Walking around Hathersage, Derbyshire. DAY TWO
Report by urban75 editor, November 2006
SATURDAY: NINE MILE WALK
Dusting off the hangovers and looking at a darkening sky with a weary eye, the crew assemble for the day's walking.
But we suffer several early retirements after the first 15 minutes are spent wading over a muddy field.
![Hathersage walking holiday, Derwent Valley, Derbyshire, England](images/hathersage-27.jpg) The full crew (well, nearly) pose for an early morning group shot.
![Hathersage walking holiday, Derwent Valley, Derbyshire, England](images/hathersage-28.jpg) Ascending the muddy hill from the Bunkhouse.
![Hathersage walking holiday, Derwent Valley, Derbyshire, England](images/hathersage-29.jpg) Sliding across another muddy field.
![Hathersage walking holiday, Derwent Valley, Derbyshire, England](images/hathersage-13.jpg) Shortly after a few walkers turned back after deciding that a grey day wading through mud wasn't for them, the sun came out!
How ugly is that concrete monstrosity on the hillside?!
![Hathersage walking holiday, Derwent Valley, Derbyshire, England](images/hathersage-14.jpg) Once the Duke of Rutland's shooting estate, Longshaw Estate was purchased by public subscription in 1927 and is now owned by the National Trust.
![Hathersage walking holiday, Derwent Valley, Derbyshire, England](images/hathersage-15.jpg)
![Hathersage walking holiday, Derwent Valley, Derbyshire, England](images/hathersage-16.jpg)
![Hathersage walking holiday, Derwent Valley, Derbyshire, England](images/hathersage-17.jpg) Water stop.
![Hathersage walking holiday, Derwent Valley, Derbyshire, England](images/hathersage-18.jpg) Climbing the hill out of Hathersage.
![Hathersage walking holiday, Derwent Valley, Derbyshire, England](images/hathersage-01.jpg) Near the top.
![Hathersage walking holiday, Derwent Valley, Derbyshire, England](images/hathersage-10.jpg) At the summit!
![Hathersage walking holiday, Derwent Valley, Derbyshire, England](images/hathersage-30.jpg)
![Hathersage walking holiday, Derwent Valley, Derbyshire, England](images/hathersage-31.jpg) The views were spectacular - and there was no sign of the forecasted heavy rain!
![Hathersage walking holiday, Derwent Valley, Derbyshire, England](images/hathersage-32.jpg)
![Hathersage walking holiday, Derwent Valley, Derbyshire, England](images/hathersage-02.jpg) Getting across this boggy marsh was a bit of an ordeal, with the deep watery potholes getting the better of my Goretex hiking boots.
![Hathersage walking holiday, Derwent Valley, Derbyshire, England](images/hathersage-03.jpg)
![Hathersage walking holiday, Derwent Valley, Derbyshire, England](images/hathersage-33.jpg) The team wobble through the long grass.
![Hathersage walking holiday, Derwent Valley, Derbyshire, England](images/hathersage-09.jpg) The climb ahead.
![Hathersage walking holiday, Derwent Valley, Derbyshire, England](images/hathersage-34.jpg) The master map-readers at work. Well, sort of.
![Hathersage walking holiday, Derwent Valley, Derbyshire, England](images/hathersage-04.jpg) Walking along the top of Stanage Edge.
![Hathersage walking holiday, Derwent Valley, Derbyshire, England](images/hathersage-05.jpg) Climbing along Stanage Edge - things got chuffin' windy about here.
![Hathersage walking holiday, Derwent Valley, Derbyshire, England](images/hathersage-35.jpg) The views were magnificent.
![Hathersage walking holiday, Derwent Valley, Derbyshire, England](images/hathersage-36.jpg)
![Hathersage walking holiday, Derwent Valley, Derbyshire, England](images/hathersage-37.jpg) We huddled behind a small stretch of broken wall for lunch.
![Hathersage walking holiday, Derwent Valley, Derbyshire, England](images/hathersage-38.jpg) Coming down from Stanage Edge. With the wind whipping up a storm, we had to hang on to our harbls!
![Hathersage walking holiday, Derwent Valley, Derbyshire, England](images/hathersage-39.jpg)
![Hathersage walking holiday, Derwent Valley, Derbyshire, England](images/hathersage-40.jpg) North Lees Hall is a striking Elizabethan manor house and was one of seven halls built by Robert Eyre of Highlow.
The area featured in Charlotte Bronte's famous 'Jane Eyre' novel, with the heroine taking the surname of the local family.
Bronte visited Hathersage in 1845 and North Lees Hall serves as 'Norton' in the book, with Mrs Rochester jumping from the roof to her death.
![Hathersage walking holiday, Derwent Valley, Derbyshire, England](images/hathersage-08.jpg) Looking back at Stanage Edge.
![Hathersage walking holiday, Derwent Valley, Derbyshire, England](images/hathersage-41.jpg) Another view of North Lees Hall. While climbing up a fence to take this photo I came within a badger's nadger of slipping and ending face down in a great big pile of mud. Phew!
![Hathersage walking holiday, Derwent Valley, Derbyshire, England](images/hathersage-42.jpg) St Michael's Church. Reputedly dating back to the 12th century (building work was recorded on the structure from 1381), the church sits above the village with a 'crocketed recessed spire', whatever that is.
![Hathersage walking holiday, Derwent Valley, Derbyshire, England](images/hathersage-45.jpg) Little John, a native of Hathersage and friend of Robin Hood, is believed to be buried in a 10ft long grave under a yew tree to the south of the church.
In 1782, the grave was exhumed and a 30 inch thigh bone was discovered, which would make its owner at least 7 foot tall.
![Hathersage walking holiday, Derwent Valley, Derbyshire, England](images/hathersage-43.jpg) After grabbing a drink in the Little John pub, we headed back to the farm just as the light was fading and the temperature dropping.
![Hathersage walking holiday, Derwent Valley, Derbyshire, England](images/hathersage-44.jpg) Farm view.
![Hathersage walking holiday, Derwent Valley, Derbyshire, England](images/hathersage-46.jpg) Standing on one of the old tracks leading to Sheffield and the Sheffield Manor Castle, the Scotsman's Pack was popular with
'Packman' or 'Travelling Drapers' who visited every farm and village in the area to flog tweeds and goods.
![Hathersage walking holiday, Derwent Valley, Derbyshire, England](images/hathersage-47.jpg) We took over a large part of the pub and enjoyed some good real ales and fine wines and had a (frankly) rather average dinner - the veggie choices were very uninspired.
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