Walk: 10am to 2:30pm, 6 miles
Both of us were off today and had nothing in the diary, so a good opportunity for a walk. And as Donna's mum was also looking to make arrangements for a walk with Donna one day this week, we decided to combine the outing. As we hadn't walked on the Chesterfield Canal for 4 years we headed the 10 minute drive over to Kiveton knowing that the flat canal path would be a steady walk.
After the initial struggle to find somewhere to park, we took the path down from the train station bridge to the canal path and set off on the 3 mile walk to Shireoaks.
The first mile or so isn't the most photogenic section, you are mainly surrounded by woodland and little else, yes a couple of nice red brick bridges over the canal, but not much to write home about. Then however, although it wouldn't be classed as beautiful, you come to an old house where the gentleman that lives there is clearly a hoarder. He has quite a bit of overgrown land around the house, actually quite a lot of land, and it is adorned with all sort of junk. Old cars, plastic buckets, wood, metal objects, bricks, tiles, cables....in fact there isn't much that isn't there! There are old scrap vans in his fields that are stuffed with all sorts of items. I would imagine that amongst all that 'junk' you might find some real gems.
Anyway, on we went and the canal started to show us it's delights, numerous locks, attractive weirs and bridges, lovely colours around the waters edge, and lots of blossoms starting in the woods and hedgerows. And as the sun was starting to break through it really brought out all the colours, especially in the rape-seed fields that bordered the canal providing a lovely backdrop.
As a bonus Orchard Teas was open at Turners Wood; a gorgeous tiny cafe on one of the bridges over the canal, run by the lady who lives in the house just at the other side of the lane. We had a hot drink in their beautiful sun room before continuing along the path.
We walked almost to Shireoaks, then upon finding a comfortable bench sat down and had lunch; ham and turkey sandwiches made by Donna's mum. It was now around 12:30 so we set off back along the canal, and as we passed Orchard Teas we just had to get a '99' ice-cream each, well it would have been rude not to.
When we were in the cafe earlier the owner and another lady were telling us about the male and female swans a short distance along the canal, and how the male one liked to nibble at people's boots. So, as we walked back along the path we tested the theory, and wow did the swan try to nibble Donna's boots, in fact it tried to go for her legs as well so we soon chose to carry on our way.
Not much really to say about the rest of the walk as it was simply the reverse of earlier, but a really enjoyable walk and well done to Dylse who at 78 years old can keep up with us 'young 'uns'
Both of us were off today and had nothing in the diary, so a good opportunity for a walk. And as Donna's mum was also looking to make arrangements for a walk with Donna one day this week, we decided to combine the outing. As we hadn't walked on the Chesterfield Canal for 4 years we headed the 10 minute drive over to Kiveton knowing that the flat canal path would be a steady walk.
After the initial struggle to find somewhere to park, we took the path down from the train station bridge to the canal path and set off on the 3 mile walk to Shireoaks.
The first mile or so isn't the most photogenic section, you are mainly surrounded by woodland and little else, yes a couple of nice red brick bridges over the canal, but not much to write home about. Then however, although it wouldn't be classed as beautiful, you come to an old house where the gentleman that lives there is clearly a hoarder. He has quite a bit of overgrown land around the house, actually quite a lot of land, and it is adorned with all sort of junk. Old cars, plastic buckets, wood, metal objects, bricks, tiles, cables....in fact there isn't much that isn't there! There are old scrap vans in his fields that are stuffed with all sorts of items. I would imagine that amongst all that 'junk' you might find some real gems.
Anyway, on we went and the canal started to show us it's delights, numerous locks, attractive weirs and bridges, lovely colours around the waters edge, and lots of blossoms starting in the woods and hedgerows. And as the sun was starting to break through it really brought out all the colours, especially in the rape-seed fields that bordered the canal providing a lovely backdrop.
As a bonus Orchard Teas was open at Turners Wood; a gorgeous tiny cafe on one of the bridges over the canal, run by the lady who lives in the house just at the other side of the lane. We had a hot drink in their beautiful sun room before continuing along the path.
We walked almost to Shireoaks, then upon finding a comfortable bench sat down and had lunch; ham and turkey sandwiches made by Donna's mum. It was now around 12:30 so we set off back along the canal, and as we passed Orchard Teas we just had to get a '99' ice-cream each, well it would have been rude not to.
When we were in the cafe earlier the owner and another lady were telling us about the male and female swans a short distance along the canal, and how the male one liked to nibble at people's boots. So, as we walked back along the path we tested the theory, and wow did the swan try to nibble Donna's boots, in fact it tried to go for her legs as well so we soon chose to carry on our way.
Not much really to say about the rest of the walk as it was simply the reverse of earlier, but a really enjoyable walk and well done to Dylse who at 78 years old can keep up with us 'young 'uns'
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