Finding somewhere new, for where do the paths lead us to? A voyage of discovery at "Young People's Forest at Mead."

Discovering something new is always exciting and with the amounts of walking that I have been doing throughout lockdown, inspiration was definitely flowing. Yesterday however was just one of those days in which I had in the back of my mind a voyage of discovery and decided to find somewhere new. I had previously visited Shipley Park a few weeks back and walked past something new, a new location that simply said the following,

“Young People’s Forest at Mead”

I had also picked up a pamphlet for it as well, and after that walk at Shipley Park a few weeks ago had a little read of the pamphlet, it looked interesting, but somehow it was yesterday that I decided to go back to Shipley Park and find somewhere new, this new location was….. Young People’s Forest at Mead.

A slightly oddly named place for an area of woodland trust, but this location is new, and it was just asking to be explored, of course the weather though was threatening to rain and completely drench me as I arrived at the visitor centre at Shipley Park. Still though my coat was donned - and the humidity was something else, the back of my mind was thinking “should I continue to wear the coat or not?” In the end I took my coat off, and carried it around my shoulders. Well, it was Humid and the risk of rainfall was pretty low at this point, even if the distant skies looked slightly threatening.

Still from the visitor centre at Shipley Park, it is a short walk to the entry point for the Young People’s Forest at Mead and to get to the entry point you literally walk up a pathway that leads in the direction of “Flat Meadow Farm” - at one point you could walk straight up to Flat Meadow Farm, now you have to take a different way through a wooded area that leads you on a new path away from the farm but still in view of the farm. However this time I had eventually reached the new entry point to the Young People’s Forest at Mead. Instead of going straight on, a right turn leads me to a new path, but the question was “where does this path lead to?” Either way I was now somewhere completely new yet familiar, the gate closed behind me and I was not within Shipley Park, I was now on woodland trust land that felt new and exciting, still a sense of discovery lay ahead and I could not wait to start walking this unexplored and new area.

Young People’s Forest at Mead has an interesting history and it provides new exploration opportunities; of course throughout lockdown(s) I have really enjoyed finding new and exciting exploration opportunities and now that we are out of lockdown, the trend of finding something new has been implanted in my brain, a sense of discovery and exploration is something that I shall be continuing for a long time to come.

I digress, ahead of me the path lay ahead, because the forest is new, the pathway I was on felt different, fresh and relatively untrodden, it was so inviting and was telling me silently to put one foot in front of the other and delve deeper into this new found area, I did. The path in front of me and the silence was something else, plants and trees intertwined and the greenery so fresh, the air clear and here I was, walking through a new area.

The path in front of me rose gently along an incline and on the horizon was blue skies along with little white fluffy clouds, yet behind me over towards Heanor, dramatically dark clouds - already I could sense drama, amazing really how the skies are like artwork but we rarely look up and notice when we are too busy with the rushes of normal life, define normal I ask? It does not exist. Still to the left hand side of me when I got to the top of the incline I looked across to the East, the back of Flat Meadow Farm I could see, and whilst over Heanor was dramatic, towards Ilkeston and the south part of Nottinghamshire, was covered in clouds; from where I was walking these clouds looked like a mountain range, and I could see the peaks of them, not the base of the Mountains. Still I continued and what goes up must come down, surely enough it did, another gentle incline led me to a bridge, unexplored it crossed over a little brook, on the other side of the bridge another incline and it soon became apparent that I had to make a decision.

“Turn left? Continue on the path or open this inviting gate and walk through an area of something new?”

I opted to open the gate. By now I was in an area in which the saplings that had been planted either weeks before or a couple of months ago were growing, new lands but the path was inviting me, silence was around me and the way the trees had been planted felt uniform, still though new woodland that has been planted has a certain charm to it, whilst this area will eventually become home to a lot of wildlife already wildlife has found a home already. I walked through this wild area along the path, a grass one that was uneven and damp due to the rain, and paused when I got to a point with a view. I looked over towards Shipley Hill and Flat Meadow Farm, and immediately stopped, setting up the tripod I put my camera on it, and was truly taken away by the beauty and drama in front of me of the dramatic skies, here I was under the sun, little fluffy clouds and yet the weather front over towards the south of Nottinghamshire and Ilkeston had slowly but surely moved north slightly, now I was witnessing the drama of skies, dark heavy skies along with the contrasts of the cotton wool like, little fluffy clouds.

