Walk 26 - Eyam, Bretton Clough and Eyam Moor - 9 miles. Well that was the plan but in the event I reduced it to around five miles because there was a lot of drifted snow all over the place and the going was sometimes rather tough. This British climate is quite incredible. A week ago I was walking in sunshine without a coat or jacket, beads of sweat on my brow and a cooling pint of shandy on the pub bench in front of me. Today, I was wearing my lined trousers, gloves and waterproof boots and at one point found myself scaling a six foot snowdrift on Sir William Hill Road.
I parked by the church in the plague village of Eyam, nipped inside to take a photo and chatted to the old lady who was on guard duty there. Then I hiked over the fields, crossing Linen Dale to the pretty limestone village of Foolow, then up on to Hucklow Edge and along to the hamlet of Bretton. I was tempted to enter "The Barrel Inn" but pressed on to Sir William Hill. A farmer with a JCB digger was clearing the road. Soon afterwards, I cut across the fields back down to Eyam but before I could get there I did an impromptu impression of a sack of potatoes being chucked off a lorry. Whoop! Slam! I'm down on the snowy deck expecting an invisible audience to laugh themselves silly. The last time I fell I cracked a couple of ribs but today all was well and fortunately I had just zipped my new camera back in its case.
Statistically, I have worked out that I will probably have a significant fall every two hundred and fifty miles. Perhaps I should invest in one of those padded sumo suits to prevent serious injury.
Walk 26 Gallery:-
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| St Lawrence's Church in Eyam |
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| Houses in Foolow |
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| "The Barrel Inn", Bretton |
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| Veteran cars parked at "The Barrel" |
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| Snowdrift on Sir William Hill |
Good heavens, how amazing !! Never a dull moment with your weather YP. There seems to be quite a bit of snow there, not just a smattering that won't stick.
ReplyDeleteEyam is an interesting village with an interesting story about the plague. Would make a very interesting post. Did you see the plaques outside the houses telling you who died from each one?
In contrast to your weather it is quite hot here - 27C - and we are supposed to be in Autumn!
Cheers
it hasn't been fit to send a dog out here.... am impressed you managed to get out and about in it though Mr. Pudding! My mate used to live in Eyam and he is joining me today for a little saunter around the block... might even pick up a couple of geocaches on the way. Unplanned route today just freestyling it from memory so anything could happen! If I'm not back by tea time call International Rescue!! FAB!
ReplyDeleteHELEN Yes - Eyam would make an interesting post as I guess that many bloggers are not aware of its story.
ReplyDeleteARCTIC BOX Just don't follow my example and slam yourself down on the ground like a sack of spuds.
The photos are beautiful. You obviously had a lot more snow than we did over here. The padded suit sounds like a good plan. ;)
ReplyDeleteStunning colours you're getting from your new camera.
ReplyDeleteBut to protect yourself against the occasional fall, I suggest one of those Body Zorbes.
I love that car
ReplyDeleteI could just myself bombing down the welsh roads with a fox terrier
JENNY there was virtually no snow when I set off from Sheffield on Thursday morning.
ReplyDeleteSHOOTING PARROTS What I don't need is those stupid walking sticks that you see numerous hikers carrying. Isn't a Body Zorbe like a big transparent beach ball that you sit inside?
EARL GRAY There were three of them. They passed me as I was walking up the hill road - I had to jump into the snowdrift at the side to avoid being squashed by them. In the second one there was a man with an unkempt beard and a slavering bulldog looking through the windscreen. They looked like Dick Dastardly and Mutley.
"a significant fall every two hundred and fifty miles." I'll parcel up James's outfit. Just put it on between the 249 and 251- mile mark. She'll be right mate.
ReplyDeleteAh! The Barrel at Breton. Many a happy hour has been spent in there with my husband when we were 'courting'
ReplyDelete