David and Jacinta's Walks- 2023

Low Bradfield and Derwent Edge (David with Paul B) David met with Paul B for their occasional walk, starting in Low Bradfield- the picturesque village that Jacinta and he had walked from on August 8th . It was a great variant of a mainly familiar walk, which normally starts from Mortimer House. From Low Bradfield the Sheffield Country Walk is followed up to the church in High Bradfield and from there, up to Agden Side Road and Mortimer House. At this point, we were on ground familiar to David, following Dukes Road and the track across Cartledge Flat up to Back Tor. From here, we were able to see the Great Ridge and its own Back Tor. The Great Ridge under the clouds Lose Hill, Back Tor and Mam Tor on the Great Ridge On the way down Foulstone Road from Back Tor we saw a number of hunters with their dogs, either walking or in the butts. By the time we reached Strines Bridge on Mortimer Road, we could hear a few shots as well. On reaching Strines Reservoir dam, we took the path on the nor...

Low Bradfield, Dale Dike Reservoir and The Folly We chose to do a walk from one of our new guides which suggested a number of places that we'd been to already, but in a different combination. We started from the picturesque village of Low Bradfield which boasted (in an understated way) a cricket green, duck pond and tennis court. It could almost have been a film set. From here, we walked west to the Dale Dike Reservoir, picking up the path to the south east of it, which we've walked several times in the opposite direction. On reaching the dam for the Strines Reservoir, we could see the folly tower on Sugworth Edge, which we've frequently seen from afar. The Folly on Sugworth Edge Having had a break for refreshments on the steps of the folly, we went back to Low Bradfield to the north of the Dale Dike. On the way back, we passed some football-sized giant puffballs ( Calvatia gigantea )- I don't think I've ever seen any that size before! Genuinely Giant Puffballs We a...

  Mortimer House, Dukes Road, Back Tor and Dale Dike Reservoir Off we went to Mortimer House to walk in the Eastern Fells. The last time we went there was July 1st 2022, so it was good to see the countryside at a very different time of year. The most marked difference was the lack of people- we walked the whole of the first section (about seven miles) without seeing a soul. There are signs that the earth is warming up and that spring is on the way, but there is a fair way to go yet. Back Tor and Lost Lad on the horizon, from Dukes Road There were red kites and the sad remains of several hares, noisy pheasants and the welcome sight of a curlew, perhaps choosing a nesting site. Hare today, gone tomorrow... Invasive species with colour contrast Cakes of Bread, Dove Stone and Win Hill (on far horizon) Descending Foulstone Road towards the Brogging Moss Plantation The walk down to Strines Reservoir and across the dam is an interesting new rout and we picked our way through the rather mu...