Cloud race - (Black and White).

Cloud race - (Colour).

Under big skies.

Under a living sky - (Black and White).

Under a living sky - (Colour).

Cloud beats.

Ethereal is the feeling I had got after seeing the drama in the skies? Who needs an art gallery that charges a fortune to see artwork when the best artwork is free and is outside and readily available for us anytime we want it, for that is what landscape photography actually is. Still though now I had to walk on, curiosities everywhere and a Honey Buzzard riding the thermals added to the drama I was seeing. But then amongst the silence a distinct sound of a certain bird, the beautiful music of the Skylark. An interesting bird that nests on the ground and will fly up like a Harrier Jump Jet, before descending gracefully back to the nest, walking along the path that I was now on, I did manage to see this elusive bird and that was perhaps the best tonic of this silent and new land I was walking on.

The grass path undulated and the ground slightly uneven but this did not stop me, I continued to walk and wanted to see where the path would lead me, to the right hand side of me I could see a fence, the other side of the fence was the path that I would have been on if I had remained on the path, but I somehow preferred the off the beaten track option. Thankfully despite the drama in the clouds over in the distance and behind me towards Heanor, the threat of rain was very real yet somehow the sun was being kind.

I continued to walk, the pathway twisting, turning and the ground below me still damp, I was walking through a certain utopia, one of peace and one of quiet. Eventually I managed to find the next part of the adventure and opened the gate at the other side of this magical area of infant woodland that I had walked through, the saplings quietly bid me farewell and I turned left. I walked on a path that felt familiar.

The darkness on the horizon.

 If I had chosen originally to walk along the pathway, instead of going through the infant woodland then this is where I would have arrived at, but I had opted to go through the silence of a new woodland in the infant stages of life. Now I arrived at a Junction and it was either right or left? I pondered for a moment and if I had turned right I would have ended up walking in the direction of Smalley, a delightful little village, but instead I turned left.

This left turn that I took would soon lead onto yet more magical unexplored places and provide me with more photogenic gems, needless to say it did. I was now on Bell Lane, an unexplored lane that I had a rough idea of where it would take me to, but this section of Bell Lane, I had never walked on, this was new, exciting and different, everything so green but that is due to the odd weather conditions that we have been having, one minute rain and the next humidity, somehow these weather conditions make for some interesting opportunities.

Ahead of me I could see the cauldron of drama bubbling up, yes it was in the distance but I was aware, again no rainfall and I felt thankful, Bell Lane however was narrow, and I walked down it, but this section of Bell Lane, was a living art gallery, one with views that lend themselves to any camera possible - continuing down this lane I would soon discover yet more delights in front of me, everywhere I looked magic happened. The fields to the right of me looked dramatic with the dark skies to the east that were lashing rain down in the distance, but the way the trees had grown thus intertwined themselves with the foliage next to the path meant “nature’s window” had been made. Not just one window, a lot of windows overlooking the fields and the views in the distance was something else to behold.

Window on the landscape - (Landscape).

Window on the landscape - (Portrait).

Nature's Window - (Portrait).

Nature's Window - (Landscape).

The best views in life are free, and these natural windows confirmed that, each one offering a slightly different view of the same scenery, but nowhere before that I have walked have I seen anything like that before, amazing how the simplicity and drama in a photographic scene can leave someone contemplating on life in general, and walking is one of life's pleasures, it is free and enjoyable, each time I have walked throughout lockdown(s) I have come across something new, something that in pre-covid times I would not have thought of doing, now I find myself doing it a lot more. Slower pace of life, new discoveries really have made me appreciate the smaller things in life, long may it continue I say! Still the lane ahead of me opened, the green and the blue clashed together and I had to take a couple of photographs of this unexplored lane that I was on - heading towards familiarity and an area that I had walked on many times before.

A leading lane.

The lane of mystery.

Hurrah!! Eventually I reached a right turn to Mapperley reservoir and behind me was the lane I had walked down, never before had I walked down that lane as it used to be closed off, for mining and open cast purposes, now that has all been transformed into the Young People’s Forest at Mead; now though it was time to continue the walk, a tree in front of me by now was a landmark that I had recognized and I knew where I was.

