August 14, 2024.
HARTINGTON, SHEEN, BRUND, RIVER MANIFOLD, LOWER BOOTHLOW FARM, OVER BOOTHLOW FARM, BOOTHLOW HAYES FARM, THE PACK HORSE INN AT CROWDECOTE, RIVER DOVE, PILSBURY CASTLE, THE DEVONSHIRE ARMS AT HARTINGTON
Distance: 10.7 miles.
Difficulty: Moderate.
Weather: Dry but cloudy.
Walkers: Peter Beal, Andy Blease, Alastair Cairns, Mike Cassini, Alan Hart, Julian Ross, Dean Taylor with Tommy.
Alternative walkers: Jock Rooney with Milly.
Apologies: Tom Cunliffe (hospital visiting), Mark Enright (w*^king), Keith Welsh (hols), Simon Williams and Cliff Worthington (Edinburgh Fringe)
Leader: Hart (assisted by Beal, Blease, Cairns and Ross). Diarist: Hart.
Starting point: The Market Place at Hartington (SK17 0AL)
Starting time: 10.06am. Finishing time: 3.05pm.
The idea for this walk began when your diarist found a bundle of four leaflets entitled “The Peak District Walks About” which he had bought some 15 years ago. The one based in Hartington incorporated some pathways with which we were familiar and some pastures new.
Unfortunately, the degree of detail in the direction proved to be sadly lacking and sometimes out of date. Consequently, I was grateful for the help of Peter with his local map and to Andy, Alastair and Julian with their GPS apps for rectifying mistakes and pointing us in the right directions, whenever the scanty narrative let us down.
We discovered the sketch map which accompanied the sparse directions was unhelpful if you wandered off piste (and we've all done that from time to time)
Deviations and retracing of footsteps put an extra 2 miles on a walk which was billed as 8 miles but the scenery throughout was worth the toil.
Having hopefully learned from our experience we agreed it would be a journey worth repeating on another summer day at which point the precise and correct directions taken will be recorded in the diary.
The Pack Horse Inn at Crowdecote where we joined Jock and Milly for drinks in the beer garden proved a popular choice. This was where we launched a campaign for Dean's Italian mastiff Tommy to become a stud. Your diarist suggested Tommy could have his own Facebook Page with the invitation “Fancy A Shag ?” as he offered his services to pedigree bitches. With such puppies fetching £1,000 each and the dog-owner traditionally entitled to the pick of the litter, Tommy could soon be earning a fortune for a weekend's enjoyable work.
Superstud ? Dean with Tommy
Our canine friend certainly attracted attention from some of the cattle in fields we visited. It has to be said that Tommy took the adventure in his stride far more easily than Dean.
Carry On
Ruminating: Some herds ignored our presence
Although the skies were threatening at times the weather forecast of a dry day proved accurate.
Leaving
Hartington
Heading for Pilsbury Castle
During our journey back to Hartington we passed the site of Pilsbury Castle, a site overlooking the River Dove which never fails to underwhelm.
The “castle” is little more than a hill 175 yards by 150 yards. It is believed it was once an Iron Age fortification until it was rebuilt in motte-and-bailey style in the 11th Century by the Normans after they had won The Battle of Hastings in 1066.
The area around Pilsbury was granted by William The Conqueror to Henry de Ferrers and may have been used during the campaign of “harrying” the rebellious north. It probably became redundant when nearby Hartington grew and Pilsbury became depopulated. In any event it would be more accurate to describe the site as a hill where there was once a castle.
One last hill before the pub ?
Some extra photographs below....
Next week's walk will start at 9.40am from The Little Mill Inn, Hollinsmoor Road, Rowarth SK22 1EB aiming to reach The Kinder Lodge in New Mills Road, Hayfield SK22 2JG for a livener around 12.30pm. We plan to return to The Little Mill at about 2.30pm for a final drink.
Happy wandering !
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