A walk of a thousand miles starts with a single step.  This walk, of around seven miles, started in Whaley Bridge with a scurry through the Tesco car park.  Thence a short stretch of canal, and up onto Whaley Moor, with an apogee somewhere around Bow Stones, on the edge of Lyme Park.

Bow Stones – two pillars – are the remains of an Anglo-Saxon cross.  There is a similar structure (called Robin Hood’s picking rods) on Ludworth Moor and the base stone – without the uprights, but with post holes for two uprights – on Whaley Moor (The Dipping Stone).  They may have been waymarkers (wayside shrines), or possibly (or additionally) boundary markers.  But why were there so many around the local moorland?  The boundary between the kingdoms of Northumbria and Mercia was somewhere around here (although the exact position waxed and waned).  Stuart speculates that these were boundary markers for the kingdoms.

Petite waterside residence within paddling distance of local amenities. Would suit persons of reduced stature.

We did our best to resist.

John examined the Dipping Stone…

… while Roger remained aloof …

… and made room for a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award group to pass through.

Bow Stones.

Socially distant lunch

Return via Todbrook Reservoir, which was looking a little low.

Another walk marked by kind weather and excellent views.