Landmark of the lane.

Yes I might have something about tree photography, they are thought provoking and calm the mind, onwards along the lane I walked, now a decision, do I turn left and head back down the improved path that would lead back towards Flat Meadow Farm, or do I continue straight on, instead straight on it was, continuing along the lane towards a location that last year during lockdown(s) I spent a lot of time walking around. Here I was at what is always a rapidly changing wildflower meadow with a dramatic feeling and landscape to it. Towards the centre of this wildflower meadow are some interesting landmarks and they are, you guessed it, trees! But this time with the leading lines of the grass paths they provide some incredibly interesting subjects to capture, the best thing is the changes in weather and with the seasons, nothing remains the same.

A turning point - (Black and White).

A turning point - (Colour).

The cloudscape plays music - (Black and White).

The cloudscape plays music - (Colour).

Little and large.

Dance of the skies - (Black and White).

Dance of the skies - (Colour).

Okay so earlier this year I managed to photograph the following, which even today is one of my favourite images, next to that family on that bench are the trees, and this is possibly my favourite part of Shipley Park, it was something of a sanctuary last year when the country was locked down, but we still had the freedoms to have exercise. Now though that has all changed and seemingly things are getting better, unless you listen to a government scientist. Having said that walking and getting out and about means little doom and gloom from the scientists which is sheer bliss. Digression again? Perhaps.

No matter what weather or season it is, this wildflower meadow always provides new photogenic opportunities and that is one of the reasons why I love it so much. Onwards and upwards now, and I was approaching the end of my walk, one that had been a voyage of discovery yet one of familiarity - an interesting combination that worked. For the last part of this walk was one through an interesting part of Shipley Park, that goes through a tiny yet perfectly formed circle of woodland, that provides curiosities, once the sculptures of woodland creatures made out of wood, carved provided a focal point; now they are swamped by the woodland and have seemingly blended in like they had been designed to do, creating homes for woodland insects and shelter for woodland creatures.

End in sight.

And here I was, at the end of what had been a fantastic walk of discovery, new paths lead us towards new destinations of discovery and one’s that I shall explore again in the not too distant future. But at the end of the day I was left pondering that new paths lead us to new locations and discoveries, if it was not for the walk along the new paths I would not have seen and heard the things that I had done on the walk that I had completed, but because I chose to do something new, I came across something new. Thank you lockdown, and time in lockdown for providing me with the opportunities to do new things, try new things and give me a different perspective and outlook on life. Long may it continue and on reflection going forwards from the time in lockdown I shall always make the time to try new things and walk on new paths? For where do they lead us too? Somewhere new and that is the best thing ever.

Four locations in one day? A photographic voyage around the lesser known.

The path up to Ashover Rock, looked slightly different on the 9th of June 2021, for I had been here in December of 2020 and had told myself back then the following,

“I would love to return to Ashover Rock in the Summer.”

Surely enough here I was, back in December when Lockdown measures were still in place and hospitality largely closed, I was taken to another world and was stunned by just how awe inspiring Ashover Rock truly is. Still though, here I was a number of months later and Ashover Rock still looked majestic and awe inspiring against a delightful cloud free blue sky.

A rock beneath the blue.

Last time I was walking along the path to Ashover Rock, the sky was grey, the weather was cold yet now with a heatwave it was even more magical, I thought to myself as I was walking towards this uniquely hidden derbyshire secret, I soon reached the top, turned slightly left towards a stone picnic bench and a small stone plinth/platform that pointed out the views of just how far you can see, to the right of me now was Ashover Rock - exactly how I had remembered it, yet instead of bleak cold weather, here I was enjoying the surroundings just at the beginning of a heatwave - either way I paused for a moment and immediately turned to my right, the skies above Ashover Rock, looking even more dramatic, almost dreamlike with the contrast of blue skies and on the horizon, white clouds, I just had to take the following photograph.

A Fabrick of a view.

