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Part 4- Nine Stones Close

It wasn't snowing in Wolverhampton on the 3rd of January 2010. In fact, the sun was shining and it seemed like a bloody good day for a road trip. Arbor Low and beyond, jotting down the directions for Nine Stone Close, Doll Tor and the Nine Ladies of Stanton Moor, we headed northwards on practically deserted roads!

In the distance... snow. The closer we got, the more snow there was and finally, near Ashborne, there were cars in ditches and lots of grumpy looking people stood at the roadside because their cars couldn't get any further! Well, a bit of snow wasnt going to stop me and Super Ralf (thats the name of my car), we have driven through the Alps in a blizzard, a bit of British weather is NOTHING! Ah, but Arbor Low is flat. Could we find it?? Could we hell! Could we even get up the road to it? Not a chance. The snow was above the tops of my wellies and eventually we gave it up (we will come again, we will check the weather first)!

Right onwards to Nine Stones Close we know the way and apparently you cant miss Robin Hoods Stride, so off we go! ALL the way to the end of the road. SO where was it? About turn and you're right, you cant miss it if you're facing the right way and you're looking up instead of concentrating on not ending up in a ditch. Park the car and start the hike up the hill in 3 feet of snow with the winter sunshine blazing. Past a holed stone on the other side of a little brook; an old gate post? On we go and there it is! Nine Stones Close is beautiful with snow and blue skies as a backdrop it remains one of my favourite visits to an ancient monument (even with all the cows looking most upset that we walked on their snow).

So, Doll Tor and Nine Ladies of Stanton Moor, but its already 3.30pm and the light will be fading soon. I'm looking for the Andle Stone, I've seen the photographs and it looks exactly like the turtle out of Neverending Story... can I find it. Not at all, and without it I have no idea which little patch of woodland Doll Tor is hiding in (we will come again, we will get better directions).

Onto the moor and its already getting dark. Thank God for those little signpost things so we knew we were heading in the right direction. We still had no idea how long it would take to get there and neither of us fancied being lost on the moors in the dark without a torch. Pick up the pace a little, then break into a trot, I sent Martin ahead around the next corner with my fingers crossed, 'cuz if its not there then we have to head back and a day out to see 4 monuments would have been a cold day out to see one! YAY its there, just enough time for a quick circumambulation and then a very quick walk back to the car with the last of the light.

All in all, a good day! We didn't end up in a ditch and now we have an excuse to come back in a few weeks time :)

Nine Stones Close — Images

21.02.10ce
<b>Nine Stones Close</b>Posted by faerygirl<b>Nine Stones Close</b>Posted by faerygirl<b>Nine Stones Close</b>Posted by faerygirl

Cork Stone — Images

06.06.10ce
<b>Cork Stone</b>Posted by faerygirl
faerygirl Posted by faerygirl
3rd May 2010ce


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