Alstonefield to Millers dale

Weather today: Muggy, overcast, then sunny

Daily Miles Covered 15.9

Total Miles Covered: 440.60

Things of Interest: Derbyshire dales

Personal Comments: This really is a bonny part of the world. If you like spectacular gorges, clean rivers, where fish swim around readily seen, then this is the place for you. Villages like Alstonefield, where time as passed it by. Thorpe nestling in the limestone peaks near to Dovedale, Derbyshires premier dale. Youlgrave, Monyash and many more, too many to mention in fact. All of them in an area easily accessible, and where do most of us go, to the continent, ah well don't say I didn't tell you about them.
We followed Dovedale for a short while until it turned west for Hartington, we went up Biggindale, unusual in itself, as it was dry, no river or stream went down it. Limestone country lends itself to many different wild flowers. Today we saw in profusion, Common Spotted Orchids, Cowslips and a particular species of wild Thyme, which all help to make the day more interesting. After Biggindale we passed through the village by the same name, and The Waterloo inn, where last night the landlord Stuart, dished us up sirloin to die for.
The Tissington trail was very busy, its a cyclepath also for horses and walkers, on it you can make good progress, and we did. After that we went on The Pennine Bridleway, for 5 miles or so, and realised, the point where we arranged to meet Ross was in total 23 miles away. A quick phone call was in order, and met him at Millers dale, Another delightful place to end a walk

Rocester to Alstonefield (South Peak District)

Weather today: Very warm and sunny!

Daily Miles Covered: 14.50

Total Miles Covered: 424.70

Things of Interest: Entering the Derbyshire Peak District

Personal Comments: Left Rocester heading for Asbourne in Derbyshire - crossed the River Dove before entering the town. Ashbourne boasts being the gateway into the Derbyshire Peak District so we quickly found the 'Tissington Trail' (a disused railway line) which leads you into this beautiful national park.
Two miles through the trail, we picked up a track which led us to a very attractive village at the edge of the park called Thorpe. Passing through Thorpe, we entered this beautiful national park which really is quite stunning.
We quickly found ourselves in Dovedale where the River Dove makes it's way through a stunning valley with high rocks and cliffs on both sides. We followed this river for 5 miles or so and wouldn't have minded walking further, given the chance.
We arrived at Milldale (another stunning place), then climbed up and out of the village and ended the day in yet another beauty spot called Alstonfield.
We've got free camping here thanks to Frank's expertise in promoting Macmillan Cancer Support!
Great opportunity to catch up on washing using their outdoor cold water sink - smashing!
Should be in West Yorkshire area in a week or so!

Hixon to Rocester (Derbyshire)

Weather today: Sunny, warm

Daily Miles Covered: 13.8

Total Miles Covered: 410.20

Things of Interest: Nigel Wood


Personal Comments: 6.30 am. awake and up and about. We stayed overnight on a pub campsite in Hixon. Phil put his tent last night, so there were only two of us in the van last night
It was lovely sunrise, calm, again there was no one about. Our neighbours, BP, and Rob came across to wish us well, we had our photo. taken on a trike, a machine with a VW. air-cooled engine, if I was 21 again!
We left Hixon with the sun shining, soon, Ross left us with a problem with his knee, he made it back ok. We soon made Drointon, and left it behind at the six mile mark. Approaching Uttoxeter,
there was a problem, I went one way Phil went t'other. This time I was wrong, we soon met up again. Uttoxeter seemed a busy place, we only skirted it, but it looked ok. We passed by the racecourse, and left it behind. We could see the busy A50 so we found a way under it and lunchtime came. Sandwiches were eaten with relish, I think it was brown sauce! Packing up afterwards I realised I had lost my phone, it must have dropped out of my pocket getting over a stile maybe. I walked back a mile or to no avail, disaster. I rang O2(with Phils phone) cancelled the contract, and thought what can I do, nothing. We carried on up Dovedale and soon came to Rocester. As we were changing our boots Phil's phone rang, it was Nigel Wood who had found my phone in Uttoxeter. This super chap drove 6miles or so, met us in Rocester, gave me my phone, wouldn't take a penny for his troubles, how lucky was that people, unbelieveable. Well done Nigel, hope The City make it back at the first attempt (Leicester)

Lapley to Hixon(Staffordshire)

Weather today: Warm and sunny

Daily Miles Covered: 14.8

Total Miles Covered: 396.4

Things of Interest: Cannock Chase, Staffordshire and Worcester Canal, Trent and Mersey Canal, Shugborough Hall.