The rock itself is commonly known as “The Fabrick”, why it has that nickname I do not know, but it is quite possibly one of the most magical secrets that Derbyshire holds, below Ashover Rock, is the view overlooking the village, but for the time being, my mind was on capturing the rock in all of its glory and beauty, one with summer instead of the winter, yet somehow the June skies and heat, made it that little more challenging to capture. Either way I was happy with that first rather “oh so simple” shot that I had taken. Either way I just had to explore some more and re-discover a location that I had come to love in December of 2020, now I had turned away from Ashover Rock, and a trig point made for a unique shot, last year I had tried to capture it, but the blue sky and the very few clouds looking east was magical.

Trig point on high.

Then in all of its glory my eyes wandered back over to a mysterious structure, just a stone's throw away from the rock, and whilst last year I had captured this mysterious structure, now was the time to capture it again, this time I positioned the camera and took the following photo.

Listening In.

The structure itself that is rather mysterious holds some secrets, whilst it was abandoned in 1991, it still provides explanation for those wanting to step back in history, for the structure in question that is a mere stone’s throw away from Ashover Rock - is a former “Royal Observer Corps Monitoring Station.” Amazing what secrets can be found in places where you least expect them to be. Now though it was back to capture and attempt to re-create the following, that I had taken last year.

The drama of the landscape - (A photo of Ashover Rock, form December 2020).

Next up came a challenge, and where I had been hoping to capture something that was akin to the photograph from December, from the same location - this time around it was not possible, but that did not stop me, scouring for a suitable location I just had to place my tripod down, the camera attached to it; now though some more “little fluffy clouds” floated overhead and I managed to capture the following on a four minute long exposure.

Ashover Rock Dreams.

Now though it was time to move onwards, I knew I had to explore the village of Ashover below, but next up was the walk back to terra firma. Either way though I managed from another angle to capture these stunning photographs of this majestic rock, which acts as a guardian overlooking this hidden Derbyshire gem.

Oddities of Ashover Rock - (Landscape).

Oddities of Ashover Rock - (Portrait).

The movement of Ashover Rock.

Under Ashover Skies - (Colour).

Under Ashover Skies - (Black and White/Portrait).

Routes to the rock - (Black and White).

Routes to the rock - (Colour).

A short while later I had arrived in Ashover, previously when I had visited, I had been passing through in transit, now though it was different, Ashover itself is like no other village that I have ever visited or explored.

“Ashover is just one of those villages that remains hidden, hidden away in it’s own secret valley that protects it from the outside world, ironic really seeing as it is perhaps one of the most photogenic and prettiest villages that I have ever explored. Here history and community mix together in harmony, yet Ashover itself is like being in a real life painting by Monet, here everything is so alive, so next time you are passing through Ashover, take the time to explore it’s many delights, not just the rock.”

From where I had arrived in Ashover village, it was a short walk to the centre of the village, okay I say centre, but Ashover is more like a ring, the way it is laid out, and the first sight I came across was the following pub.

Down the boozer?

You might be able to recognize that pub, for it appeared in Peak Practice, yes after filming in Crich had finished, “Cardale” was relocated to Ashover, and The Black Swan itself is just one of three pubs in Ashover. And each of the three pubs in Ashover, well they all have history within their own rights. I walked down the road, The Crispin Inn, to the right of me, but I was not heading here, instead I opted to cut through Ashover’s rather impressive churchyard, again the church in Ashover was used many times on Peak Practice. After taking a walk through the Churchyard I looked back at the church, and it had a certain charm about it. The architecture of this delightful pretty church left me amazed, but somehow it seemed so photogenic.

Delights of Ashover church - (Landscape).

Delights of Ashover church - (Portrait).

A route to the village church - (Portrait).

A route to the village church - (Landscape).

After being left rather amazed at just how pretty and picturesque Ashover Church was, I continued on my walk, this time I turned right, at the bottom of the high street of the village and walked by one of the most beautiful and small but perfectly formed gardens, for anyone who has not visited Ashover before, the gardens are truly delightful, I can imagine that sometimes open garden events happen here, but I could be wrong.

A secret Ashover garden.

I then continued down a street until I came across a house - by now it had gone slightly grey, yet the heat remained humid, yet this house was also picturesque, and it more than likely had many stories to tell.

Quiet Ashover Streets - (Portrait).

Quiet Ashover Streets - (Landscape).

