5 Wells Chambered Cairn and Illy Willy Water

View from inside 5 Wells 

When we saw the giant words England on the hillside above Chelmorton last week we thought we have got to go and have a closer look.
We parked at the base of Chelmorton Low and followed a footpath for a short while and after consulting the maps we realised there were no official footpaths to the top so we just started going up. Over a short distance we climbed over 250 feet, pretty hard going for us old uns.

Ike & Geoff on the hill with me & Rob in shadow.

Ike & Geoff

Rob gives an idea of the slope on the hill

This is supposed to be summer.

View of Chelmorton

This view shows the field system around Chelmorton

Look at the beak on that Curlew.

After the climb to the top of Chelmorton Low we decided to have a look at 5 Wells Chambered Cairn which is only about 3/4 mile away.
From the Neolithic period circa 4500BC to 2000BC, 5 Wells Chambered Cairn would have originally been covered with a mound but this stone was recycled by wall builders about 200 years ago. Local man Thomas Bateman excavated it in 1846, he discovered human bones (both sexes) and a flint arrow head. Other finds were discovered later by different people.

Me inside the East chamber

I had a bit of trouble coming out of the chamber (my bag got stuck!!!)

After a lot of pics around the chamber we started back towards the track to Chelmorton.

Leaving the cairn

Geoff with his eyes in up mode

Sign to Chelmorton

You can just make out the Chelmorton church spire above the trees.

This is the source of Illy Willy Water which supplied Chelmorton in the past.

Chelmorton claims to be England's highest parish at 1209 feet above sea level and the highest village in Derbyshire. The church is the highest church with a spire in England.

The inn has been here since 1742 when a certain George Holme opened it as an alehouse called the 'Blacksmith's Arms', but it was renamed the 'Church Inn' in 1884.

A view of St Johns Church in Chelmorton

Chelmorton is still a farming community 

Breakfast 

The primitive Hall built in 1874

England on the side of Chelmorton Low.

This walk was only 3 miles but with a climb of over 250 feet to the top of Chelmorton Low it gave us some fantastic views. The weather looked a bit grim at the start with low cloud on the distant hills, it was bitterly cold on the top with a strong wind. By the time we got to the 5 Wells Cairn it was starting to get a bit better with the sun showing through.
I'll be missing next week but be back the week after.
Cheers