Hathersage, Stanage Edge and Higger Tor, 28th October 2018

Today, Roger took thirteen of us from Hathersage through North Lees and up to and along the top of Stanage Edge to the gritstone feature of Crow Chin.  The return was initially on a lower path below the gritstone crags before climbing back up to the top of the Edge along Long Causeway (a medieval packhorse road or possibly an old Roman road) and past Robin Hood's Cave to Upper Burbage Bridge for lunch. After braving the hailstorms we climbed up to Higger Tor and then back to Hathersage via St Michael and All Angels’ Church in even more hail.

Bronte Cottage where Charlotte Bronte stayed while visiting Hathersage

North Lees Hall (1594) a Grade II-listed Tudor mansion the inspiration for Thornfield Hall in Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre

Climb up to Stanage Edge

High Neb (458m), Win Hill in the background

On the recce - another trig point (457m), not much in the background this time

Drinking basin #13 cut into the gritstone for the grouse

Millstones on the path below Stanage Edge - abandoned because French millstones were introduced which were capable of producing white flour

Back up to Stanage Edge along Long Causeway

Robin Hood's Cave

Lunch stop at Upper Burbage Bridge

View of Higger Tor (right) and the Iron Age hill fort of Carl Wark (left) looking across from Burbage Edge

Just before the downpour ...

... and just after

Another Robin Hood connection (allegedly) in Hathersage Churchyard

Bleasby and Southwell, 24th October 2018

Hilary's walk today from Bleasby made use of the King Charles 1 Heritage Trail to Southwell.  Here is the route which started in the car park at the Manor Farm Tea Shoppe.

Burton Lazars to Burrough Hill, 21st October 2018

Richard led twenty ramblers on this 9-mile walk starting at St James' Church at Burton Lazars.  The village was recorded as Burtone in the 1086 Domesday Book.  In the 12th century a hospital was built by the Order of Lazarus for the care of returning soldiers and pilgrims from the Crusades in the Middle East who were suffering from leprosy.  Burtone was renamed Burton St Lazarus, which was subsequently abridged to Burton Lazars.
We took coffee near the church at Little Dalby. The nearby Estate of 5,600 acres, including Little Dalby Hall, is owned and run by the Ernest Cook (grandson of Thomas Cook) Trust, a charity promoting outdoor learning for children and young people.
The lunch stop was at the site of the Iron Age fort at Burrough Hill.  The return journey was along Moscow Lane, Sandy Lane and Gartree Hill with more good views towards the east. 

Here are some photos from Steve and Roger and the route from Richard.

St James' Church

Coffee stop with views looking back to Burton Lazars

St James' Church, Little Dalby

We love to go a wandering ....

Earthworks at Burrough Hill, Leicestershire’s only Iron Age fort

RAF observation point on Burrough Hill

Heading down from Burrough Hill

Osmaston and Shirley, 14th October 2018

If nobody else comes, let's go home

Oh no!

Jan's 6-mile walk took us along part of the Bonnie Prince Charlie Walk through Osmaston Park and Shirley Park to St Michael's Church in Shirley for coffee. Stopping short of the planned visit to Wyaston, we turned back through Osmaston Park to lunch in shelter (of the cars).

Approaching Osmaston Sawmill, built in the 1850s in order to meet timber demands on the Estate

Coffee stop, St Michael's Church, Shirley

No way, absolutely no way am I going to put these two dummies on the blog.
Oh, go on then!
(Exiting the Osmaston Estate)

Nor these, spotted on the (dry) recce.  They are meant to be Foggy Dewhurst and Les Dawson according to Jan.

Edwinstowe, Sherwood Forest and the Major Oak, 7th October 2018

Angela's classic Sherwood Forest morning walk started at the new Visitor Centre in Edwinstowe and took us through the village to the River Maun, then through ancient oak forest and open heathland to the mighty Major Oak.

The start outside the new Visitor Centre

Robin Hood (allegedly)

Robin and Marion, High Street, Edwinstowe

Duke of Portland's Flood Meadows, 1819 to 1839, next to the River Maun

Celebrating UK Fungus Day

Major Oak

Robin Hood and Little John

Billesdon, Tilton on the Hill, Tugby and Rolleston, 30th September 2018

Paul led nineteen ramblers on a 10-mile walking from Billesdon taking in Tilton on the Hill and Tugby.  The weather held fair and the group enjoyed pleasant views of rolling Leicestershire countryside. A coffee stop was made at the churchyard in Tilton and lunch was taken on the green in the lea of the Fox & Hounds pub at Tugby.