Tissington and the Tissington Trail

From the car park on the Tissington Trail I turned left down to Tissington pond where the mallards were soon waddling towards me in the hope of some titbits ...

Turning uphill a few yards later takes you between the local tearoom on your left and the church on your right. A church that has been open when I have cared to check ...



A little further up the gentle slope motorists can park their cars on the grassy verge provided they ensure their "bonnett" [rather than their boot] is nearest the wall.



Continue along the lane out of the village and a footpath continues towards the Tissington Trail.



In several places the path is walled on both sides.



The path reaches the Tissington Trail. Turning right, there are far reaching views to the north.









The low winter sun was scratching through the trees as I walked into the car park on the Trail.



Date of walk ~ 13th December 2009

Length of walk ~ 2 3/4 miles

Total since 1st September 2009 ~ 102 1/2 miles

A1 walk ...

Once you've negotiated the A1 and driven into Elkesley there are quite a number of walking options to the west. Clumber Park is for example just three or four miles away as the crow flies.

I parked by the church and walked along the village street before turning left and passing the 'Headland Avenue' sign in a privet hedge ...

I then followed a narrow tarmac lane west towards Crookford Hill and walked alongside a tall metal fence surmounted with razor wire. Beyond it was a large building which seems to be a woodmill and/or recycling centre ...



Turning south, I soon reached the footbridge over the River Poulter near the ford ...



The Robin Hood Way led away from the river towards Spitfire Hill ...



The Robin Hood Way lies beneath electricity lines for some distance. The day I was there the fields on either side had been ploughed ...



Beyond this I left the Robin Hood Way and followed a path that would lead me to Bothamsall. Turning round three trees in the autumn light caught my eye ...



On the edge of Bothamsall there's a motte topped by a group of trees. 



Once I reached the top of the field, I had a closer look at the motte ...



I walked below the village sign of Bothamsall.



Bothamsall's an attractive village with a church that wasn't open.



Some of the locals didn't look very friendly ...



 I walked along the lane beside the church that becomes a bridleway leading to Haughton Park House Farm ... on the way I passed Cottage Plantation to my right. A greater spotted woodpecker was calling in the wood ...



 At the farm the bridleway joins the Robin Hood Way. According to my OS Map the Robin Hood Way splits to the south west of Bothamsall with one section heading straight to Clumber Park and the other heading along a more circuitous route passing through both Bothamsall and Elkesley.

Anyway ... the Robin Hood Way passes through Elkesley Wood ...







I crossed the River Poulter again to get back into Elkesley.

As I was taking off my boots at the end of the walk to put on my shoes, a young girl about 12 or 13 walked up to me and said "Excuse me Sir, are you waiting to go into the church ?"  I told her I had just walked around the churchyard but the church itself seemed to be closed. Then I asked if she was waiting to go inside ... but the conversation fizzled out as she walked away. Strange !

The view of the church from amongst the yew trees in the churchyard was a good one ...



Date of walk ~ 31st October 2009

Length of walk ~ 5 miles

Total since 1st September 2009 ~ 83 1/2 miles.

Whatever happened to Bill Hucknall ?

There's a small car park on the Southwell Trail in Nottinghamshire between Edlington and Kirklington. You can easily get away from the crowds there. I did on Sunday ...

A short distance from the car park a path runs down the side of Edingley Beck towards Edingley itself ...



Like so many other places it looks as though dog owners haven't been keeping their dogs under control ...



Or perhaps the notice is there so that Nottinghamshire County Council's efforts to encourage wildflife won't be scuppered ...



October probably isn't the best time to admire a six metre conservation strip but here it is anyway ...




A couple of fields later and I was still walking beside Edingley Beck. The wood in the photo below is shown as a moat on the OS Map but when I got level with it I couldn't see much in the trees.



Edingley churchyard was quiet when I entered it but then aren't most villages generally. If anyone's about they're usually in a car, driving by ...



 Round the back of the church this stone caught my eye the last time we were here ...



I followed the path that runs west on the southern side of the village, passing this sign ...



I was walking towards Cotton Mill Farm, walking through these cows with their calves. Fortunately they didn't seem bothered by my presence. I'm so glad I don't have a dog though, if only for my own safety ...



On reaching Farnsfield I followed a narrow path that runs between houses to the Plough Inn ...







I love paths that run through villages like this.

I reached the Plough and then walked along The Ridgeway [not to be confused with The Ridgeway, of course] to join the Southwell Trail.



The Southwell Trail runs in a fairly straight line for the next one and a half miles. Sit back and enjoy the scenery ...









The seats have been provided by Nottinghamshire County Council and have this carved into them ... 



Just before I got back to the car park, the sun came out a little more forcefully and looking back shafts of sunlight were shining through the leaves ...



I drove back to the Plough then and had a meal there ... three days later and I can't remember what it was. Still it was enjoyable as was the beer.

And Bill Hucknall ?  Well he is the only person I know who comes from Farnsfield. He lodged with our family 40 yards ago. He was a police cadet but we lost touch with him not long after he moved on. I've often wondered how his life went. He must be in his early 60s now. I can't imagine Bill being that age.

The woman behind the bar had obviously heard of Bill because all she said was I think he's moved from Farnsfield ...

It was a long shot ... but worth trying.

Date of walk ~ 18th October 2009


Length of walk ~ 4 miles.

Total since 1st September 2009 ~ 53 1/4 miles