20/1/21 During this lockdown, I’ve yet again been exploring my local area of Wirksworth, Derbyshire just outside the Peak District National Park. I am learning so much about the area and each walk reveals another interesting tale or unusual artefact or feature. Today was no exception and after a steep climb out of Wirksworth in the direction of the Derwent valley, I walked past a rather fine but isolated hall known as Wigwell Grange. The Grange has quite a history and was once the scene of a brutal murder. George Victor Townley murdered 22 year old Elizabeth ( Betsy or … Continue reading Hugging trees and the site of a murder!

12th December 2020 From time to time on our guided walks we come across various stones or similar objects inscribed with poetry or phrases to read and reflect. The messages are very thought provoking and fit beautifully into the surrounding landscape. The stones can be found dotted around the millstone edges area of the Peak District and have been created by local artists. They were produced in response to the ancient Guide Stoops that helped travellers navigate their way across the moorlands. The words on the stones hold directions to guide us in the future and the tricky environmental terrain … Continue reading Companion Stones of the Peak District

If you’re out walking on The Roaches on the Staffordshire side of the Peak District and you fancy a sit down, you couldn’t go far wrong by stopping for a rest at The Queen Chair! This is a seat with a fabulous view!  It’s carved out of the gritstone on the edge of a cliff, and above the seat is a plaque declaring that the Prince and Princess of Teck visited the site on Aug 23rd 1872.  Apparently Sir Phillip Brocklehurst of Swythamley, a wealthy local landowner invited the royal pair. The Prince was a minor German aristocrat and the Princess … Continue reading The Queens Chair

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2013 annual report for this blog. Here’s an excerpt: A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 5,500 times in 2013. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 5 trips to carry that many people. Click here to see the complete report. Continue reading 2013 in review