Some things in photography need simplicity and this was one of them, I just loved how the road leads down to the house. Either way, it was now time to move onto the next location, bidding farewell to Ashover it was a short trip via Bakewell, to Magpie Mine.

Again, Magpie Mine is a location that I had visited last year in December of 2020, but this time around I knew things would be slightly different. Familiarity is what came across me as I walked across the cattle grid, only this time around, young cattle where in the field and they were a little too curious to say the least, needless to say I was relieved when I had eventually crossed the final cattle grid, the young cattle behind me and now I got the camera out and captured the following photographs of this eerie yet stunning location.

Down the track to Magpie Mine - (Landscape).

Down the track to Magpie Mine - (Portrait).

Still in time.

Then I continued walking the short distance towards this strange and eerie abyss, abandoned on the road between Bakewell and Monyash, Magpie Mine, looks like something from Cornwall, whilst it has the appearance of a Cornish Tin Mine, which was intended on by the designer, this is actually an old Lead Mine, now standing still in time, as life orbits around it. An old industrial ghost perhaps is the most accurate way in which I would describe Magpie Mine as - either way with the humidity and the cloud cover it was incredibly dramatic.

My mind was cast back to last year when I was at Magpie Mine; but this time I wanted to try some different photography and shoot this fantastic place with completely different compositions, by now I had crossed over the cattle grid and in front of me, an industrial Amphitheatre of architecture was in front of me, everything exposed and yet so calm, I stopped and captured the following.

In the old heart of the past - (Landscape).

In the old heart of the past - (Portrait).

Then I decided to walk up a brief incline, at the top of the incline the old and small - yet perfectly formed headstock was in front of me, and I had to capture it, the skies looking dramatic and in the distance a break of blue, for this was the sky.

Winding away the years.

I then walked a short distance, and another view came into place, this time the view looked over towards Flagg and Sterndale Moor, grasslands, wild stretching as far as the eyes can see.

Across the Derbyshire landscape.

Somehow the old abandoned buildings added something else to the view, overlooking the Derbyshire countryside in front of me - now though it was time to turn back on myself, back down the incline and this time I turned left, now I was in the shadows of this industrial ghost staring at me.

“Magpie Mine is an old industrial ghost that stands proud, once this site would have been different and now it offers a strange sanctuary, for the photographer it is the perfect place for experimenting as so much happens here and changes so quickly. Yet this building, the structure is keeping you safe with a watchful old set of eyes.”

I walked up a part of the field at the back of the mine, set up my camera and managed to capture the raw beauty of this truly fantastic but hidden landmark. The skies changed constantly; but that made things even more magical and mysterious.

Magpie Mine, Cloud Dance.

Old ghosts come out to play.

Drama in the shadows of ghosts - (Colour).

Drama in the shadows of ghosts - (Black and White).

Now though it was time to head back from this location, the second location of my photography adventure. Instead though a field full of cows on the way to the mine, had meant a detour had to be taken, saying goodbye to Magpie Mine, I managed to get the following photograph.

Leaving behind the old ghost.

Next up, was a walk through some “cow free fields” a safer route, but as I was walking through these fields, magic occurred, the fields full of buttercups intertwined with the grass, and the skies, dramatic with grey clouds - yet so humid it was.

When colours meet.

A lone tree and the mine - (Landscape).

A lone tree and the mine - (Portrait).

“Ashford In The Water” was the next location that I had ended up in after a short journey from Magpie Mine - whilst I had passed Ashford In The Water, many times before I had never stopped to explore this delightful and picturesque Peak District Village, but here I was, lockdown had given me inspiration to explore new locations and a new location I was now at. Sitting on the banks of the River Wye, Ashford In The Water, has a photogenic quality to it, and by now I was opposite the church; immediately I could sense the quirkiness that I was about to find. I walked from the location where I had stopped, to a bridge, closed to traffic but open to pedestrians, on the opposite side of the river, a structure made from stones that looked like the ruins of an old house or cow pen made for something thought provoking - but it was neither, this was the infamous “Sheep Wash” pen located to the bridge that I was now on, called “Sheep Wash Bridge” it is here that in days gone by farmers would have allowed the sheep to cross to the other side of the river - thus have a wash, now it remains silent, yet the river is still used, an angler fishing for trout provides me at this stage with a sense of calm, he is just stood a short distance away from the Sheep Wash pen wading in the shallow depths of this glorious river, a pause to watch him and I decided to continue over the bridge and turned left.

