Swainsley Hall and Dovecote

Swainsley Hall and Dovecote

Swainsley Hall, by the River Manifold, was built in the 1860s for a London solicitor. Many famous people have stayed at the hall including Samuel Langhorne Clemens (better known as Mark Twain) and Baden-Powell, founder of the Scout movement. More recently, the hall has seen use as a pub and as a restaurant, though it is now, once more, a private house. The small dovecote may predate the hall. The eggs and flesh of doves and pigeons were an important part of the diet in the past.
(Canon EOS 60D, Sigma 17-70mm @ 35mm, 1/320s @ f/7.1)

Thor's Cave

Thor's Cave

High above the Manifold Valley one cannot fail to notice Thor's Cave. This huge, 10 metre opening leads into a surprisingly small cave system in which has been found stone tools and bones of extinct animals dating back 10,000 years. The cave is easily reached from a path leading from the Manifold valley or from the village of Wetton. This view was taken from the opposite hillside in Ladyside Wood.
(Canon EOS 60D, Sigma 17-70mm @ 33mm, 1/320s @ f/7.1)

Monsal Dale

Monsal Dale

This is probably one of the most famous, and certainly one of the most photographed, views in the Peak District. The old railway viaduct crossing the river Wye in Monsal Dale used to carry the Derby to Manchester main line. Much of the line is now a walking and cycling route, the Monsal Trail, although Peak Rail are hoping to restore the trackbed and run steam trains once again along this scenic line.
(Canon EOS 60D, Sigma 17-70mm @ 17mm, 1/40s @ f/7.1)

Grindon Church

All Saints, Grindon

At last! A sunny day suitable for a walk. All Saints, Grindon, is sometimes known as "the Cathedral of the Moorlands". The church was built in the mid 19th century replacing an older building which had burnt down.
(Canon EOS 60D, Sigma 17-70mm @ 19mm, 1/500s @ f/7.1)

Leek Market Square

Leek Market Square on a damp Saturday

Despite the poor weather we paid a visit to the Fine Foods Market this morning. This is a small Farmers' Market held once a month here.
(Panasonic Lumix TZ10)

Greystones, Leek

Greystones, a 17C house in Leek

This attractive 17th century house in Leek is a grade II* listed building. William Morris (Arts and Crafts movement) campaigned to prevent this building's destruction in 1877. The tower behind belongs to the Nicholson Institute, now Leek Public Library. The Institute was built in 1882 by Larner Sugden who did not want his magnificent building to obscure the view of Greystones and would not countenance its destruction. The wrought-iron gate of Greystones is a superb and complex piece of work. See the photo below (click on the photo to enlarge).

Greystones gate

(Panasonc Lumix TZ10)

Consall Station

Consall Station

The attractive station at Consall is on the Churnet Valley Railway, a preserved steam line. The original station was built in 1902 but closed when services were withdrawn in 1965. Much work was done by the volunteers of the Churnet Valley Railway to restore the station. The platforms and station buildings had disappeared and were lovingly recreated in the original Victorian style. A notable feature of the station is the waiting room on the 'up' line which overhangs the Caldon Canal.
(Canon EOS 60D, Tamron 10-24mm @24mm, 1/125s @ f/7.1)

Black Brook

Ford at Black Brook

The Black Brook stream was in spate after several heavy rain showers. The ford near Gradbach was well under water. Black Brook probably gets its name because of the dark colour of the water due to the peaty nature of the moorland that it drains, This ford is near the point at which Black Brook joins the River Dane.
(Canon EOS 60D, Sigma 17-70 @ 17mm, 1/30s @ f/7.1)

Manifold View

Manifold Valley and Thorpe Cloud

 View looking north-east towards Thorpe Cloud (the flat topped "pyramid" hill) above the Manifold Valley near Ilam. Thorpe Cloud is at the entrance to Dovedale.
(Canon EOS 60D, Tamron 10-24mm @ 24mm, 1/320s @ f/7.1)

Pointless Stile

Old Stile

While walking above the Manifold Valley, I came across this squeezer stile in the middle of a field. I decided I didn't really need to use it as there was no longer any hedge, fence or wall on either side!
(Canon EOS 60D, Tamron 10-24mm @ 12mm, 1/400s @ f/7.1)

Snowflakes

Snowflakes in flower near the river Manifold

Taken yesterday on my walk these Snowflake flowers are probably garden escapes from a nearby cottage. They were growing along side the path to Ilam Hall by the River Manifold.
(Canon EOS 60D, Tamron 10-24mm @ 11mm, 1/160s @ f/7.1)

Ilam Village

Estate Houses and Bunster Hill

These attractive cottages in Ilam were estate workers' houses for Ilam Hall but are now privately owned. Bunster hill, in the background, is on the western side of Dove Dale.
(Canon EOS 60D, Tamron 10-24mm @ 24mm, 1/500s @ f/7.1)