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Non Tool Forum => The Shutter Shop => Topic started by: DaveK on January 06, 2010, 02:00:17 AM

Title: Anchor Church Walk
Post by: DaveK on January 06, 2010, 02:00:17 AM
Most of my efforts to get outdoors during my Christmas break fell by the wayside for one reason or another in the last couple of weeks, so I was determined to get out today before returning to work tomorrow. I was therefore a bit dismayed this morning to see snow coming down, schools closing and severe weather warnings around the Peak District where I'd intended to go :(

So I thought, stuff it, I'll go somewhere local and found a recommended circular walk on the local council website. I normally avoid these kind of published routes like the plague as you tend to be knee deep in people, but I figured that there was a chance that I'd be the only one stupid enough to venture out in this weather and gave it a go :D

So I printed off the pdf from the council's website and set off. I was very pleasantly surprised, and didn't see another human being between leaving my car and getting back a few hours later. Perfect :tu:

I didn't actually read the directions on the PDF before setting out  (::)), and consequently had no real idea of what I'd be passing until I saw stuff and then read about it, which in turn meant I got a number of great "surprises" as I went round.

The walk was referred to as the "Anchor Church Walk", so I assumed I'd be passing a church at some point. I was quite wrong...

(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/DaveK-ToolPics/scenery/Anchor%20Church%20Walk/3Churches051.jpg)

After leaving the car park (which turned out to be a nice pub and in-house brewery, but was sadly closed), the directions sent me up a nice Bridle Way from the road into farm fields and past a scarecrow!

(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/DaveK-ToolPics/scenery/Anchor%20Church%20Walk/3Churches001.jpg)

(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/DaveK-ToolPics/scenery/Anchor%20Church%20Walk/3Churches003.jpg)

Skeletool!

(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/DaveK-ToolPics/scenery/Anchor%20Church%20Walk/3Churches005.jpg)

UKPK!

(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/DaveK-ToolPics/scenery/Anchor%20Church%20Walk/3Churches009.jpg)

There's a Robin hiding in the Holly here - very Christmassy :D Noisy little bugger it was, and wouldn't stay still for a good photo...

(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/DaveK-ToolPics/scenery/Anchor%20Church%20Walk/3Churches010.jpg)

Drink break (the new SIGG bottle earning it's bargain price)!

(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/DaveK-ToolPics/scenery/Anchor%20Church%20Walk/3Churches014.jpg)

.... and another Skeletool shot....

(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/DaveK-ToolPics/scenery/Anchor%20Church%20Walk/3Churches019.jpg)

The directions mentioned "Foremark Hall", but didn't mention that it was a school! It turns out that it's a posh boarding school and my walk went straight the middle of the campus. I thought, given that I was already walking through a school with a Leatherman sheath attached to my pack, that taking too many photos probably wasn't a great idea, but I did get one of the hall, and one of a pheasant running across the frozen lake (you may need to zoom in to see it)!

(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/DaveK-ToolPics/scenery/Anchor%20Church%20Walk/3Churches021.jpg)
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/DaveK-ToolPics/scenery/Anchor%20Church%20Walk/3Churches022.jpg)

Leaving the school grounds and having walked about a mile across more fields, I reached the banks of the river Trent, walking below some unusual rock formations, and caves.

(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/DaveK-ToolPics/scenery/Anchor%20Church%20Walk/3Churches027.jpg)
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/DaveK-ToolPics/scenery/Anchor%20Church%20Walk/3Churches028.jpg)

There were a few like this, but eventually I came to a "cave" that didn't look as thought it was naturally formed.

(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/DaveK-ToolPics/scenery/Anchor%20Church%20Walk/3Churches031.jpg)
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/DaveK-ToolPics/scenery/Anchor%20Church%20Walk/3Churches033.jpg)

I thought "that's interesting", and around the next bend I was stopped in my tracks by this sight:

(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/DaveK-ToolPics/scenery/Anchor%20Church%20Walk/3Churches036.jpg)

Wow  :o I thought I'd better read the downloaded PDF - which explained

Quote
Set in a sandstone crag more than 100m long and 12m in height overlooking Black Pool, are 4 interconnected caves known as Anchor Church, mentioned as long ago as 1648. The outcrop once formed the southern bank of the River Trent and the caves were partly formed by the action of river water on the soft rock, and partly cut out by hand. One legend says St. Hardulph used to live and pray here around the 6-7th Century.

