I woke up on Wednesday morning, to
the most glorious day. How lucky was I! This was the day I would be leading the St Mary's long walkers and I couldn't have wished for better conditions. We set off from Lichfield, heading for Ashbourne, then on through Alstonefield and Wetton, parking at Wetton Mill. Thirteen of us climbed the steep hill overlooking Thors Cave, where we stopped for our mid-morning break, before continuing through Ladyside Wood to Grindon, then on, across the fields to the little hamlet of Ford. Crossing more fields, we stopped for lunch, sitting on a handy stone wall, with good views over the surrounding countryside. Since I had checked out the walk the previous, rather damp Saturday, the farmers had been, and still were, busy cutting the hay. I was pleased to find too that, on the whole, the wet and muddier parts of the walk had dried out in the sun.
the most glorious day. How lucky was I! This was the day I would be leading the St Mary's long walkers and I couldn't have wished for better conditions. We set off from Lichfield, heading for Ashbourne, then on through Alstonefield and Wetton, parking at Wetton Mill. Thirteen of us climbed the steep hill overlooking Thors Cave, where we stopped for our mid-morning break, before continuing through Ladyside Wood to Grindon, then on, across the fields to the little hamlet of Ford. Crossing more fields, we stopped for lunch, sitting on a handy stone wall, with good views over the surrounding countryside. Since I had checked out the walk the previous, rather damp Saturday, the farmers had been, and still were, busy cutting the hay. I was pleased to find too that, on the whole, the wet and muddier parts of the walk had dried out in the sun.The next village was Onecote, then up and over Grin
don Moor, which was no longer a blaze of purple heather as on the previous Saturday, which was slightly disappointing. Down the hill towards the delightfully named Twistgreen, we passed ruined farm buildings, then made our way narrow field by narrow field (preserving a medieval system, whereby families would have been allotted a different strip on a yearly basis) to the bottom end of Butterton, where the ford runs across the lane. The third photo is a view of Butterton from the top of the hill.
don Moor, which was no longer a blaze of purple heather as on the previous Saturday, which was slightly disappointing. Down the hill towards the delightfully named Twistgreen, we passed ruined farm buildings, then made our way narrow field by narrow field (preserving a medieval system, whereby families would have been allotted a different strip on a yearly basis) to the bottom end of Butterton, where the ford runs across the lane. The third photo is a view of Butterton from the top of the hill. We were all becoming rather warm in the unfamilier sunshine, and especially by the time we had climbed yet another hill and negotiated the rather muddy approach to a farm, before the final downhill streatch towards the river, passing a farmer and his family who were busy haymaking, taking full 
advantage of the perfect weather.
advantage of the perfect weather.There was an opportunity to wash some of the mud off our boots in the ford at Wetton Mill, before most of us enjoyed a cuppa or an ice lolly, sitting outside the cafe, along with all the other visitors who were enjoying such a wonderful, sunny, late summer day.
I have to thank my son, A, for pre-walking this route with me about a month ago. I'd really enjoyed his help, but more so his company. I'd also like to thank Mike, who met me, by car, in the various villages, last Saturday, when I returned to check out one or two parts of the walk. By now this must sound like an Oscar winner's speach, but I would like to conclude by thanking the other walkers for making it such an enjoyable and happy day.
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