaps I could explain.

Eight weeks after being diagnosed I dare say my head wasn't quite where it should have been.

One afternoon in December of 2010 I drove a few miles and parked at Winster. It was one of those dull winter days that I love as I set off up the path leading away from the village ...

 

Wyns Tor is only a hundred yards or so above the highest houses in the village.

 

I crossed the Limestone Way and reached Bonsall Lane ...

  

Two or three fields later and I was on Bonsallmoor Lane and the mist was closing in.



After taking a path to the left it was obvious that no one had been on Blakemere Lane that particular day ...

   

It was around here that I made my first video of the walk ...

I passed one of Bonsall's stone barns on Blakelow Lane ...

... before making my second video. The wind that was blowing affects the sound quality but the visuals are still, erm, interesting ...

By now I'd picked up the Limestone Way and was heading back towards Winster ...

There was a fine drizzle [or something] in the air but I could still photograph a squeezer stile with the assistance of the camera's flash ...

It was time for my third video ~ you might want to watch this in the dark ...

By now you're probably beginning to think I was crazy ... but I was loving it. There were no views, just me surrounded by the dark ...

There were one or two times when I thought I must be careful where I put my feet and I did wonder about getting my torch out but, I don't know, I was loving the dark.

Finally, a fifth video ...

Then I was back at the car. I had my coffee and I laughed 

 The walk featured above was followed on the 28th December 2010

Length of walk ~ 4 miles

Total mileage walked so far in 2010 ~ 384 miles

Total mileage between the 1st September 2009 and the 28th December 2010 ~ 517.75 miles

80 of 2010

Clough Wood and Greatclose ...

Clough Wood is less than a couple of miles from here but by car and indeed on foot it's half as far again as you have to cross the bridge at Darley Bridge to get there.

After crossing the bridge you follow Oldfield Lane to get into the wood ...

The enormous chimney which rather spoils the view is part of the Enthovens' complex.

Leaving the old lane a short stretch of path brings you to the remains of Millclose Mine ... 

 

Beyond the old leadmine the path leads into Clough Wood itself ...

 

There was no one about ...

 The path I was following was heading west towards Winster but then it split and I took the line that turned sharply back into the wood and which, initially, headed east. It then slowly swung round to head for Winster ...

   In these fields was a farmhouse known as Greatclose. I remember not so many years ago walking through its ruins but in recent times all the stone was taken away until now all that remains is what may have been an orchard ...




Living at Great Close Farm as it was called in 1901 were George Swindell aged 41 ~ a farmer and lead miner ~ and his wife, Elizabeth, aged 45. Also living there [according to the 1901 census] were George and Robert, their sons, aged 13 and 12 respectively, and their three daughters,  Martha, Mary and Kate. They were aged 8, 6 and 2 respectively. 

They were still there in 1911 according to the census taken that year.

Now there is no sign of what had been their home. 

The path leads into Winster ...



No sooner had I reached the road than I turned left along it for 300 yards and took another path heading back into Clough Wood again.



This takes you over an unnamed stream. At least it's unnamed on my OS Map.



By now the afternoon light was beginning to fail and my camera gave the last few photos a blue hue ...


  
 The walk featured above was followed on the 26th December 2010

Length of walk ~ 4 miles

Total mileage walked so far in 2010 ~ 380 miles

Total mileage between the 1st September 2009 and the 26th December 2010 ~ 513.75 miles

79 of 2010