The Final Walk of 2017

Hello Lovelies,

Thank you for all your kind comments on my previous post...and for all your visits and comments throughout 2017. They are such a huge encouragement to me and I'm touched that some of you find the time to write a thoughtful message.

As promised here are some views from my final walk of 2017.  As I had been busy last year it had looked like I may not make 1000 miles of outdoor "boots on" walking this time. But a concerted effort to catch up left my total at 998 miles by the 30th of December. Happily the weather forecast was good for the next day and hubby was amenable  to drive us somewhere interesting to finish off my third year of walking 1000 miles.

I chose somewhere I had not walked before, because I like a little adventure. The sun shone brightly and the sky was stunningly blue when we arrived at The Longshaw Estate

As soon as we set out there was a tantalising peek at the moorland I wanted to explore.

At first the route was through a pretty wooded glade.

With tumbling streams

Our group was myself, hubby, eldest and my friend M. We chatted happily as we walked along.

The landscape was just as I had hoped, rugged and covered in the burnt orange and gold shades of winter moorland.

There were rocks to clamber on

and if you are daft like my other half, you can try and kid everyone you are about to fall down a deep well... however we were not fooled, we know him too well :0)

I was so happy we were treated to some sunshine on this walk. It really brings those wonderful colours alive.

Though the cloud did begin to gather as we walked further.

Looking back to where we had started the light was hazy and quite magical.

There were lots of climbers on the rocky outcrops here.

And here's a wider angle shot of the view back down the valley we walked up.

At the head of the valley you could walk across the streams, or over the bridge. Maybe you can guess which one of the group dared getting wet in the fast flowing water.

yup, Hubby.

Now we were around half way through our 4.5 mile walk so I guess this was possibly the spot where I clocked 1000 miles. Sigh. It was wild and beautiful and perfect.

Just look at that skyline. We were heading towards those hills.

It was a real moorland clamber here, picking your way across  the boulders to avoid the peaty puddles and mud.

Then it was a short steep climb to the top of Higger Tor

At the top we were rewarded with far reaching views.

Gosh it was windy up here.

But I loved the fresh air and the "top of the world" feeling.

This was zoomed in on our next destination...the rocky outcrop and ancient fortifications of Carl Wark

As you can see here we were not the only people enjoying the views :0)

And after sheltering behind a rock for a drink and a snack we began the scramble down from the tor. This was the bit eldest liked best.

I loved seeing the birds of prey hovering, practically motionless on the strong wind

and the evidence of human activity from past millennia on the fort.

Here the end of our walk was in sight and we just made a bee line for the road. That was a mistake.

I got distracted by the sight of Sphagnum moss

Heather.

and Grouse hiding in the dead bracken

We ended up in a bog. Ooops.

Having escaped that with only one wet foot between us we had to find a narrow spot to cross the stream. M was not happy about this, but she survived :0)

Back at the lodge I loved the sound of the guided walks...which are free

And as this was a special walk we splurged on hot drink and cake from the cafe. Not on my thrifty timetable but as it said in the cafe...31 scones purchased pays for one meter of dry-stone wall to be repaired.
And it was scrummy...with ALL the butter :0)

Not the best photo but I was hungry.

I do hope we can visit this area again in the not too distant future. It's only a little over an hour's travel time from home.  I'd love to explore further and see it in different seasons.

 THIS is the route we walked ♥

Happy New Year Everybody

Jacquie x

P.S. Anybody attempting to walk 1000 miles in 2018? I know I am fortunate to be able to do this so I am starting all over again :0)

Remember it's less that 3 miles a day and you can count all your steps if you prefer. There's some great inspiration HERE  

Frosty Sunrise

 Hello Lovelies,
on Thursday I could have gone walking with my walking group. I certainly needed the miles for my goal to walk 1000 miles this year. Last year I had completed the challenge by late November, but not this year. By mid November the 1000 miles looked a like it would slip through my fingers, but somehow I've managed to chip away at the final 100 miles or so and as I write this post I have just two miles left to walk... and one more day to do that in. Yay.

On Thursday, with Hubby and the boys at home, I couldn't really settle to leaving them all day to go out with my group. But I hoped to fit in a couple of local walks during the day. I woke just before 8am and looked out to see a beautiful frosty morning. Time for a speedy breakfast and then get out there. I dodged the frozen puddles and walked towards the sunrise. Everybody else at home was still in bed.

By the stables the steam from the muck-heap had a golden glow :0)

And the ice crystals glinted in the first shafts of sunlight.

My footsteps made a crunch on the frozen grass.

and a solitary bird sang in the spindly branches of the overgrown hedgerow.

The fields were white.

and so was the road.

A little further along the road I spotted two pheasants before they spotted me, that's a rare occurrence.

I just love the icy leaves.

and frozen puddles. No mud today. Hurray.

When I saw a little Robin along the footapth I recalled  that I had finally remembered to bring some bird seed with me. There you go Robin.

The sun was getting higher and the sky was cloudless, but the path was still in deep shadow.

Here the sunlight gave the landscape a golden glow.

And here I smiled at the tiny bird footprints in the ice.

Time to leave the rest of that birdseed.

Somebody else was enjoying their breakfast.

Moo to you too.

My favourite sort of sign

I take only photographs and leave only boot prints :0)

More ponies enjoying the hay

I love the light in this picture.

One chap came over to say hello. It's always nice to see such well looked after horses.

and there's plenty more fodder to last the winter.

Time to head up the icy lane

and into the village. The yarn shop window display made me smile.

By this time the sun was getting higher and melting the frost on the church roof.

I was home by 10am and happy to make breakfast for the family knowing I had already walked 4 miles. My Christmas mantel is looking lovely this year.

The snowy paintings mum has given me really add to the festive scene.

And the small bunch of scented narcissi I picked up in the supermarket are making me smile. 

such happy flowers.

Later in the day, after some housework,  I managed another walk. This time with hubby and eldest. I was happy to clock up the same amount of miles as I would have walked if I had gone out with the walking group, but fitted it around  family stuff too.

It was such a perfect winters day, I think this could be my favourite walking weather.

I hope you will pop back soon to see where I walked the final miles of 2017. Hopefully it will involve moorland and views. So exciting :0)

Jacquie x