A Walk from Thorpe

Hello Lovelies,

last week myself and a friend headed off to the peak district on a perfect spring day. We parked the car and wandered down the lane towards Thorpe....

The wild garlic was just coming into flower along the footpaths........

And the squat church looked pretty in the morning sunshine......

Soon we passed what we both thought was a house with a stable door. It wasn't until we saw the horse peeping out we realised it really was a stable........

Next we headed along a foot path between neat stone walls........

and left the village to walk happily in open fields........

filled with cute, black faced baby lambs.........

Over the brow of the hill we came upon a beautiful, far reaching view........

Then, after some route related decisions, we headed over the next small hill....This is looking back towards that distinctively shaped hill, Thorpe cloud........

From one side it looks pointed, but from this angle it has a flat top :0)

Next we passed Bunster Hill where we could see para-gliders floating peacefully. I think there's one on the ground in this photo. You may just make it out if you click on the picture to enlarge it....

The path was nice and obvious here.......

Leaving Derbyshire we entered a new county, Staffordshire, which is home to the pretty village of Ilam.......

apparently it's pronounced "Eye-lam"

It's a very cute spot, with pretty cottages......

A lovely bridge over the river Manifold.......

It's a place I have never visited before and I was charmed by it......

Lovely stone homes and an amazing backdrop.......

Plus lots of green fields filled with lambs...........

Soon we were approaching Ilam hall, and smiling at the cheeky lamb which was nibbling the hedge here.........again you may need to enlarge the image to see it.........

Past the unusually shaped church we approached Ilam Hall..........

The hall is owned by the National Trust and used as a youth hostel, The park and gardens are open for all to enjoy........

And enjoy we did. Sitting here looking towards Thorpe Cloud. It was just perfect for our coffee break........

Soon it was time to move on and we carefully descended the lovely old stone steps......

and gazed down on the river in the valley below.......

I loved the knobbly trees and the banks of wild garlic here........

and the reflections on the shady river........

More picture-book cottages were passed.........

Then it was time to climb up, up up again. Stopping regularly to glance back at the beautiful view.....

Steep fields, stone walls, lambs. All things I love.........

And it was so nice of these two to pose so beautifully in front of Castern Hall........

What a setting, I see you can get married here..........

Behind the hall the tiny hamlet of Castern was pretty too.........

Looking back where we had passed with the roof of the hall in view..........

We had a map... and my friend even a clever smartphone app. But it's still nice to see a sign with the name of the place you are heading towards on it :0)

Up here all we could hear was the Skylarks call as they hovered over head.

and we also saw some of these dainty, light brown birds hopping around in the fields as we passed.

Here it was nice to wander down the quiet road for a while.........

and gaze at the patchwork of fields.........

More clear signposts....great......

At this point we joined a familiar to me,  route over the top......

and down into the next deep valley.........

It was so lovely to be back in Milldale again, like I was with the family on Good Friday.......

The cottages were looking extra cute.........

With pots full of Tulips in the neat courtyard gardens........

and in the window boxes.........

By this point we had walked about 7 miles and we were ready for a sit down and something to eat...right here on the sunny bank by the bridge....perfect........

There's an old Millstone in the shallow water......

Where I sat, listening to the babbling river and the birdsong........

It was wonderful.

The whole village is charming.......

Conscious we still had a good few miles to cover it was soon time to set off again. This section, alongside the beautiful river dove is my favourite..........

There were daredevils on the cliffs........

But I was happy to have my feet on the ground.

Here, by the caves, you climb up a little. and get a lovely view down onto the river......

The mossy banks were covered in pretty white wood anemone.........

And the new Beech leaves were just emerging from their pink buds.........

We pressed on, in the increasingly warm afternoon weather, past Ilam rock........

Then there was a strange cracking sound from above that echoed through the ravine.......

And we watched in surprise as a lump of rock tumbled down the hillside and came to a stop by the path..........

We couldn't see anybody above us so I can only suppose it was a natural rockfall. Admittedly very small, but also quiet exciting :0)

Soon peace was restored.The sunlight glittering on the water was so mesmerising.......

But fallen trees revealed the power this river can have........

And mossy branches show what a damp place it is in winter, when the sun barely reaches over the steep hillsides........

It's a truly special natural place......

And it feels unspoilt despite the many, many visitors........

The steps up to lovers leap looked beautiful in the afternoon light......

It's just a feast for the eyes, and all the time you can hear the soothing, tumbling water....

It was busy by the stepping stones ( it always is)........

and by this time we had walked 10 hilly miles. I know we both wished this was the end of our walk, but it wasn't and so we pressed on, climbing up and saying goodbye to the Dove.........

We walked uphill on tired legs ........

Then turned round for one last look at Thorpe Cloud........

Back through the village pretty cottages charmed us despite our weariness.......

In the end we walked between 11 and 12 hilly miles. This was a recce for our walking group and it needs a little tweaking ( like a mile or two trimming off :0)  ) but my love of this beautiful corner of England is not in the least diminished.
I do hope you lovelies enjoyed the pictures and got a little taste of how special this landscape is.
Jacquie x