The walk from Ellastone to Mayfield and back turned out to be longer and more interesting than I had expected. I discovered bullet holes in a church door, a very strange football goal, and an unusual way of generating electricity. It was the middle of July, and it finally felt like summer. Starting by Ellastone Bridge, I followed the Limestone Way: first a track through the Calwich Abbey estate, then a sharp left to head to the east of Ellastone, with the church ahead forming a scene like a picture postcard. entrance to Calwich Abbey estate Ellastone church I ascended to a ridge of high ground which I would follow all the way to Mayfield. The surrounding countryside folded itself into wooded valleys and sunlit hills. I spotted a few chunks of limestone on the Limestone Way. Having recently read The Insect Crisis by Oliver Milman, I hoped the fields of long grass and flowers I was walking through were helping the local insect population. I couldn't tell if they counted as tradition
At Uttoxeter my route along the Dove Valley met some official long-distance trails. First the Staffordshire Way north to Rocester, then the Limestone Way continuing up towards Dovedale. Graham joined me on today's walk, which included the Staffordshire Way section and the first part of the Limestone Way. Unusually, it was a one-way hike; we got the bus back. Uttoxeter to Ellastone Graham and I parked at Uttoxeter train station. It's very cheap for the day if you park after 10am, but I was worried about getting back in time for the school run, so we got there at 9:20 and paid the more expensive rate (still only £3). We started off across flat fields towards the A50 and Dove Bridge. A group of young cattle gave us hard stares as we walked past. I posted a photo of a wonky gate on the Gate Appreciation Society with the caption "Parallelogate" and it quickly accumulated 200 likes - many more than this post will get! Passing the old Dove Bridge again , we ploughed t