Alstonefield, Wolfscote and Milldale.

An up and down dale walk today. We parked at the small village of Alstonefield, and headed off to Lower Hurst farm.

This beautiful granite bull resides there in the grounds.

Heading into the open fields.

One of many derelict Peak District barns. Sad, really.

Galloway belties were grazing in the fields.

Sue makes her way carefully along the precarious path above Wolfscote dale.

Looking over the dale, cut up by shadows.

After enjoying the views from the ridge, we descended steeply down Gypsy bank to Wolfscote dale.

The bridge to Wolfscote dale.

Rocky limestone crags above Wolfscote dale.

We followed the dale towards Beresford dale, passing the crags that are a favourite of hawks for nesting.

The light was starting to cast golden now, so we knew days end was closing in.

Time to get a move on.

The beautiful wooden bridge, set amongst the horse chestnut trees in Beresford dale.

A patch of Jews ear fungi.

A patch of fungi, slowly breaking down a tree stump.

Days end :-)

The Goyt Valley

September 2014, we decided to check out the (very low) Goyt valley reservoirs.

Fish in a bucket? Not quite, but the water level WAS well down.

The month of mists and mellow fruitfulness was living up to its name.

The edges of the reservoirs had turned into mini beaches.

In the woods around, lots of gnarled, interestingly shaped tree trunks.

Once again - with stile.

After the stile, we left the waters far below as we climber up to Windgather rocks.

As usual, climbers were testing their mettle on the crags.

A small sheep fold (we think), constructed in a natural hollow.

Back down into the valley, and the water was barely lapping at the dams.

Yeah, yeah, yeah ( the Beetles)

Sue checks out the low levels.

Remains of old walls were now visible on the reservoirs exposed bed.

This September was pretty good for fungi.

I don't know the name of this one, but it's not a good eater, very bland, but very prolific.

This one I DO know - Fly Agaric, one of the 'poisonous' varieties. 

It's more recognised as a hallucinogen. read more HERE

This is of the Boletus family, easily recognisable by the peculiar gills, a sort of sponge thing that discolours when pressed. The Boletus Edulus, or Cep, is the best known of this variety, one of the most sort after fungi for it's flavour.

One of the many hundreds, maybe thousands, of pretty woodland fungi.

ANother one I know well - the shaggy ink cap. This fungi IS edible, BUT not to be mixed with alcohol, and NOT to be eaten when it gets to this stage, where the edges start to 'bleed' a black inky fluid.

A small puffball, not really edible.

The giant variety is one of my favourite eating fungi, but I don't find them very often.

A good patch of honey fungi.

The view over the plains.

We crossed the bridge and made our way back to the crags for one last 'fix' before going home.