Sunny days have been few and far between in this January of 2026. So when the sky turned blue one Saturday, Toby and I decided we needed to get outside. There wasn't time for a ten-miler, so I shortened the next section of the Portway walk and announced that we would do a loop from Dale Abbey to Stanton-by-Dale. This is not unknown territory. We have done a few family hikes around here - in fact, more than I remembered. When we got to Stanton, Toby said, "Haven't I been here before?". I said I didn't think so, but then as we moved along the main street a few memories started to surface. Oh yes, we had walked this way before. And the reason for that is that there are several interesting things to see. We passed the towering east window, all that remains of the abbey at Dale. There were snowdrops blooming outside the odd little semi-detached church (the other half is now a house and was once a pub - an odd pairing!) We slithered down steep steps to look at the herm...
For the first day of St Editha's Way, see here . I had walked from Polesworth to Tamworth and stayed in Tamworth overnight. Today, the journey continued to Lichfield. I think I was the only person staying in the hotel last night. Certainly I was the only person having breakfast. I felt a little sorry for the two men who had had to get up early to cook and serve it to their one and only customer. Tamworth Castle, Monday morning St Ruffin's Well was mentioned on the pilgrimage brochure as a place to see. I hadn't found it yesterday, so I went back to the castle area to take a look. I don't think there's been a well there for a long time, but there is a plaque tacked on to the wall of the shopping centre, giving an approximate location. I also wandered over to Borrowpit Lake while I was waiting for St Editha's Church to open. St Editha's, Tamworth, is a very impressive building. Tall arches, painted ceilings, and modern wooden partitions for cafe and shop areas...