Why Does It Always Rain on Me?

THE LONG DAY -DAY SIX

On the morning of Day 6 we met again at The Ramblers' Retreat

and set off up picturesque Dimmingsdale, once a scene of industrial squalor where iron and steel were smelted, but transformed to a rural haven by an Earl of Shrewsbury. The area is sometimes known as 'Little Switzerland'.

After a senior moment as we walked along the lane above the woods towards Stoney Dale, we started a rather premature search for the footpath

Trying to get out of a field we should never have gone into!

Reassured that we were on the right track by two workmen, we walked on through Sutton's Wood towards Hawksmoor. By now it was raining, and alas! it was to rain more or less heavily all that day.

Fallen tree no problem for NWR

East Wall Farm, tucked away below the woods

We had now come back down into the valley to follow the Churnet again along overgrown paths and through muddy fields, finally climbing up out of the valley towards the village of Kingsley Holt.

On our way through the village, we met three rather shy goats,

but failed to spot any dry spot for our elevenses, such as a bus shelter or church porch, until Anne noticed a woman come out of her front door and take a load of washing into her open garage. With great presence of mind, Anne asked her if we could snack in her garage. Rather surprised, she said yes, for which we were very grateful!

Then we set off again into the rain to walk along to the next village, Kingsley. Sadly, the lovely views across the Churnet Valley that we should have enjoyed were shrouded in mist and rain.

As we reached the village, an enormous herd of cows was being released into the last field we crossed. Anne reminded us, and the cows, yet again, that cows are domesticated animals. The Way skirted the farm through St Werburgh's churchyard

and led out through a holly bush back into the fields. As we began to descend back down to the river, who should be moving purposefully towards us into that field but the selfsame enormous herd of cows. Anne reminded us yet again ...

Below Kingsley we had to negotiate a very steep and slippery slope, past the Churnet Valley Wildlife Centre, where all the wildlife appeared to be sheltering in its hutches, down into the valley. Here, the river Churnet, the Caldon Canal and the Churnet Valley Steam Railway run side by side, and where the valley is narrowest, the river is used as a canal. As you can see, it was raining quite heavily again as we set off along the muddy towpath and over the changeover bridge, designed to avoid unhitching the horses, towards The Black Lion at Consall.

As Frodo said, "Shortcuts make long delays, but inns make longer ones." We spent about an hour in the dry and warm Black Lion, eating enormous baps, and the chickens got the leftovers. However, one walker did comment that she felt human again! Unfortunately, Jane and I noticed the weather forecast for the next day on the pub's TV, and we were not amused.  But we would recommend the Black Lion.

Off again into the rain

A boozy name for a boat!

Gilbert the 20-year-old dog, retired for half his life

Anne meets this strimmer crew for the 5th time!

Another boozy name for a boat!

Finally we reached Cheddleton and the Flint Mill, where flints were ground to use in earthenware pottery. Had we had more time, and brighter weather, it would probably have been interesting to learn more about the industrial heritage of the canal, railway and surrounding area.

But for now, we left the canal at Longsdon, and began to climb towards the A53, so steep it is known locally as Ladderedge. As we went up Wood Lane, we had the clearest view of the day, back towards Cheddleton.

The last section of the Way for that day, across and along the very busy A53, and through a very muddy Ladderedge Country Park, only to re-emerge further along the A53, was not everyone's favourite ... but at last we reached the car park, where Sarah A was waiting in her car to give us lifts either back to Tessa's or back to Trentham. As you can see, Anne was very careful not to muddy Sarah's car.

Very free range hens on the way down towards Leek

Tomorrow would be our last day! Whatever the weather, we would be headed for Mow Cop, and only Rudyard Lake, The Cloud and the mud would lie between us and the Castle!


Submitted by Sarah