Constitutional

In the hamlet of Birleyhay

Did you ever hear of the word "constitutional" being used to describe a walk taken to maintain or restore good health? Well, I assure you, it can be used that way.

Today I undertook a long constitutional after parking Clint in the hamlet of Troway which is situated  just a couple of miles south east of Sheffield. I checked my watch as I set off - 11.40am. It was 2.20pm when I returned to my trusty South Korean vehicle.

Owler Car Lane

From the word go, I thoroughly enjoyed that circular walk. I was in the mood to do it. One foot in front of the other as the promised "sunny intervals" came true. Hidden birds performed their timeless tunes and I only saw one other human - a bearded man walking his dog. He was trudging up Owler Car Lane as I  descended into The Moss Valley. "I like the way you're walking pal!" he said.

At first I thought he was praising my swivelling hip action but he was talking about me walking downhill rather than uphill.

So close to the city, there are several public footpaths in that district and some are hardly ever walked. You see it's not in The Peak District National Park and so I guess that many habitual walkers from afar simply overlook it which is fine by me.

View across a wheat field to Povey Farm

The walk took in Povey Farm, the hamlet of Birleyhay and Fold Farm. Two thirds of the way round, I sat on a bench for five minutes to drink some water  from my steel flask and to eat a banana and an apple. Sitting there, I felt strangely at peace with the world - devilish thoughts suppressed, my heart beating like a metronome as somewhere nearby a woodpecker drilled intermittently into a tree. 

Everything seemed to fit together. Walking can get you that way.

Big horse and little horse at Sicklebrook Farm

Path through Mires Spring Wood

from Yorkshire Pudding https://ift.tt/8LzCXWm