Dale Abbey - Ockbrook Wood
w/e 18 May 2014
All of this week's pictures were
taken with a Kodak DX6490
I suppose it would be remiss of me to let the season pass without
at least one photo of bluebells so with that in mind we set off
one sunny afternoon to Dale Abbey.
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Parking in the centre of the village we walked past the Manor
House, Abbey House and the semi-detached church (see Dale Abbey Village Trail) to the
long distance footpath, the Midshires Way where we turned right
to enter Ockbrook Wood. A notice on a post informed that some
of the branches overhanging the adjacent farmland were to be
cut back but this shot shows that the work is still to be started.
Note the bluebells though growing in the long grass.
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The Midshires Way runs along the edge of the wood and a marker
post on the left indicates another path climbing up the north
facing sandstone escarpment.
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That path climbs up through the wood to the countryside above
and eventually leads to Ockbrook.
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We continued along the Midshires Way for a little while almost
to the end of the wood before turning to head back towards the
village. Continuing out of the wood would have taken us past
Columbine Farm and on to Dunnshill, a walk we have done several
times in the opposite direction. (link)
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On this occasion though we were more interested in the bluebells
which were dotted about on the steep hillside.
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They were even more in evidence as we returned through the wood
towards the village.
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As we left the wood, the village lay before us but it needs sharp
eyes to spot the gable end of the Carpenter's Arms which can
just be seen above the building with the solar panels.
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On our way to Ockbrook Wood we had noticed that the path had
been diverted and now passes through a field instead of the drive
at the side of the church/house building. Years ago I remember
passing through the yard adjacent to the house and it being full
of farm animals- cows, pigs, geese, ducks, hens etc. - and returning
from Hermit's Wood with arms laden with bluebells. This is not
to be recommended now as I believe they are a protected species
and it is illegal to pick them. The diversion however now means
that it is necessary to take a stiff clime up behind the buildings
and then to drop down again to the original path into Hermit's
Wood. This view from part way up the new path over the village
shows the Cat and Fiddle Windmill right in the centre of the
horizon.
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We dropped down again to the diverted path through the field
where one of the occupants gave us a superior and inquisitive
look but the other paid us no heed at all.
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