Photography - Photographs from my long walk home - continued...

...and so the journey continues, along the footpath that runs alongside Rudyard Lake. There is a miniature railway running along about half way up the path, if I wasn't determined to complete my trek on foot I could have got on it and ridden all the way to the Rudyard Miniature Railway Station, but I don't cheat. I smile and wave at the passengers and walk on. I stop off on the far side of the lake at the visitors centre to use the facilities and have a cup of coffee - black with no sugar - pure caffeine ensuring that I keep a brisk walk ahead. After about 10 minutes I make my way to the Cauldon canal feeder which is at the base of the dam at the foot of the hill accessed not too far from Rudyard visitors centre.

The walk is through a canopy of trees, partially shaded and alive with the colour of wild life, insects and shrubbery, so memorizing at times that I forget I have my little camera with me but I do take some photographs along the way. Enjoy...

The Cauldon Canal feeder from Rudyard Lake eventually leads to a place called Ladderedge Country Park. Due to the breach on the Leek Branch of the Cauldon Canal I have to work my way off the feeder and climb up through Ladderedge Country Park. The climb up is well worth the views. My feet are killing me and I have a pain at the back of my knee...but I am determined to keep going. At the top of Ladderedge I cross the road and walk through Mollats Wood, it's a tricky walk, stoney and mostly down hill because it will eventually take me to the Leek Branch of the Cauldon Canal. Going up hill with a pain in the back of my knee is far easier than going down hill but I keep going. My witness wants me to stop and she ring her hubby to take me the rest of the way (the witness joined me at the Knot Inn when a prevous witness dropped out) but then that would mean my giving up. Not going to happen. So on I trek. Eventually we drop down onto the Leek Branch of the Cauldon Canal. The pain in the back of my knee is getting worse and so my pace is slowing. As we walk to the bridge and onto Sutherland Road to drop down to the mainline of the Cauldon Canal - the pain is even worse.

The mobile phone rings and a voice asks where we are. We are just going over the railway bridge and dropping down onto the main Cauldon Canal, we are about 5 minutes away from The Hollybush and our final destination. I drag myself along the towpath and as we approach the bridge at the Hollybush, I straighten up, rub the back of my knee and march round the corner to a fanfare of applauds from friends and relatives but all I want is to get home, have bath and relax. I state that I will walk up hill to the house but they insist on giving me a lift. I accept graciously.

Remarkably, I awake the following morning tired but unscathed and the pain behind my knee has completely gone.

The walk was a most enjoyable experience even when things started to get a little tough towards the end.

Thank you for joining me on this epic walk.

Rudyard Railway sits in the heart of the Staffordshire Moorlands just off the Macclesfield to Leek Road. Rudyard Railway Station first opened in 1850 on the Churnet Valley Line. In 1926 the station at Rudyard was officially named ‘Rudyard Lake’ and the station at the north end of the lake was named ‘Cliffe Park’. It remained a passenger service until 1960 when services were withdrawn, freight services continued until 1964 when the track was finally lifted.

The miniature railway was built on the trackbed on the Westside of the lake in 1978 running from Rudyard Station to the Dam closing two years later In 1985 a further 10.25 inch minimum gauge railway was started and the railway was extended 1.5 miles towards Cliffe Park Station.

Nowadays Rudyard Lake Steam Railway uses the station area as its headquarters and includes a public carpark. The original up side standard gauge platform and retaining walls and flower beds are still visible. In 2010 there were five steam locomotives and 11 carriages, several wagons, there are engine and carriage sheds, a workshop and signal box, footbridge and a level crossing. The Platform 2 cafe now uses this area for its seating and the original waiting shelter foundations for its buildings. The attraction operates all year round and celebrated its 25^th anniversary in 2010.