Country diary: mystery built into drystone walls

Abney, Derbyshire: It must have been the devil to work in all those narrow apertures - you'd need a good reason, surely The track north-west of Abney is an old one, a packhorse route linking the village of Bradwell with Ashford and points south. Here it reaches its high point before dropping steeply into Bradwell, an exposed spot, often harsh on a winter's day and sometimes on a summer's one as well. I found myself leaning into a strong breeze pushing across the moor, shaking the hairgrass and ruffling the yarrow and selfheal growing prettily against a long drystone wall that bordered the trail and offered me some shelter. Related: Rugged men build rugged walls in a rugged landscape Continue reading...