Postscripts from The Peak District (1) - Consall Forge

Monday 3rd June

Of course, this isn't really the date at all!

Feeling a bit guilty as it's 3 weeks today since we moved here, to Ipstones, after 35 years in Essex & I haven't updated the Blog as I promised I would!

Would be easy to plead the pressures of unpacking, internet problems.... or even cutting the lawns. Truth is we've spent almost half our days out walking &, as always, I'd rather do a new walk before writing about an old one!

Nevertheless, 2 days after arriving, we set off to explore the footpaths around Ipstones....

 

 

 

St. Leonard's Church,

Ipstones

 

Just at the end of our lane at the top end of the village

 

 

Beyond the church there are just a couple more houses as the lane climbs towards Ipstones Edge

 

 

 

This was our first outing & we headed in the opposite direction - downhill to the Churnet Valley & the Caldon Canal
 

Have to confess that we were more than a little influenced by the fact that we knew there was a pub en route!

First visited the 'Black Lion' over a year ago when we'd never even considered living here. Excellent pub which you have to walk to even if you arrive by car! Easiest access is probably by boat or train!

Beer of the Day: 'Black Lion'.... the barman said it was really Grays Champion Ale but they couldn't find the pump shield! Very good dark bitter

Consall Station on the Churnet Valley Railway; a restored Victorian station on this 10 mile stretch of heritage railway - no vehicle access here either!

The Caldon Canal is a branch of the Trent & Mersey built to ship limestone, ironstone & coal from local quarries & mines to major ports

 

Could well become a favourite walk.... even if the problems of living on a hill soon became apparent!



Some interesting challenges with footpath signs on the way home. I did point out to Les that it probably wouldn't be a good idea to wind up the locals by marching across their fields after only 2 days in the village although that was preferable to being shot!

Stopped to chat to a couple of ladies who were able to confirm that we were on a 'real' footpath & heading in the right direction

 

 

 

 

Look at the steepness of that hill! Tough going after a beer!

Glad of the rest!

 

Song of the Day: 'New Horizon' by Jaki Whitren - a track from one of my favourite albums of the early 70s! I think we'll be exploring lots of those in the coming months