Yet more coronavirus restrictions introduced almost all around our Moorlands setting is beginning to make plotting a route quite tricky!
Finally abandoned the idea of using 'The Midshires Way' to head up to Whaley Bridge & The Peak Forest Canal, deciding it would be too busy a route & would take us quite close to Manchester.
Opted to stick with The Pennine Bridleway which we might be able to follow for quite some distance, currently skirting newly-restricted areas!
Managed to choose a bright & sunny day though you'll be able to see from our jackets that it was cold! Commented last time about the wind... even windier today - when we got home a bin was pirouetting in the driveway & a water butt had blown over!
Parsley Hay
The name is now synonymous with bike hire but this was one of the original stations on the High Peak Goods' Line, closed in 1877 but reopened in 1894 when the passenger line opened.
Similar photo to one from the last walk but this one clearly showing the end of the High Peak Trail at Dowlow, today's first waymark!
See the jackets... & the sweatshirt! Chilly weather!
Already aware that this old railway jaunt was going to be much quieter... the weather, the virus or the location?
Istrian Kazun from Croatia
Built by dry-stone masons from Istria using limestone from the nearby Once-a-Week quarry & sandstone from the Wellfield quarry near Huddersfield.
Common throughout Europe in places where dry-stone walling is used... often known as Beehive Huts in England & Scotland.
Plaque on the Kazun
In memory of a Civil Engineer from Zagreb who gained his PhD in Swansea & held a senior position at The University of Glasgow.
Pomeroy
Almost time for us to turn off & almost the end of the High Peak Trail.
Interestingly, Pomeroy is the start & finish point for Flagg Races, an annual point-to-point event which usually takes place just after Easter. In recent years it has been cancelled because of drought & snow... though wars and Foot & Mouth have occasionally been an issue!
Left The High Peak Trail now & heading over the tops to Chelmorton on The Pennine Bridleway.
Sensibly, the cows are sheltering behind the wall from the fierce wind!
Chelmorton
One of the highest villages in England, so hardly surprising it was so windy! Managed to tuck Eeyore into a little niche in the woodwork!
What's more surprising is that we didn't divert to the excellent 'Church Inn', a fine old pub first opened in 1742... but we've been there several times before & I was being lured by a chambered tomb!!
Five Wells Tomb
Reputedly, the highest megalithic tomb in Britain. A pity that its elaborate stone surroundings were removed more than 200 years ago... to build walls!
Splendid views towards Tideswell, Eyam & Shatton Edge as we dropped down The Pennine Bridleway to the remarkably quiet A6!
Tunstead Quarry
Slightly incongruous view!
Opened in 1929, by 1973 this was the largest quarry in Europe!
Permission to extend into The Peak District National Park was refused on the grounds that there was insufficient stone to last until 2000, a decision ultimately overridden by the Government. The quarry is still going strongly so, perhaps, some Government got something right!
Chee Dale
The start of our next walk... down to Blackwell Cottages & then up & on to Wormhill... we'll be exhausted after the first hour!!
Today's distance : 8.18 miles 13.17 kilometres
Cumulative : 33.03 miles 53.17 kilometres
Direction of Travel : North
Progress : We are now 376.36 miles from John o' Groats (-5.67 miles)!
& 276.15 miles from Land's End (+2.89 miles)!
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