Howard's 8-mile walk explored the area outside the White Peak to the south of Thorpe and the high ground on both sides of the Dove. From our hotel, we dropped down to Coldwall Bridge across the Dove which used to carry the main route across the Dove from Derbyshire to Staffordshire. Then we climbed up to St Bartholomew's Church in Blore before passing through Okeover Park. After recrossing the Dove, we reached Mapleton and its unusual 18th century church before returning to Thorpe via St Leonard's Church.
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| The short walkers at the start |
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| Both groups walking down toards the river from Thorpe village |
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| Coldwall Bridge, so wide because 250 years ago it used to carry the main route across the Dove from Derbyshire to Staffordshire. The short walkers head towards Blore and the rest up the Dove towards Ilam |
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| St Bartholomew's Church, Blore |
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| The splendid, alabaster Bassett tomb (1640), containing the remains of members of the Bassett family of Blore Hall whose descendants include Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness Prince Richard of Gloucester |
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| One of many stunted ancient oaks in Okeover Park |
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| Okeover Hall, a
Grade II listed country house, the family seat of the Okeover family who
have been in residence since the reign of William Rufus |
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| Okeover Corn Mill (in March)- now with an Archimedes screw for generating electricty |
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| Crossing the Dove flood plain towards The Okeover Arms - a welcome lunch stop |
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| St Mary's Church MapletonI, an 18th century church, of limestone, small, aisleless and endearingly idiosyncratic with a squat west tower which carries a dome, surmounted by a disproportionately large lantern (this in turn evidently once carried an urn, which now lies damaged at the foot of the tower) |
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| St Leonard's Church, Thorpe |
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| St Leonard's Church and its Patron Saint of Prisoners |
Rab's 9. mile walk left the others at Caldwell Bridge and took the east side of the Dove to Ilam Park and then along the Manifold. A climb followed up past Castern Hall to Stanshope and a drop down Pasture Lane to Milldale for lunch. Then it was down the Dove to the Stepping Stones and a climb up Lin Dale and across Thorpe Pastures back to Thorpe.
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| Ilam Hall |
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| Castern Hall |
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| Bridge over the River Dove near Ilam Rock |
.JPG)
