It’s been a funny old year and a bit of a rollercoaster to be honest. January started off wet which is nothing unusual, meaning that Nellie and I headed to high ground and some good paths to avoid mud, something we became used to during the following twelve months. A highlight of late winter was when we walked along the Monsal Trail at Hassop Station to see waxwings showing off in acrobatic displays in front of a paparazzi of birdwatchers. I wonder if they will be performing again this year as I might get my best camera out, give it a dust and charge it up.
The high life continued with wanders over Longstone Moor, Beeley Moor, Minninglow and then Masson Hill where I enjoyed distant views and we both took advantage of some blissful tranquillity. There is nothing Nellie and I enjoy more than deserted remote or rural paths, especially when it’s cold and bleak. We love to return home to a warm house then snuggle down together on the sofa for some telly watching, both of us feeling content after stretching our legs.
For the following walk we then came back down to earth, not exactly sea level but as near as is possible in land-locked Derbyshire. Me and my trusty little mut had a stroll around the shores of Carsington Water with yet more bird watching along the way.
With the arrival of Spring and longer hours of daylight, I allow myself to venture further ‘afield’, an appropriate word for a walking blog don’t you think? Nellie and I went for a couple of nature rambles, hiking over hills around Whaley Bridge and ambling through meadows surrounding Mapleton, both areas being decorated with freckles of wild flowers.
It was shortly after this that Nellie became lame and I had to go it alone. I decided to push my boundaries and head off to the far reaches of the National Park for what turned out to be a fascinating walk around Langsett where I had never been before.
Sadly, lots of rest and short lead walks did not cure Nellie’s cruciate ligament injury and so she had to undergo a big operation that was to put her out of action for several months. I did venture out on my own a few times during her long convalescence to keep me exercised and sane, which meant that I had something to write up for you readers. However, most of my summer and autumn days were spent sharing the care of our little dog with husband Brian. Nellie was so brave and stoic through weeks of pain, boredom and lack of exercise, but with lots of love and attention we got her through it and back to full fitness. During these weeks of dog-sitting I had lots of time on my hands and so took the opportunity to write a book which I’m hoping might be published in the next few weeks. Although I’ve been compiling walk articles for more than thirty years, it’s the ‘doggy’ bits that I’ve been told through feedback that everyone loves, hence Footnote By Nellie will be about me and my relationship with dogs as well as a few exploits in and around the Peak District.
When Nellie was safely back on four paws and had been given the all clear to hike again, we had an unusual but exciting adventure together which incorporated a short train ride from Matlock to Matlock Bath followed by a gentle walk over High Tor. Nellie hadn’t been on a train before and I wasn’t sure how she would react so I had pieces of kitchen roll in one pocket in case of accidents and chopped up pork pie in the other to side-track her attention and as a reward if she was good. It turned out to be great fun, the kitchen roll wasn’t needed, so we may well do a ‘ride and stride’ again.
The year ended as it had begun with a spate of wild and wet weather days that left behind surface flooding and lots of mud. Grindleford then featured twice in our exploits beginning with a ramble over high ground atop Tumbling Hill, followed by a boot-filling splodge beside the Derwent.
Goodness knows what the year ahead will contain, but with fingers crossed and a few prayers for good measure, I hope that me and my little canine sidekick will enjoy lots more great walks together.
Sally Mosley
FOOTNOTE BY NELLIE: You could say I’ve had an ‘earth moving experience’ over the Christmas period. I was certainly stopped in my tracks, that’s for sure. Me and mum were wandering quietly down an old path in the middle of nowhere when I stood instantly still, frozen in time. One of my front paws actually remained stuck in the air as I became riveted to the spot like a player in the game ‘Musical Statue’s’. The ground in front of me was erupting with soil spewing out into a little volcano shaped mound, then a mucky little pink pointed nose emerged and began sniffing at fresh air for a few brief seconds before it shot back down underground. I’d been privileged to witness a mole in the hole! Big smiles, Nellie xxx
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