Best laid plans…

or – All’s well that ends well!

Trentham group have been given eleven miles to walk – from Alton to Hobbs Lane. Rather than try to do it all in one go we have split it into three shorter sections on different days therefore allowing more members the opportunity to take part.

Friday 13^th seemed a good date to start and it was all planned with military precision – we wouldn’t rely on husbands or public transport, we would do it ourselves by leaving a car at each end of the walk. Over the stile in Back Lane, Alton and we were on The Staffordshire Way, to the distant sounds of squeals of delight (or terror) drifting over the valley from Alton Towers. We crossed the fields and entered woodland where we saw bluebells, wood anemones and banks of primroses. The sun shone and we made good time to Denstone where we were booked to have lunch at the award winning Denstone Hall Farm Shop. We were not disappointed, lunch was freshly prepared and delicious and so, with batteries fully charged and bladders emptied we were soon back on our walk.

The next stretch across fields was more complicated, the farmer had decided to plough a field that the book told us to walk across so, being resourceful, we circumnavigated said field, located the necessary stiles and plank bridges and then walked beside the river Churnet towards Rocester. This is George Eliot country and Rocester was her model for Rosseter in Adam Bede.

Our route for the day was to end in Abbey Road, (not a Beatle in sight!) where Marilyn had left her car, only one problem at this stage but it was quite a major one, Marilyn could not find her car keys and we therefore concluded they must be still in the car parked in Alton. On checking bus timetables we found no bus due for over an hour and a phone call to a Uttoxeter taxi firm quoted £18 for the trip to Alton. There was no alternative – we had to telephone a husband! Fortunately there was one in our party with a husband who knew where Rocester was and he was, thankfully, at home doing nothing so he sped to our rescue, picked us up in Rocester 40 minutes later and returned us to Alton. The car was still where we left it, Marilyn’s keys were inside so all ended well and it was only on the drive back to Trentham that it started to rain.  According to the pedometer we walked 6.8km today which, I am told, translates as just over 4  miles. Next walk is Rocester to Uttoxeter on May 6th.

Tips:-
Make sure you follow the Staffordshire Way markers which have the Staffordshire Knot on the yellow arrow. There are other yellow arrows without the knot.

Some stiles are broken, some fences have been replaced by gates and some fields are ploughed.
It might be helpful to have a husband standing by for emergencies!

Just Walking the Dog

Sarah from Trentham has written the following post about her preparation for 'The Walk'.

Better weather this morning so Rosie and I have walked a part of the Staffordshire Way and done a bit of a recce.
I parked in Uttoxeter near the station as that is where the path comes into the town. From there we walked north across fields, over stiles, under fences (Rosie) to the A50.
We negotiated the cycle track, crossed the bridge and found the tunnel underneath. Once north of the noisy road we walked across fields that were not at all waterlogged and got as far as Sidford Wood.

The path is very poorly maintained, some stiles are overgrown and there are places where Rosie struggled to get through but we did it.
We turned around before we got to the north end of the wood as we had been walking for almost an hour and had to retrace our steps.
Once back in the car I drove up to Rocester to check out Abbey Rd car park, just as well I did as it doesn't seem to exist any more! No matter as there is plenty of on street parking. From there up to Denstone to look at The Tavern pub (this had been recommended but I was not convinced). Pub was closed but just nearby is a fantastic farm shop and cafe, Denstone Hall (click here). I had coffee there and asked them about a large group arriving next Friday, no problem but we will need to book, its very popular. Looks ideal, they do sandwiches or hot meals and its only around 200yds off our path.
From there I drove up to Alton and checked if there is anywhere to park where the Staffs Way leaves the village, again we can park on the street where its wide enough. All we need now is a dry day.
Fingers crossed for next Friday and our first walk.

Thanks Sarah. Staffs Moorlands are walking their section of The Way on the same day, so let's hope the sun shines on us all.

Poetry in Motion

I've heard of people who recite poetry whilst walking and who get enormous pleasure from committing a poem to memory. Then there are those who are inspired by their country walks to write their own verse. Wordsworth's inspiration for 'I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud' came from a walk he took around Ullswater with his sister, Dorothy.

In November 2010, Country Living magazine invited readers to celebrate the British countryside by writing a poem in its honour. Here is one of the runners up poems.

A Walk in the Peaks by Sue Burge

Clouds scuttle across the sky

like sheep a dreamer has forgotten

to stop counting.

Our walk is punctuated by stiles.

Slates like gravestones stacked against

a drystone wall.

We climb from Grindsbrook Booth to Hollins Cross

where the coffinbearers would pause

before the descent to Hope.

Whorls of wool litter the path as

sheep unravel in the fields.

Stones like bones uncovered by shifting mud.

Down a narrow lane a sudden breeze delivers

a swirl of blossom

transforming us into snowglobe figurines.

Ascending skylarks shatter the sky and

my head is full

of all the poetry I've ever forgotten.

I hope the lovely Spring weather we're currently experiencing inspires you to go out and appreciate your local beauty spots.

Footloose

The great artist, anatomist and all round polymath, Leonardo da Vinci said, "The human foot is a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art." Who are we to argue with that? The human foot has 26 bones, 33 joints (20 of which are articulated), 107 ligaments, and 19 muscles and tendons. Most of us take our feet for granted as they transport the weight of our bodies throughout our lives. If they're lucky our feet may be treated to the occasional pedicure or relaxing foot massage but generally we don't give them much thought until they ache or start to give us some sort of trouble. Perhaps it's time we offered our plates of meat* some TLC for a change.

*Cockney rhyming slang for 'feet' as in "I'm run off me plates of meat."

I've looked at clouds from (Both Sides Now)

Yesterday's walk took me from Rushton Spencer to the summit of The Cloud.

The weather man had forecast sunshine, but unfortunately it was......... cloudy for most of the morning.

This is the view from The Cloud looking towards Mow Cop 6 miles into the distance.

Cumulus clouds over Brocton Coppice, Cannock Chase (photo taken by Sarah last month).

More cumulus clouds - this time near the Glacial Boulder on the Chase (photo by Sarah).

Finally, a view from my front bedroom window - not many clouds around the evening this was taken!

(Click on any photo to enlarge.)

The Happy Wanderer

Whatever you do, don't follow The Muppets' lead!

We've Only Just Begun

but we intend to go far! The walk was officially launched on Saturday at the NWR Area Event 'Meeting the Challenge'.

Hopefully, many of those attending will now feel inspired to join in the walks, whether it be a short section, several sections on different dates or 'The Long Walk' led by Sarah over seven consecutive days.

Staffordshire Moorlands Group have already chosen the date of their walk from Mow Cop to Ryecroft Gate and a date is also fixed in September for the Group Picnic to celebrate the completion of the challenge (see calendar). Don't forget to let Marilyn know as soon as you have a date for walking your section, then we'll be able to see the calendar filling up. It's all becoming rather exciting!