W/C 16th November 2013 - Teversal and Hardwick Hall

Only a short, 20 mile walk this week! I pulled a muscle during my previous walk, so was being a little more cautious than usual. My route took me along old railway lines, converted to footpaths, for much of the way. I walked through Skegby to Teversal, then on to Hardwick Hall. From there, I walked east to Hardstoft and the southern end of the Five Pits Trail, returning home via Huthwaite.

I walked along the Skegby Trail from Sutton to Skegby. This has a length with fairly deep sheer-faced cuttings. In the summer, the undergrowth largely hides the rock faces. Now the leaves are falling, it is becoming exposed again.

My route passed the old Skegby Manor House, dating from the 14th Century.

I then joined the Teversal Trail, passing the former site of Skegby railway station. The overbridge is one of the few remaining signs that there was ever a railway here.

I then turned left onto the Link Trail towards Teversal village. This is a combination of embankments and shallow cuttings.

At Teversal, I called in briefly at the Visitor Centre for refreshments before turning north towards Pleasley. As the trail approaches Pleasley, there is a steep embankment offering views across towards the north east. The Rowthorne Trail can just be seen in the distance, amongst the far trees.

Looking further to the south east towards Hardwick Hall from the same viewpoint.

The Rowthorne Trail leads towards Hardwick Hall. This is mainly on a tree-lined embankment.

This is the view looking back towards the Teversal Trail, just visible on the horizon.

There are brief glimpses of the grounds of Hardwick Hall as you proceed along the Rowthorne Trail.

At the end of the trail, I turned left and then left again along the approach road to Hardwick Hall. Here is the gate and gatehouse. This entrance is not open to road vehicles any more.

Health and safety is not a new idea, judging by this old-looking sign!

Within the park, the leaves were definitely changing colour.

Here is a view looking west.

I approached Hardwick Hall itself. This is a view of the imposing "new" hall from the north west.

..and another view of the park, looking north west towards Chesterfield.

This is the frontage of the hall.

The "old" hall building survives as an empty shell nearby.

I then followed the road round towards the Hardwick Inn.  This road falls steeply into the valley below the hall. Here is a view looking back up the hill to the hall buildings.

...and a view of the Hardwick Inn.

Beyond the inn, I followed the road up to Hardstoft village, which can be seen n the far right of this shot.

Beyond the village, I turned right at the Shoulder of Mutton Inn, then left towards Pilsley. In Pilsley, I turned left onto the Five Pits Trail, which I had followed the week before. Here is a view west towards Crich Stand from the Five Pits trail near Tibshelf.

I followed the trail to its end before turning left onto the Teversal trail towards Huthwaite.