Now I was on the other side of the River Wye, and behind me the sounds of traffic on the A6, but this riverbank was a sanctuary, across the river an idyllic calming scene soon unfolded of the simple life by the river, and I was immediately transported into some form of Alice in wonderland environment, calm and to some extent I was away with the fairies, I suppose that is the effect that a river and a glorious location can have on the mind. I stopped and glanced over at a majestic willow tree in the garden of Riverside Cottage.

Riverside Willow.

Soothing it was and magical, still though the cottage itself looked like something from a fairy tale as well, and I just had to take the following photographs of this simplicity and of what I can imagine would be a simple life.

Riverside simplicity.

The idyllic riverside life.

I then continued along the river bank to come across a series of benches, all overlooking the serene River Wye, sat down and pondered on the discovery of Ashford In The Water, that I had come across, positioning my camera in front of me I set it up to capture the bridge in front of me along with Riverside Cottage, needless to say that I was impressed with the result.

Ashford Serenity.

The oasis of calm, where I was on the banks had enveloped me, and asked me to stay a little longer, so naturally I did, but behind me an old abandoned farmhouse of some kind just asked to be photographed.

Abandoned in Ashford - (Landscape).

Abandoned in Ashford - (Portrait). 

Now it was time to reluctantly move on, I walked back towards the bridge, crossed over the bridge and retraced my footsteps only this time I decided to walk clockwise around Ashford In The Water, curiosities everywhere and just a short distance away from Bakewell, yet somehow this village seemed a million miles away from anything tourist like, an idyllic gem in the Peak District that envelopes anyone who visits. Returning to the location where I had started my exploration of Ashford In The Water, I came across another delightful church, and just had to pause, I took the camera out and took the following photographs.

The Ashford Chimes.

Sadly it was time to leave Ashford In The Water (but I will return), and heading out of Ashford a dramatic route took me down into Monsal Dale, descending down a glorious road into somewhere that I had never been to before, like little Switzerland it felt like and again I hope to return to this part of the world and explore it some more, the road now winded to Cressbrook, a short distance away from Monsal Dale, and now I was heading back up to the tops above Cressbrook, through towards Litton and back down towards Stoney Middleton, now though was one last stop I had to make and that was the delightful town of Bakewell.

The chances are is that you have more than likely heard of Bakewell, it is a town well known for tarts, of the pastry kind which are just delightful, but again it is on the banks of The River Wye, a short distance downstream from Ashford In The Water - Bakewell though is another place of curiosities and fantastic shops to explore and cafes to unwind in thus observe life at a slower pace over a cup of tea or coffee, yet I was here for the fantastic river.

Now I was in Bakewell, and the River Wye beckoned. I had visited this location some years ago and captured a photograph of the river that I just loved, it was autumnal but magical at the same time.

Already in my mind was the composition that I wanted to get but this time things were different and whilst I had not got the autumnal tones, the grey skies added drama to what I had in mind, firstly I stood next to the river on the footpath that graces the sides of the River Wye, and managed to capture the following.

Serenity of Bakewell.

Besides the Wye.

Needless to say that I was incredibly impressed, the weir looked stunning, but now I just had to get onto the infamous bridge, with locks on it, and opted for the middle of the bridge. I set my camera up and managed to capture these three photographs.

Bakewell river charms.

Weir and the weather - (Landscape).

Weir and the weather - (Portrait).

Purely magical, Bakewell is just one of those places that still has “lesser known” locations to explore and discover despite it being on first glances a tourist trap, does that matter? Well know, because if you go off the beaten track you are likely to come across something different, even somewhere that attracts tourists. Either way I just loved the photographs from the Bridge of the river when I looked at them and it just summed up everything that I already knew and loved about Bakewell. Its stunning location and charm again envelopes those who visit it. But sadly it was now the end of my photographic voyage around the lesser known. Yet the lesser known just proves that if you go off the beaten track you will surely come across places of discovery that tell stories and for any landscape photographer, try going off the beaten track and visiting these lesser known locations as you will come across something different and unique that offers so much more for your own photography.