Saturday's Walk

Shall we take a walk?

It sounds like a good idea whilst the weather is still quite warm for this time of year but before we go I have to mention that I'm having trouble leaving comments on some of your blogs.  This has been happening for a couple of weeks now.  When I click in the box to make a comment on your posts the cursor doesn't appear, what I call a 'dead click.'  On some blogs I've been able to make comments again after a few days but others I still can't comment at all. So apologies, I have been visiting and reading, hopefully things will resolve themselves soon.

Right, lets go for that walk.  We're at Ilam Park in the Peak District which is just over the hill from the more popular and sometimes very crowded Dovedale.

I've taken you here quite a few times over the years so I'll let the photos do most of the talking.

One of my favourite views from Ilam Hall (now a Youth Hostel) towards the church of the Holy Cross.

Above the distinctive flat top of Thorpe Cloud. Below a few photos of parts of the Hall.

 

It was built for Jesse Watts-Russell in 1821.  It replaced an earlier 16th century building.

 

 Above the Pepperpot Tower and below St Bertram's Bridge.  St Bertram's tomb is in the church.  The bridge crosses the River Manifold.

There was a buzzard soaring overhead as we walked.  It was being harassed by crows.

The paths were strewn with crunchy leaves.

 

A view of the hall from the bridge.

 

The River Manifold. 

 

Two Saxon Crosses in the churchyard.

 

Another Saxon Cross known as the Battle Stone along the path by the river.

These two sheep made me smile.

 

All for now.  Take care.

September

Time has gone so by quickly and summer is meandering towards its end.  Yet, perversely, time seems to have passed by slowly too as many of the things we might have done with the summer have been affected by the inertia caused by the times we are living through. 

  Last Friday I reached the age of seventy and it doesn't seem real even to say it but I'm grateful to have reached that milestone.

Yesterday we ventured to - Ilam Park -which is looked after by the National Trust and parked at the Blore Pastures car park.  We walked down towards the village as far as the road but didn't venture any further as it was getting busy.  I expect nearby Dovedale was even busier. We took coffee and biscuits with us for elevenses which we had when we got back to the car.

The weather was just right, sunny and dry but not too warm with very little wind.  Just a gentle breeze blowing the branches of the trees.

It was lovely to travel just a little bit further afield than we had done for ages.

The views were stunning and there were lots of people walking up on the hills.

 

There were also lots of sheep.

Most of them ignored us

There is always a curious one who dares to stand and stare.

 

Some people like us meandered along the paths, others were very energetic.

Berries and Keys

   

 fluffy, feathery things

and lots of stone walls, wooden gates and seats. Blue skies too.

At Ilam

It was so good to get out and about today after almost a week indoors suffering from a nasty cough and cold.  I still don't feel that great but a bit of fresh air and exercise helped me to feel more myself so I'm hoping it is onwards and upwards from here.

I know I've written posts on Ilam before but I never tire of the place so I hope you don't either!

 

We had a walk along the river and back through the fields before heading down to the church.

Stopping to admire Ilam Hall on the way; it must be one of the most beautiful Youth Hostels in the country!

I love the way the church nestles in the landscape.  This is the church of the Holy Cross and there was a Saxon church on the site before this one.  You can see outlines of an old Saxon door in the wall near the entrance and some of the lower masonry is of Saxon origin.

Above is one of the two Saxon crosses that can be found in the churchyard; below is the outside of the mausoleum chapel added in 1831.

 

As the door was open we decided to have a quick look inside the church;  the lights were off so the lighting levels were quite low for taking photographs. I did manage to take a few.

Above is the tomb of St Bertram who was, according to legend, a Mercian prince whose wife and baby were killed by wolves.  He lived as a hermit near Stafford and then at Ilam.  His remains were eventually  moved to Stafford but the alter  tomb, which dates from the 13th century, is still a place of pilgrimage and prayers are left here - you can see them on top of the tomb in the photo.

Close by St Bertram's tomb is the 17th century Alabaster tomb of Robert and Elizabeth Meverell of  nearby Throwley Hall, now an imposing ruin which I'd love to visit one day soon.

Above is a view of the chancel;  I didn't realise until I got home and looked at the photos that the east wall was painted a bright blue.

In the photo above taken across the nave you can just see the font of 1120; the figures around it are thought to depict the life of St Bertram.

New Year's Day Walk

There is nothing like a long walk on New Year's Day to lift the spirits and work off the lethargy that sets in over Christmas and the holidays. We left the house at 9.45a.m. and by 10.15a.m. we had parked in Ilam Village.

Walk this way


to see the Red deer grazing


The lovely church at Ilam

The River Manifold

The sun was high in the sky


and the hills looked wonderful


and the sheep were enjoying their New Year's Day lunch.