It was to isolated places such as these that the early Christians sought refuge to worship God whilst avoiding persecution. Little more is known of him, but the landmark church at nearby Breedon-on-the-Hill shares his name. Another ancient legend tells of Sir Hugo de Burdett returning from the Crusades and being tricked into believing his wife Johanne had been unfaithful, then killing her without
asking for an explanation and cutting off her left hand which bore his wedding ring. Many years later Sir Hugo was asked to visit the dying hermit at Anchor Church, who confessed he had been bribed by the Baron of Boyville to trick Sir Hugo, so he could marry the dishonoured Johanne. The guilt-stricken hermit had spent the rest of his life at Anchor Church in penance. Children at the Prep School still tell stories of Johanne wandering the woods at Foremark searching for her hand while until recently stone carvings of Johanne, Sir Hugo and the Baron of Boyville rested on the wall of Knowl Hill cottage.

The caves were also a favourite haunt of Sir Francis Burdett who enlarged the caves to their present size, fitted a door and used it as a summer dining room for picnic parties from the hall, as the sandstone guaranteed a cooler temperature.

Cool huh? I took some pics from the inside too:

(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/DaveK-ToolPics/scenery/Anchor%20Church%20Walk/3Churches037.jpg)
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/DaveK-ToolPics/scenery/Anchor%20Church%20Walk/3Churches038.jpg)
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/DaveK-ToolPics/scenery/Anchor%20Church%20Walk/3Churches039.jpg)
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/DaveK-ToolPics/scenery/Anchor%20Church%20Walk/3Churches041.jpg)

I got a couple more snaps before heading back to the car:

(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/DaveK-ToolPics/scenery/Anchor%20Church%20Walk/3Churches042.jpg)

(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/DaveK-ToolPics/scenery/Anchor%20Church%20Walk/3Churches044.jpg)

(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/DaveK-ToolPics/scenery/Anchor%20Church%20Walk/3Churches045.jpg)

I've included all of the above pictures, and some others I took today in a slideshow, which you access by clicking the image below.

(http://s36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/DaveK-ToolPics/scenery/Anchor%20Church%20Walk/th_3Churches001.jpg) (http://s36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/DaveK-ToolPics/scenery/Anchor%20Church%20Walk/?action=view&current=0392a21e.pbw)
Title: Re: Anchor Church Walk
Post by: GraysonK on January 06, 2010, 02:09:01 AM
Fantastic!!!!!  Wow, how cool! 
Title: Re: Anchor Church Walk
Post by: Chako on January 06, 2010, 06:23:39 AM
I agree. I was also thinking...man oh man...you guys don't have no snow to talk about!  :)
Title: Re: Anchor Church Walk
Post by: donvito on January 06, 2010, 06:29:51 AM
Nice day hike and superb shots  :tu: :cheers:
Title: Re: Anchor Church Walk
Post by: Zed on January 06, 2010, 06:57:34 AM
looks like a nice place for a walk dave, i was hoping it would snow over night down here on the coast as fancied a snowy MTB ride this am, oh well no snow, ill still try and get out for a ride though,

paul
Title: Re: Anchor Church Walk
Post by: Mike, Lord of the Spammers! on January 06, 2010, 07:31:38 AM
Fantastic shot's there Dave mate :tu:
Title: Re: Anchor Church Walk
Post by: David on January 06, 2010, 07:36:15 AM
Looks like you had a really great walk there Dave. Anchor Church craved out of sandstone bluff is pretty cool looking. Interesting bit of history to go along with them also.
Title: Re: Anchor Church Walk
Post by: edap617 on January 06, 2010, 08:11:12 AM
I want to taste that home brewed beer, Dave.

