Our Day

Today we had a walk with views. We struck north of Hartington, taking to the high ground on the east side of the River Dove. The most northerly extent of our walk was the remains of Pilsbury Castle. Then we reversed tracks, crossing the River Dove and reaching the village of Sheen which is in Staffordshire. We tarried awhile at the "Staffordshire Knot" and decided to return later in the evening. Suitably refreshed, we made our descent into Hartington. As mentioned, later on we motored back to the "Staffordshire Knot" for a pleasant evening repast.

Before we reach Pilsbury Castle (rems of), we stop to investigate a curious stone.

Our Morning

After our morning arrangements at Hartington Hall, we said "Goodbye" to the cyclists in our party, and made tracks to the higher ground to the north of the village. The weather looked good, and indeed, we had a sunny day almost cloud-free day, with an amenable temperature - just right for walking!

We saw our cycling contingent off before we left on our walk.




To make sure no one was left out, another picture was called for.

Church

We stopped a short while at Hartington's interesting parish church of "Saint Giles", which some of our party had not yet had a chance to see. Like most churches in the area, it was open to view. Visitors and locals could be trusted.

Here is Hartington's parish church of Saint Giles.




Suitably culturally refreshed, we leave the church and start on our walk.

We take to the High Ground

After the church we climbed higher to reach a ridge which, at over 300 metres, ensured we had good views of the surrounding landscape. Sheen, to the south west, was hidden behind another ridge, except for its church tower. Lambing was in full swing. We also met a rather odd-looking standing stone which seemed to tell us that it had been standing in its position for many centuries.

We have left the "yellow road" and are on the ridge above Bank Top Farm.




View towards the west.
The village of Sheen is on the other side.




View towards the north.




It's lambing time.
Mum wants shade. Offspring likes the sun.




Bank Top Farm




With farm and sheep behind us we strike onwards.




It gets a bit stony. Lumps of Limestone?




Time for a break and a chat about the universe and everything.




The discussion gets more interesting if you have a nice view.




Now we make tracks ...




... towards Pilsbury Castle.




It's time to meet the time-honoured leaning stone.
Perhaps it's been leaning like this for centuries.




Is it alive?




Even a few gentle words don't seem to bring it out of its slumber.

Pilsbury Castle

As we came off the ridge, we saw Pilsbury Castle. Well, it almost escaped our attention, since it was indeed in the "rems of" category. As in so many cases, not much is known about the castle. However, a notice informed us that it was built around 1068-1069 after the famous Norman Conquest of 1066. King William may have built the castle to remind the locals who was boss.

Where is the castle?




Still can't see it.




Anyway, we enjoy the scenery, life and the walk!




An, here it is. The Castle. It's wrapped around the "triangular" rock.




It's always nice to scale such rocks, but getting down can be a tad tricky.




We manage.




Here's the rock again.




Here are some sheep. Sheep farming may have gone on here for centuries.

Sheen

It was a "down-and-up" before we got to Sheen. On the way, we came across what looked like an affluent local house with pet goats from the not-so-local South Africa. Sheen church appeared to be only of modest interest - it seemed to have succumbed to some serious Victorian restoration. However, another spiritual aspect, "The Staffordshire Knot" pub at the end of the village, evoked greater interest. The origin and presumed purpose of the name are both considered in our Evening section below.

To reach Sheen, we do a "down-and-up". First, we find this traditional "des res".
A retirement place in the sunny wilds of Staffordshire.
We've crossed the River Dove, and thus the county border.




The residents keep hairy goats from South Africa.
We all have our hobbies.




Sheen's church of Saint Luke may have 14th century origins,
but the Victorians were at work with their restoration zeal.




Even the traditional list of "Benefactors to the Poor",
while referring to a benefactor in 1674, was restored in 1896.




Yes, the Victorians largely rebuilt the church.




Now it was time for the other aspect spiritual.
We enjoyed some beverages at Sheen's "Staffordshire Knot".
Yes, we were over the border in Staffordshire.




We enjoyed our visit so much, we vowed to return in the evening - which we did!




In a corner of the room it was the "Roaring Twenties" -
a wind-up gramophone and one of those hats.




Yes, "His Master's Voice" and those 78s.

Descent to Hartington

It was deemed a good idea to walk back to Hartington before candle light. This of course had the advantage that we could still enjoy the landscape while, at the same, seeing where we were going! We reached Hartington in good time, from the North-West.

Our path led confusingly through a farmyard but ...




... eventually we found the way down by some gorse - yellow flowers and prickles.




Hartington lies ahead.




A nice pattern awaits us in the woodland.
Yellow flowers, green grass, stripy shadows.




Here's Hartington!

Our Evening in Sheen

For our evening, we visited the "Staffordshire Knot" in Sheen, as arranged. The Staffordshire Knot is a symbol of Staffordshire and it is a particular representation of the most basic knot of all, the simple overhand knot. (See Link1 and Link2.) The name of the pub reminds patrons that they have now left Derbyshire and were now in the neighbouring county of Staffordshire. Explanations apart, we had a pleasant evening and a nice gastronomical change from Hartington.

Once more to the "Staffordshire Knot".




This evening ...




... we can admire a Staffordshire sunset.