Black Harry Gate ...

The weather was fine but on the cool side as I walked away from Calver, taking the footpath just up the road from the Garden Centre.







The footpath joins a green lane [which is no more than a footpath though it looks as though it should be a bridleway]. This green lane climbs for over half a mile towards the crest of Longstone Edge ...







Once I'd got to Longstone Edge, I followed the unclassified county road towards Bleaklow Farm. At the entrance to the farm there's a biggish quarry. It amazes me that there's still any stone still there to take away ...



   You can see a couple of guys standing in the bottom of the quarry and one of the lorries carting off a bit more of Derbyshire on the top.

There's a warning to keep clear ...



I followed the track towards Black Harry Gate ...





  Black Harry Gate has changed over the 30 years I have been walking ~ there didn't used to be large lorries trundling past back then. They have rather messed the place up ...





As you can see, my boots didn't look so good after trying to avoid the deepest bits ...



I walked down Coombs Dale ...







Further down the dale a new pool has been created ... and there's another warning ...



... but the water doesn't look too deep.



Further on the surface of the path gets easier. There are fewer large-ish stones to turn an ankle on and the scenery changes character too, becoming more wooded ...



When I got back to Calver crossroads I went into the cafe at Outside, the outdoor shop. I treated myself to an all day breakfast. I did show some self control and just had the small breakfast, five items for £3.50 ~ I didn't think I would be able to cope with the ten item breakfast one.

Date of walk ~ 19th October 2009


Length of walk ~ 5 1/4 miles.


Total since 1st September 2009 ~ 58 1/2 miles

Walking through Rhodesia

I parked in the car park of the Lock Keeper in Worksop, with permission, and a rejoinder to the effect that I park there at my own risk ...





The Lock Keeper [as its name implies] stands right next to a lock on the Chesterfield Canal. Also next to the pub is bridge No. 41 ...





I walked westward and on the outskirts of Shireoaks passed under a low bridge ...





... just as a cyclist went past ....





Just beyond Shireoaks is probably some of the prettiest canal side walking I know and yet there never seem to be that many walkers about ...





. There were quite a few fishermen though, although they have to watch where they fish ...





At Turnerwood there's a double lock. I stood on the small bridge and watched this narrowboat pass through ...





... to appear on the other side in front of Turnerwood Cottages ...





The mute swans were friendly [though I didn't try to find out how friendly] ....

Anyone who has seen my blogs elsewhere will be aware of my unhealthy interest in memorials, especially quirky ones ...

At Turnerwood, in the last cottage on the right, you can get an ice cream, a coffee or a cup of tea most days. I opted for the ice cream, made locally ...

No sooner had I taken this photograph than I licked the ice cream off the cone ... but caught it in my right hand ... and stuck it back on again.


I left the canal at this stage and followed the canal feeder towards Brancliffe Grange ...





Nearer the grange the feeder splits and the water can be drunk by the horses in their paddock ...







The route I was following passed through a wood which seems to be Moses' Seat according to the OS Map ...

Then I crossed Monk Bridge before walking along the footpath across Lindrick Golf Club, looking out for stray golfballs ...







Just beyond Lindrick Dale on the way to Fan Field Farm there's an unusual feature on a house ...





The photograph could be better, I know ... but the garden is too overgrown !  Here's another stab at it ...





I crossed the railway line behind Fan Field Farm.





When I got back to the canal I was beyond Turnerwood and this time I walked eastward back towards Turnerwood itself. Then I headed southward across the field to Bottom Farm. After walking along the first part of Thorpe Lane, I had intended to use a field path to Shireoaks Park but it had been ploughed and, to be honest, I was starting to think I was running out of time, so I stayed on the road to reach the edge of Shireoaks itself. Here I turned sharp right  and reached The Hall ...





Now I know we have a heck of a lot of ancient buildings [or so it seems] but doesn't it seem a shame that this ancient hall is being left to deteriorate ...





Who owns it ?

Oh yes ... Rhodesia. Well it's a collection of houses on the outskirts of Worksop ...

It has its own roadsign though ...

.


I took four hours on this seven mile walk, taking photographs as I went.

Date of walk ~ 5th September 2009



Length of walk ~ 7 miles.

Total since 1st September 2009 ~ 13 miles.