Thanks for the fantactic shots.
Title: Re: Anchor Church Walk
Post by: DaveK on January 06, 2010, 09:51:43 AM
...you guys don't have no snow to talk about!  :)

That changed overnight! Plenty of snow out there now, so I'm working from home (in the warm)!
Title: Re: Anchor Church Walk
Post by: Medic82 on January 06, 2010, 10:05:59 AM
NICE! Me like!
Title: Re: Anchor Church Walk
Post by: Benner on January 06, 2010, 11:18:03 AM
...you guys don't have no snow to talk about!  :)

That changed overnight! Plenty of snow out there now, so I'm working from home (in the warm)!

Yeah we have quite a bit again.  Could make going to work at 6am tomorrow quite interesting.
Title: Re: Anchor Church Walk
Post by: Sean on January 06, 2010, 05:55:25 PM
It's always nice to see great shot's of other countrysides.  Thanks for posting those Dave!
Title: Re: Anchor Church Walk
Post by: AHB on January 06, 2010, 06:01:20 PM
Beautiful countryside, Dave.. A few hours well spend.. :tu:
I'm glad you didn't superglue the Robin to get a photo, as a certain individual does with poor bees..  ;) :D
Title: Re: Anchor Church Walk
Post by: DaveK on January 06, 2010, 06:09:49 PM
I was going to fasten it to a branch with the UKPK, but it was too quick for me :D
Title: Re: Anchor Church Walk
Post by: AHB on January 06, 2010, 06:21:05 PM
I was going to fasten it to a branch with the UKPK, but it was too quick for me :D
That I can relate to..  :tu:  :D :D
Title: Re: Anchor Church Walk
Post by: cliosguy on January 06, 2010, 06:22:18 PM
awesome!
Title: Re: Anchor Church Walk
Post by: DaveK on January 06, 2010, 06:39:04 PM
The best thing about yesterday was that all of this was within 10 miles of my front door. We've lived here since 2000, and I had no idea that this area really existed, despite having what I would consider to be a good knowledge of what's nearby generally.

There were some other walks on that website too, so I will probably give them a go too.
Title: Re: Anchor Church Walk
Post by: AHB on January 06, 2010, 06:44:38 PM
Don't forget your camera next time either..  :)
Title: Re: Anchor Church Walk
Post by: Gareth on January 06, 2010, 07:02:21 PM
Cool caves/church Dave.  It looks like a afternoon very well spent. :tu:
Title: Re: Anchor Church Walk
Post by: Screwtape on January 06, 2010, 07:09:31 PM
very nice, love the pheasant on the ice  :tu:

This place is only about half an hour from me might go do the walk myself  ;) ;)
Title: Re: Anchor Church Walk
Post by: DaveK on January 06, 2010, 07:31:17 PM
very nice, love the pheasant on the ice  :tu:

This place is only about half an hour from me might go do the walk myself  ;) ;)

Oh? Whereabouts are you then mate?

Let me know if you want the links (assuming you haven't found them already of course).

Title: Re: Anchor Church Walk
Post by: nuphoria on January 06, 2010, 08:21:34 PM
That's the lovely thing about Britain, the little hidden gems around quiet corners. Looks like a great place to go wandering Dave. Thanks for sharing the pics  :cheers:
Title: Re: Anchor Church Walk
Post by: DaveK on January 06, 2010, 08:55:03 PM
Very true Nuphoria, although the "church" caves really did take me aback on this one.

It made up pretty well for my disappointment at not getting to the Peaks.

My current ambition is do some fell walking - using the Alfred Wainwright guides. I've been eyeing this box set (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wainwright-Pictorial-Guides-Boxed-Lakeland/dp/0711224617/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262807494&sr=8-1) for a little while now.....

