Anniversary Walk

24^th August – Longnor

Panorama Looking Over the Valley

 This was our anniversary walk. The main aim was to have a meal out. Joni was on holiday and accompanied us on the walk. Getting to Longnor and the start of the walk proved a little irksome. Firstly, the SATNav refused to cooperate for some time. I did not do too badly navigating from memory. (We are gradually putting together the various part of Derbyshire on our mental map.) Secondly, we arrived within just about a mile of our destination when right in front of us was a detour sign at a cross roads. There was no instruction about whether to go right or left. After some thought and two different pieces of advice; one from Joni’s mobile to go in one direction and the other from Irene’s paper technology to go the other. I elected to go left. Now, instinct cut in. I correctly anticipated coming upon a further cross roads, and just as correctly anticipate that the SATNav would direct a left turn back to the road that we came in on. I turned right. Instantly the instrument added 25 minutes to our eta. Were we really on a road? Or where we on a very rough switch back going one way?

At last we reach Longnor. I am told that the route taken was through spectacular scenery. I have to say that gritting teeth and focusing all attention on staying on the road before had the effect of blinkering me from such picturesque countryside. Road side parking was free and near an interesting cafe and near to ‘The Old Cheshire Cheese’, which was to the place for our midday meal. After the usual the challenge was to find the start of the walk. This was to be the worst ‘walk-start’ location that we have had. The start was the Market Square, were we where. The direction was to go towards Crowdicote, which we did. We were to go left down Doveridge; which we could not find as the only road going left had a totally different name. So, back we went and found a different part of Doveridge. Long story, but an olde villager put us on something like the correct route. Across the valley, following our directions we did go.

Distinctive Hill Shapes

Exciting Clouds

 Then came the farm on our left (no right). Not that it mattered in that there was no way to pass the guard dogs in the farmyard. (Can you blame the walk author for this difficulty?) So, half an hour was added. By the time we reached Crowdicote we had had enough walking and decided that the short cut back to Longnor and the pub was the best option.

Crowdicote Showing Evidence of Road Closure

Joni Photographing Cows

 We had an excellent meal in great surroundings. (Sounds like an advert.) A feature of the pub was that small historical bits were displayed in a table cabinet beneath the glass table top. There were items such as a receipt for a “Milbro” Waterless Cooker from M. Rossetti, London S.W.5; described on the document as a Gass stove, costing £5.19.6 and delivered free of charge, C.O.D.

Table Display

The Receipt

My Steak

Irene's Lasagne

The main feature of this walk was that we were near the sources of the River Dove and the River Manifold, which run parallel at this part of the world.