Easter Walk

Red Lion, Birchover

Cork Stone

Flying Childers, Stanton

Peak Tor, Rowsley

A fantastic day's walking, talking, and standing-and-staring was only marginally inconvenienced by rain and map reading. Setting off from Winster, we took a rather circular route to Birchover but it served a purpose as we arrived at The Red Lion in Birchover exactly at opening time (12.00). There a fine, low-powered (2.8%) pale ale was enjoyed by most of us. Onward from there, the weather took a turn for the worse and showers turned to rain, as we trekked upwards across Stanton Moor, stopping only to watch the one member of the party who'd had a stronger beer, climb the Cork Stone (quite nimbly, it has to be said!). From there, we plunged down into Stanton, to find a welcome of soup (watercress) and sandwiches at the Flying Childers. Pints of a refreshing hoppy ale called "Storm" were consumed. The next stage was a real treat. The sun had come out and, as we set out northwards from Stanton, a whole view of the Wye Valley opened out before us. The interesting earthworks of Peak Tor were a prelude to tea and cake in Caudwell's Mill. Aaah!. Even the buses ran to time.