A record of our family history
This easy route of Mam Tor Old Road Circuit looked like fun, I hadn’t heard about the old road before seeing it on the app. Apparently it’s really popular in the Peak District for walkers and cyclists. The road was destroyed years ago by a rock slide and now you can walk along it.
The Trans Pennine Trail was once a railway, and is now a 207 mile path in the North of England that runs from Southport on the west coast, across the peaks, and all the way to Hornsea in the East. We have explored only about 20 miles of the trail so far, but today I only want to talk about our little section of the Upper Don Trail in Thurgoland.
We can’t seem to get enough of the Peak District recently. Living right near it gives us so many opportunities to explore, and we try and go somewhere new every time. Ben wanted to go to Agden Reservoir. We put it into our map and when we got there we found it difficult to find the start of the walk.
Ever since I found out that I had family that lived in Thurgoland over 100 years ago, I have been trying to find out as much as I can. Some of this information I have come across quite naturally and accidentally, like finding 3rd great grandfather Giles Button’s house when I was out walking with Sam. Or finding information about the wire mills while lunching in the pub.
Today I was in an exploring kind of mood, so we went to Badby Woods in Northamptonshire. We found the ruins of Dower House on the Fawsley Estate
All the photos I have seen of Sharpenhoe Clappers have been taken in the summer, when everything is green and glorious, but we went in October when the leaves were dry and crispy, and covering the ground which is also lovely in its own way.
For us 2018 started with a New Year’s walk at Fineshade Wood. We had a really relaxing Christmas at home (and we are planning the same this year too!) and we always enjoy our family New Year’s walk to blow away the cobwebs and get us back into a more active life.
The Forest of Marston Vale is a 60 square mile environmental regeneration project in between Bedford and Milton Keynes. Some of that area is made up of country park, which has a play area, visitors centre and cafe, wetlands nature reserve, woodlands, and walking routes. The last time we were there was last autumn when we had a day with the boys, and wanted a walk in the forest. Wellies definitely required.
Today I took my 4 boys to Sywell Country Park to get some fresh air and burn off some energy. I think that some days the house just isn’t big enough for all these boys and it’s hard work trying to calm them down indoors.