There was a BBC TV series with Julia Bradbury based around these guides called "Wainwright Walks". You could still find some of the episodes on BBCi recently I think.
Title: Re: Anchor Church Walk
Post by: Dunc on January 06, 2010, 10:31:41 PM
I really enjoy reading your threads about your walks Dave  :D And this was a reallygood one  :tu:

Dunc
Title: Re: Anchor Church Walk
Post by: ringzero on January 08, 2010, 04:35:23 AM
Very nice pics of some beautiful scenery - thanks for sharing them, DaveK.

Lovely winter fields and river, and rock outcrops with caves are always an attraction for me.

Plus, it's always fascinating to discover a bit of local history of which you were completely unaware.

.
Title: Re: Anchor Church Walk
Post by: J-sews on January 08, 2010, 04:59:23 AM
Agreed, great pics and story Dave. :tu: Sorry I missed seeing this one sooner. :salute:
Title: Re: Anchor Church Walk
Post by: DaveK on January 09, 2010, 12:43:22 AM
I really enjoy reading your threads about your walks Dave  :D And this was a reallygood one  :tu:

Dunc

Hey someone sadder than me :D

Well, I shall be off out and about again on Sunday by the looks of things, so I'll take the camera again :tu:
Title: Re: Anchor Church Walk
Post by: Screwtape on January 09, 2010, 10:59:07 AM
very nice, love the pheasant on the ice  :tu:

This place is only about half an hour from me might go do the walk myself  ;) ;)

Oh? Whereabouts are you then mate?

Let me know if you want the links (assuming you haven't found them already of course).



I live on the SE of Nottingham and work Leicester so this would be an easy get to for me, You first go me interested when you mentioned the Trent, it seems that there have been quite a lot of rooms cut out of the rock along it's route.

http://www.nottinghamhistory.co.uk/local/caves.htm
Title: Re: Anchor Church Walk
Post by: DaveK on January 09, 2010, 02:10:28 PM
Oh wow. That's really cool :tu:
Title: Re: Anchor Church Walk
Post by: DaveK on January 09, 2010, 04:21:25 PM
.... and I just stumbled across your avatar and know what it is now.

Excellent!

(http://forum.multitool.org/index.php?action=dlattach;attach=16437;type=avatar)
Title: Re: Anchor Church Walk
Post by: nuphoria on January 09, 2010, 04:43:19 PM
Oh wow. That's really cool :tu:

+1 

Another spot worth checking out for sure :)
Title: Re: Anchor Church Walk
Post by: Screwtape on January 09, 2010, 08:14:20 PM
.... and I just stumbled across your avatar and know what it is now.

Excellent!

(http://forum.multitool.org/index.php?action=dlattach;attach=16437;type=avatar)

Episode one is linked in my signature ya know  ;)
Title: Re: Anchor Church Walk
Post by: DaveK on January 09, 2010, 08:16:59 PM
.... and I just stumbled across your avatar and know what it is now.

Excellent!

(http://forum.multitool.org/index.php?action=dlattach;attach=16437;type=avatar)

Episode one is linked in my signature ya know  ;)

Ah, so it is :tu:
Title: Re: Anchor Church Walk
Post by: Gareth on January 10, 2010, 01:40:39 PM
Very cool. 8)  Edinburgh's got a great troglodyte home just up the road from me called Gilmerton Cove.  Not open all year round (I think you normally have to make an appointment or wait for an open day) but well worth seeing.

http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/edinburgh/gilmertoncove/index.html
Title: Re: Anchor Church Walk
Post by: Screwtape on January 10, 2010, 02:13:27 PM
Very cool. 8)  Edinburgh's got a great troglodyte home just up the road from me called Gilmerton Cove.  Not open all year round (I think you normally have to make an appointment or wait for an open day) but well worth seeing.

http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/edinburgh/gilmertoncove/index.html

Ohhh interesting and close to Rosslyn Chapel too,
Title: Re: Anchor Church Walk
Post by: ryan1835 on February 07, 2010, 11:51:56 PM
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/DaveK-ToolPics/scenery/Anchor%20Church%20Walk/3Churches042.jpg)

i like this one :)
Title: Re: Anchor Church Walk
Post by: DaveK on February 07, 2010, 11:57:03 PM
Yeah that was one of my favourites too :)