Personal Comments: Very warm day with blue skies and sunshine. Enough to make Frank wear his shorts! Followed the Staff's Way, then onto the Staffs/Worcs canal under the M6 - then onto Cannock Chase. This area is very attractive with trees, valleys, streams in abundance.
We rejoined the Staff's Way and dropped onto the Trent and Mersey Canal. This canal and the other one already mentioned is really attractive and popular with narrow boats ever present.
We ended up in a small place called Hixon where a small campsite was a haven for us which just happened to be next to a pub!
I put my tent up for the first time today in a few weeks. I'm getting better at erecting it now - it only takes about 30 minutes instead of about 45 minutes last time! (The record is something like 4 minutes).

Seisdon to Lapley (S. Staffs)

Weather today: Rain 'til 2.00pm. Hazy afterwards

Daily Miles Covered: 14.3

Total Miles Covered: 381.6

Things of Interest: Shropshire union canal

Personal Comments: Lowering skies meant that rain was not far away this morning as we got up. No breakfast promised so we set about making our own, and of course sandwiches for lunch. The Staffs way was our route again today. Map reading is a problem when its raining, and today was no exception. We covered field after field full of sticky red mud, ankle deep, but we press on. Our first call of any distinction was Codsall, a small town in Staffs. it was bucketing down, there weren't many folk about. Due north we passed over the M54, there were plenty of folk about here, in cars though. Still going north we came upon Brewood on The Shropshire Union Canal. It became fine for a short while, so we had a pleasant lunch on the towpath, in hazy sunshine, it didn't last long. Following the towpath n.n.e. we came across an aquaduct which passed over Watling up Street (A5) now tell me what did The Romans do for us? The A5 at this point is as straight as a die. People were packing up their belongings from their barges, going back to that place tomorrow, we don't talk about.
3 miles further on we left the towpath for a small village called Lapley, I decide, because I read the maps, and where there is a P.H. on the map thats good enough for me. What the signs dont tell you, is when they are shut, and this one was., horror of horrors!. We had to ring Ross, and he took us to another one in Wheaton Aston, hurray. Free pitch for the night, and maybe a beer or two.

Upper Arley to Seisdon (West of Wolverhampton)

Weather today: Drizzle for most of day but mild

Daily Miles Covered: 14.0

Total Miles Covered: 367.3

Things of Interest: Kinver Edge, some llamas and the smell of rapeseed

Personal Comments: Left Upper Arley minus our promised breakfast of a 'full English' - the landlord in the village pub forgot that he'd offered this to us last night! - the place was shut and in total darkness at 8.00am breakfast time - surely he hadn't drunk too much last night and failed to wake up especially for us this morning?
We waved goodbye to the 'magnificent Severn' and headed north east through Shatterford (I think I should live there!!) to pick up the 'Worcester Way'.
Heading over Kinver Edge, we crossed the border into Staffordshire and joined the 'Staffordshire Way'. This long distance path proved very attractive passing through the rolling hills of South Staffs.
We finished the day in a village called Seisdon where Ross had organised an overnight stay in the local pub car park with an opportunity to rattle our charity tin in front of the locals tonight.
I've just hung out my wet clothes on a washing line attached to the van and a bush in the pub car park - it looks like the gypsies have invaded! - nice to give the locals something to talk about!
I'm off to wipe the mud off my boots now.
Finally, thanks to James from Bewdley and Bob Jones from West Bromwich for their donations.

Grimley to Upper Arley (N. Worcestershire)

Weather today: Sunny start, overcast later

Daily Miles Covered: 17.3

Total Miles Covered: 353.30

Things of Interest: The River Severn

Personal Comments: Leaving The Camp house pub early there was no one around only 10 peacocks, and if you've heard 1 peacock, imagine what 10 can do!! As we picked up the riverside path we came across our first lock of the day. The lockeepers must be rushed off their feet this time of year. There were maybe only a dozen boats which passed us all day, so I hope they are good readers. Ross said goodbye to us after a couple of miles to go back to the van, we pressed on. At the second lock, I looked behind to see Philip had dissappeared. he was nowhere, so I phoned him. He had gone straight on instead of turning left at a bridge. By now he was above me somewhere in a caravan park. He said there's no problem "I'll see you in Kidderminster"
"Kidderminster, " I said " We are not going to Kiddeminster" "Oh!" he said.
I gave him revised directions, we met up in Stourport-on-Severn, no problem! Bank holiday weekends bring loads of people out, Stourport was no exception. Fairgrounds, bouncy castles candy floss, lets get back to the riverside path.
Bewdley was our next town to pass through, a little more gentile than Stourport, still a river runs through it!! We arranged to meet Ross at Upper Arley another 3 miles up river, by now my dogs are barking. Tomorrow will our last on The Magnificent Severn!, it has been our constant companion for 4 days now. We got there first, and The Harbour Inn was open say, no more. We stayed there overnight, thanks to Mike.