I am walking part of the limestone way with my two black Labradors Dylan and Diesel. I normally walk at 6.20 so even though it is a Sunday the younger dog was crying to go out. We are staying for the weekend in the picturesque village of Youlgreave with stone built cottages and a stream running down one side of the valley. It is still quite early so i am wiping the cobwebs from my face as I walk. The path is uneven interspersed with larger rocks in places. The water rushes by and the partial wires every few hundred yards and the birds call to and fro above. As diesel runs up the escarpment a trickle of pebbles roll down the hill. At least he has not jumped in so far which he did yesterday. A huge heron has just taken off over my head spooked by the dogs crying out as he flies, what a wingspan than bird has. Oh I just hear the plop of a dog in water but luckily not too deep.
I was just turning right to head back up the hill when I met a man with another black Labrador who was soon identified as becky. He asked if I wanted to join him and with Regina needing the rest from yesterday I thought it would be a good idea. He said it was a two mile walk but what I did not realise was the pace. As soon as we hit the path I felt I had to widen my step to keep up. The bent round to the left and his dog vanished down into a man made pool by the stream which he told me was part of the old pump to get water up to the village.
We climbed some metal steps which were half covered for the dogs to climb but the boys did not like it too much. We emerged near hopping farm where there is another path back to youlgreave across wenley hill plantation. I chose to carry on with my local guide and I am glad I did as proceeded across the cow field he used his wooden staff to prod cows away as we walked through. I had leaded my dogs and I explained Regina's fear of being trampled and he said this is why he has the stick he had been a butcher for many years so he knew how to handle livestock. However he did say there had been a few people trampled in the area in recent years. We hit the path again and went up hill at some pace. I am now sweating and feeling the speed that we are walking at. We turned right onto Weaddow Lane and past a dairy farm and onto the village of Middleton. We walked through the village and it became clear my guide Andy knew everyone around.
The dogs took it turns to leap walks and chase pheasants but they did not catch any. We made it up past Lomberdale Hall which is a fabulous manor house on the top of the hill. We turned right and came into the Coldwell End of Youlgreave and back to our cottage. It had been a good walk and I was certainly tested but the dogs loved it and they are laying asleep at my feet but I think diesel would still go again . I am not sure about Dylan though.
I was just turning right to head back up the hill when I met a man with another black Labrador who was soon identified as becky. He asked if I wanted to join him and with Regina needing the rest from yesterday I thought it would be a good idea. He said it was a two mile walk but what I did not realise was the pace. As soon as we hit the path I felt I had to widen my step to keep up. The bent round to the left and his dog vanished down into a man made pool by the stream which he told me was part of the old pump to get water up to the village.
We climbed some metal steps which were half covered for the dogs to climb but the boys did not like it too much. We emerged near hopping farm where there is another path back to youlgreave across wenley hill plantation. I chose to carry on with my local guide and I am glad I did as proceeded across the cow field he used his wooden staff to prod cows away as we walked through. I had leaded my dogs and I explained Regina's fear of being trampled and he said this is why he has the stick he had been a butcher for many years so he knew how to handle livestock. However he did say there had been a few people trampled in the area in recent years. We hit the path again and went up hill at some pace. I am now sweating and feeling the speed that we are walking at. We turned right onto Weaddow Lane and past a dairy farm and onto the village of Middleton. We walked through the village and it became clear my guide Andy knew everyone around.
The dogs took it turns to leap walks and chase pheasants but they did not catch any. We made it up past Lomberdale Hall which is a fabulous manor house on the top of the hill. We turned right and came into the Coldwell End of Youlgreave and back to our cottage. It had been a good walk and I was certainly tested but the dogs loved it and they are laying asleep at my feet but I think diesel would still go again . I am not sure about Dylan though.
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