Easter at the Rollright Stones

Whilst in the Cotswolds for Easter we decided to bother the Rollrights, and as it was Easter we went a-botherin' on a Sunday evening to try and avoid the crowds (nothing against crowds mind, but it is nice to get the place to ourselves if possible). There were a few people about, and a few dogs which set Polo off. He's still quite reactive but not nearly as bad as he was 12 months ago.

I didn't try to photograph the whole circle, my camera is rubbish and the light was wrong, so I just took a few shots of individual stones;

Across the road the King Stone can be found;

The unusual, but somehow pleasing, shape is due to folk chipping pieces off 'for luck' in earlier times. Thankfully it is now fenced off. I'd like to say that we now live in more enlightened times, but, Sycamore Gap...

Not a stone, but the concrete remains of an ROC post;

Nearby lie the Whispering Nights, again enclosed;

A nice evening bother, although they don't quite have the allure of my local Peak stones.

Paul.

Barbrook 1 & 2

With the weather improving and the ground drying up it's time for a bit of stone bothering again.

We decided to visit the two southerly Barbrook circles (there are 3, we'll leave the 3rd for another day) on Big Moor. The first circle, 1, was an easy find being very close to the main track across the moor.

Close by is a well restored kerbed cairn;

We returned to the main track, a mistake as it happened as there is a track from the cairn to Barbrook 2, but it was a mistake worth making as we could make a slight diversion to a stream, Polo needed a drink and a cool down. Back on the track there's an inscribed bench;

A short traipse across the moorland, and we found our second circle;

This one is different, with its standing stones (some missing) set into a stone embankment. It's a wonderful place to be, we sat awhile and drank tea and ate hot cross buns, skylarks singing overhead. The only downside is the proximity of the main road and the noise that goes with it, but it does make both circles easily accessible.

There are cairns littered all over the area, possibly clearance cairns, which make the wider landscape just that little bit more interesting.

A good mornings bother.

Paul.

Into the mists of time...

Sort of. Out on the bike again today, for a leisurely ride into part of White Peak. 

Across the golf course, through the quarry, down Hardybarn then onto the A6 and up the impossible climb to King Sterndale. Here I stopped to look at the medievel butter cross, used to mark where a market would stand, in this case a dairy market selling butter, eggs etc;

I carried on, stopping at the little church at King Sterndale. I've passed by many times, and today I dismounted and had a look around. The door was unlocked and I stepped inside, something that I rarely do unless I'm at a wedding or funeral, I'm not in the least bit religious and I always feel a bit awkward in churches. The place is really small, but interesting and I'm glad that I paused for a few minutes;

Back on the bike, I headed across fields to Horseshoe Dale;

Dropping down the slope reminded me that I haven't ridden this way for a while, the hawthorn bushes next to the right of way were in desperate need of a trim. I usually carry a pair of secateurs when I'm out this way.

There's a gate to get through, which was in the middle of a river today; 

I did manage to get through without getting me feet wet by climbing onto the gate, hoisting the bike over, then climbing over. Which would have been great if I hadn't stalled the bike in a huge puddle and ended up with water half way up me shins.

Once I left the Dale I headed over to Chelmorton and another hard off-road climb. Here the mist thickened;

Which is fine, I like a bit of mist on a ride. It also made my next stop, Five Wells, just that little bit more atmospheric;

This is a neolithic burial chamber near Taddington, and usually has some impressive views. 

Here I stopped, drank tea, ate a cereal bar or two and enjoyed the solitude.

Carrying on I headed for a couple of decent downhills, the first one ending next to the Waterloo pub (closed). Crossing the A6 I headed for Priestcliffe, and a puddly bermed super fun downhill leading towards Millers Dale. 

Onto the road, up to the Monsal, and my last stop, the cafe at the old station for hot chocolate and a sausage roll;

The return home was easy enough, a short jaunt up the A6, turning off to climb up Woo Dale and across the golf course and home. Strip off in the kitchen throwing the clothes in the washing machine, into the shower, then get dressed and listen to Sabbath; 

A Monday well spent.

Paul.

Rudston Monolith

Yesterday we visited Rudston, home of a very famous monolith situated in a churchyard of all places. This is the highest monolith in the UK (we visited the second highest t'other day). It really is an impressive stone, however, the first thing that caught my eye when entering the churchyard was some rather fine carvings around the door;

There are more around the church, but my camera is a bit rubbish.

Onto the monolith, and the surrounding graveyard;

Tucked away in a corner is a stone slab cyst and a much smaller stone;

Paul.

The Devils Arrows

We visited the Devils Arrows yesterday for a quick bother detouring on the way to our annual Yorksher holiday.

Two stones sit in a field, so we admired them from a distance rather than cross the mud. The third is roadside, sat inside a fenced enclosure, and therefore accessible for all.

A detour worth taking, these are rather impressive, especially when compared to our mush smaller Peak stones.

Paul.