Eyam, Foolow, Three Stags Heads at Wardlow Mires.

Here we go - into 2007. I saw off 2006 with a shortish walk of just over 7 miles, starting from Eyam, the plague village, and calling in at one of my favourite watering holes - the Three Stags Heads inn at Wardlow Mires. 

You can click on any of the pictures for a larger version.

This is Eyam's church. There were a lot of people going in there today. It has a many famous gravestones and artefacts in its yard, not least of which is a Saxon cross. Of course, there are many graves of people connected with the plague, but many more were buried in fields around the village, and can be visited, should you so wish.

There are many antiquities around the place, and here are the ubiquitous village stocks. I was asked to pose IN them, but no thanks! That turquoise thing behind me is a sheet steel bench. It's covered in writing done in weld. A VERY strange piece, and when you read what is written, you have to ask yourself why the guy was smoking at the time of writing? It MUST be just for decoration, as it looks very uncomfortable, would be very cold (and wet - it holds water) to sit on?

Here's another set of stocks, this time the 'stand in' type. They are in a private garden in Foolow village. The first ones are bad, but I would imagine this sort could be REALLY uncomfortable after a while.

This is the view you get coming into Foolow, the first village you reach after leaving Eyam and crossing the fields. It's one of the prettiest villages in Derbyshire, and must be HELLISH expensive to buy a house here. There's a tranquil pond at the centre, complete with white ducks, and a village pub which welcomes all.

This is the Barrel Inn, on Eyam edge. A commanding location for a pub. I've been there a couple of times, but not for a while now.

"Stand in front of that sign, and I'll take your picture"
That's what my 'friend' Darren said!

Like a lamb to the slaughter!

This old building struck me as looking just like Urquhart Castle, the famous one in Scotland that you see on all the calendars. 

http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/drumnadrochit/urquhart/

(Maybe not then, but I still think it had a nice 'air' about it!)

Still many flowers about, and the temperature today was a mild 11C. I keep noting all the berries on the holly etc, and keep waiting for the cold snap to come, if indeed it does.

After a wonderful lunch, sat sheltered behind a stone wall (which let the howling wind through), we came to the Three Stags at last. We were going to take lunch inside here originally, but an earlier phone call to the landlord told us that his wife, Pat, was quite unwell with bronchitis. We decided not to trouble them for food, and packed sandwiches instead You can see the effort that Geoff puts into things, and his attention to detail in keeping things 'olde'. His Xmas decor' was how they used to do it. In the other room of the pub was a 'kissing cone' (I think that's what Geoff called it), made from natural plants and fruits, and including SIX large sprigs of mistletoe! It hung so low though, that it couldn't be hung in the main bar, as the ceiling was too low and everyone would catch it as they walked in the pub or went to the bar. A shame, as it's a real centrepiece, as you'll see.

Note the roaring fire, always a feature in the Stags when the weather is cold.

Here it is - the wonderful kissing cone. To eat any of the apples in the middle is said to bring very bad luck. One guy who did a few years ago (so Geoff told us) lost his job, his house, had to sell his car, and ALMOST lost his wife, and it took about seven years for him to get back on his feet!

Here's what you see looking up at the kissing cone.SIX bunches of mistletoe - how can you fail?

Geoff even lit the candles for us to take a picture.

After a couple of the wonderful beers on offer, it was time to go. While we had been inside, the weather had taken a turn for the worse. We'd heard it clattering on the windows, and saw people come in to the pub wet through and bedraggled but as we walked out, it was just VERY windy. The wind kept the worst of the rain off, and we only got slightly wet on the way back to the car. The drive home was a different story though, with LASHING rain and tearing gales to contend with.

And that was it - just time now to go and get ready for the seeing out and in of 2006/2007

A very happy and peaceful new year to all my readers.