Paul Lydon: Brassington Walk and Tissington Well Dressings

Saturday 15 May 2010

Brassington Walk and Tissington Well Dressings

After parking at the car park in Wirksworth Dale, Karen and I walked back down the road and along the top lane (Kings Hill) until we came to a squeeze stile into the fields above the village of Brassington. We continued along the Public Footpath across the fields and on reaching the top of a green lane leading down to the road past Rainster Rocks, we continued across into the next field.
After reaching a series of depressions each with a small tree growing in it, I found one particular one which I had found years ago which has a small hole which could be entered while lying down and then down a slope into what looks like a larger section.

Brasssington

Having had a quick look at this hole, we continued onwards and then dropped down a sloping field past a dew pond (which was dried up) and near an old stone-built barn, we turned right and started up a series of gradually-rising fields until nearly at the Longcliffe-Brassington road.
From here, we turned sharply to the right along another public footpath and through a gate opening into a second field. Continuing across this field, we passed through another squeeze stile into a larger field and then back down to meet our earlier route at the top of the green lane.

Looking across to Rainster Rocks

Now we followed down the green lane until we reached the road past Rainster Rocks which we followed to the junction with the Brassingon-Bradbourne road. Turning left, we followed the road back into Brassington, past the church then along Maddock Lake. Then, following the small lane leading from Maddock Lake up past the village hall, we were soon back at Wirksworth Lane and where we had left the car.
This weekend was Well Dressing weekend at Tissington so we drove over the village and joined the throng who were wandering around looking at the wells with their ornate decorations. Of course we also had to have an ice cream!