Foolow, Big Skies and That Sinkhole

Having seen the appearance of the Foolow sinkhole on the national news we thought we should go and have a look.
It was brother Robs turn to drive so after scraping the frost of the car with temperatures down to -1 we headed north and parked up on the green at Foolow.

The Foolow Sinkhole

We booted up and had a quick look around the village and started to walk along the road back towards Eyam. We could see the hole from the road and Ike realised we were going the long way around to get to it so we went back past the green and there was an A4 sheet pinned to a telegraph pole pointing the way to the sinkhole.

The fabulous sky looking down the cottages in Foolow

Head of the Medieval village cross

The Village Cross

Great sunrise over Foolow

First sight of the sinkhole in the warm early morning light 

A flock of rooks in the morning sun

The boys looking up towards the sinkhole

Rob, Geoff & Ike 

The bell tower of St. Hugh's Church

Sign for the sinkhole

One of the old village wells

Ike, Rob & Geoff with the sinkhole visible on the hillside.

After  the brilliant sunrise we were treated to this magnificent sky.

Closer view of the sinkhole from the road.

The main route through was gated so we had to venture a bit further up the road.

 The area around is limestone and the village stands on the 'Foolow Beds'. Huge, deep slabs of Carboniferous limestones that mark the transition from the Dark Peak in the north to the White Peak in the south. There is much evidence of lead-mining locally. There are also some interesting geological features, such as Waterfall Swallet, where one of the local streams disappears underground. The sinkhole measures about 150 feet wide and 60 feet deep just appeared sometime before Christmas day when a local walker found it. The sinkhole lies over old mine workings which date back to 1705 and the area has been worked for lead and fluorspar since then. 

The sinkhole just appeared sometime before Christmas day when a local walker found it. 

This sign was at the end of our trek

A brilliantly made seat with an engraving "Friends Rest Awhile and Dream"

Looking at the information board for The Silence & Old Grove Lead Mines

This gaggle of walkers headed off towards the sinkhole.

 Foolow is a picturesque village clustered around a village green with an ancient cross and duckpond. It was formerly a lead-mining village and many of the houses are from the 17th century. The mere, or pond, is fed by natural springs and the shaft of the village cross is medieval, though the base is more recent and has a bull-baiting ring attached to it

We had our breakfast at the duckpond in Foolow

Another of the Foolow Wells

Foolow Village Cross

 On the way back from Foolow we called in to see the wind turbines that have now been installed at Carsington Pastures. The fog came down and we could only see the one.

One of the Carsington Wind Turbines in the fog

We had done part of this walk a couple of years ago although that time we went right on to Barrel Edge. It was a lovely crisp morning with some of the walk along roadways. Another cracker.
See you next week.

Gardoms Edge and The 3 Men Cairns

This week we found ourselves back at the Robin Hood Car Park although a little later than planned because brother Rob decided to have a lie in. It was Ikes turn to drive and his car was covered in frost before we set off. We wanted to walk along the top of Gardoms Edge and take in the views.

This weeks route

Shiny boot competition

The first thing we did after arriving at the Robin Hood was to see who had the cleanest boots!! I think it was a tie between me, Rob and Geoff.
After leaving the car park its just a couple of hundred yards down the road to the footpath sign, over the style and a steady uphill walk. As we walked up the hill the sun was just rising over the hills at the far side of the valley.

Sunrise from Gardoms Edge

The warm light from the rising sun made the colours in the bracken stand out

This looks very like an old packhorse route up to the edge

When we eventually got onto the track on  Gardoms Edge the views were fantastic

All the views from Gardoms Edge are spectacular

All the views from Gardoms Edge are spectacular

Rob, Geoff & Ike

All the views from Gardoms Edge are spectacular

Brother Rob on the edge

Me

Me getting ready for take off

All the views from Gardoms Edge are spectacular

No its not a modern highwayman on Gardoms Edge, its just Ike

Birch trees everywhere

Sheep's Skull

Sheltered from the wind for our breakfast stop

Magical sun rays through the woods

All the views from Gardoms Edge are spectacular

All the views from Gardoms Edge are spectacular

All the views from Gardoms Edge are spectacular

The Three Men are 18th century additions to a Neolithic oval barrow, the outer rim still quite visible. This is the only burial found within the Meg's Walls enclosure.
The 3 cairns are said to commemorate 3 shepherds who died on the moor

Came across this climber trying his luck  on this outcrop close to Gardoms Edge.

Moorside Farm with Birchen Edge in the background.

This was another great walk although only 3 miles we saw some fantastic scenes. We met a photographer taking some serious pics and a climber taking some falls ( 3 while we were there) We found out there are a couple of ancient stone artifacts close to where we have been, so that's a return trip planned to find them.
See you next week