Just a bit of fun, suggested by Steve our leader for the day, some of us joining in with an array of differing head wear. Steve seemed to have a bag full of head cover, varying from, a Lambs wool bonnet, smoking caps, sailors cap, a red head wig and cap, after some famed pop star, it seemed after each stile, he would be wearing a different crown, sometimes we didn’t even know which one was the true leader! The weather was quite favourable for the first half of the walk, turning sunny and much hotter, on the last hill, closer to the end. Many of the paths, which if wet would have been very muddy, today, had become baked dry and most turned to pulverised dust with the passing of many feet, during this long dry spell.
We set off from outside the Spotted Cow PH, a prize being given, for the silliest dressed head, a box of sweets going to the trussed chicken head wear ‘pictured’. We continued up Pond Lane and then directly down to Makeney, passing by some tall Maize fields and then over a cut hay field, large round bales strewn around. At the bottom of the hill was The Holly Bush pub, looking resplendent with its many hanging baskets adorning the outer walls, pictured. We then started up Dark Lane, but soon turned left to follow the Derwent Valley Heritage Way, following it, to cross over Shaw Lane and on to pass by Wildersley Farm, leaving the Way here, turning right across fields to Bargate Road. We walked this to the top, entering into the well-furnished, Bargate recreation area, where we stopped, after two and a half miles completed, for the morning break. Before leaving, a group photo was taken, probably more to show off some of the hats, rather than the people under them.
With the break over, we headed downhill to Wildersley Farm, not going beyond it, but turning left to eventually rejoin Shaw Lane, which we walked a short way, turning right to walk up across Holbrook Moor.Soon back down Pond Lane to the Spotted Cow, where some of our number settled in for a long drink or coffee, arriving there by twelve thirty. Thanks Steve, a good day out, done and dusted, before it got too hot.
