Circular walk from Matlock

27 Aug

Today, with dear friend Sue. We took trains, she from Sheffield, I from Beeston, to meet at the cafe in the park, Matlock. From there we walked the left bank of the Derwent upstream for a mile before swinging west … Read More »

The Magnificernt Severn

21 Aug

Bewdley on Tuesday. Though the dominant look is Georgian, the town’s prosperity as highest port on our biggest river goes back to the Tudors. We’re camped a few miles downstream, at Stourport on Severn. Served by fast roads, it’s not … Read More »

River of Fear

28 Jul

The River Soar rises between Lutterworth and Hinckley, then takes a northerly course through brown-field, cattled meadow, reedy margins, trailing willow, dreary town and many an idyllic village – as well as Leicester and Loughborough – to top up the … Read More »

On the water, man and dog

19 Jul

In a one seat canoe, you’re skipper and crew, just messing about on the river. Josh Macrae My kayak lives in the garage. Deflated, rolled and strapped to a folding trolley of the kind used by porters to move sacks … Read More »

A day on the Dordogne

26 Jun

Overlooking a wide loop in the river, the chateau at Beynac-et-Cazenac was gifted in 1115 to the sisters of Fontevrault Abbey but seized at century’s end by Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester and prominent crusader. Expanded in later centuries, … Read More »