This 4 ½ walk from Bolsover towards Scarcliffe and Palterton turned out to be a gentle amble along pavements and fields with extensive views at one point where we stopped for some time to scan the various landmarks.
Nine of us stepped out onto the main road to be met by a cold wind biting at our earlobes, to walk past the church of St. Mary and St. Lawrence, in the care of the Reverend Rachel Gouldthorpe.
We all know who St. Mary is but who was St. Lawrence? According to the church’s website he was a Roman saint who according to tradition was martyred by being roasted alive on a gridiron. His feast day is 10th August. The church is a Grade 11 listed building and has twice been gutted by fire, the last time in 1960, however many important features were preserved including the 17th century Crypt and Cavendish Chapel and the “Christ the King” east window.
We turned onto a muddy footpath and walked through fields where cereal crops were growing well in neat straight lines. Whilst walking through Scarcliffe village, a Neighbourhood Watch area, we spotted two stone features sitting atop the gate posts. One depicted a wall with a man’s face holding binoculars on one side and a burglar with swag bag on the other.
The absence of wild life was noticeable during this walk although we did pass a field where Shetland ponies grazed and along one track there were numerous mole hills which one of our team continually poked his walking pole into.
We ended the walk by ambling along the ridge from Palterton exclaiming at the wonderful view and seeing Sutton Scarsdale Hall and Hardwick Hall in the distance.
We all convened at the home of Ruth and Bob where a log fire burned and home-made wine and cider warmed us up. Victoria did an excellent job of serving us with a choice of soups with rolls, followed by mince pies and stolen bites and all enjoyed a social get-together before setting out homeward.
The next walk will be led by Trish on Sunday 1st January in the Chatsworth area. We meet at 12 noon at the church gates with a packed lunch. If anyone wishes to start the New Year with a fitness programme, then come and join us – you will immediately feel great and eventually lose weight.