Anyway, after leaving 'uncharted territory', I dropped into Cressbrook dale. I had read on a notice at Wardlow Hay Cop that there were Exmoor ponies in the dale - six of them, but I only saw these three. I was befriended after giving them the remains of my fruit cores from lunchtime. That's Peter Stone (the limestone lump) in the background.
A short walk up the dale brings you to another world - the Three Stags heads public house. Two other walkers asked me if I knew the pub, and I said yes; "What's it like", one asked. Well, the only word I could come up with was 'unique'. As far as I'm concerned, it's a MUST on this walk, but some people don't like it. You see, at the Stags, the dog is king! The floor is often teeming with up to eight dogs. They serve food too, so you really have to have your wits about you if you order when there are a few dogs in - especially Jeff, the landlords, as he has them on a diet at the moment, and they are out for every extra scrap they can get - by fair means or foul! It's like stepping back in time, with the stone floors, old black lead fireplace and scrubbed wooden tables. The sign above the bar sums it up; 'PLEASE don't ask the landlord for draught lager, as a smack in the gob often offends'. He MEANS it too! Here you see the lovely fireplace (complete with ubiquitous dog). I think this one is called 'Hussy' - you'll have to go and ask Jeff why - but DON'T sit in that chair on the right of the fire - that's JEFFS, and he will turf you out if you dare to sit there. Also, see the frying pan on the left with holes in the bottom? that's for cooking chestnuts! 
One of the guys in the pub had a LOVELY old Porche parked across the road.
After whetting my whistle in the Stags, I passed through Wardlow village. By now, the day had turned to perfection. Just LOOK at this sky, and it really compliments the limestone when the sun is on it like this. have you ever seen a more perfect setting? No wonder these village houses are so sought after - and expensive £££££££££££!
After the village, Longstone moor comes into play. At this time of the year, the moor is purple with the heather, oh - and the SMELL!!! I was climbing up towards it on the tops, but I could already get the scent in my nostrils.
Here I am on the top of the moor, and you can see the heather now. I also had a feast of lovely ripe blackberries, hardly browsed at all. It was about 22C with a nice, cooling breeze. A walker couldn't ask for conditions better than today.
I dropped off the moors and into Little Longstone. This cottage; 'stocks cottage', has the old stocks frame outside, and a feature has been made of it. I love the way they have curled the wall around it - maybe it was in the garden of the cottage originally? They have a very good pub at Little Longstone too.
A nice end to the walk, and one of my favourite photographs - Little Longstone chapel. When I first started walking, this was the first photo I had blown up to frame. I still love it now. It used to have telegraph wires running behind it, which spoilt the pictures somewhat, but now they are hidden, so it is perfect.
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