May 28, 2018 - Ward Walk
Shortly after we arrived here (May 28th), the LDS ward we are attending (The Derby Ward) announced that there would be a "Ward Walk" in the Peak District, near where we live. They explained that it would be an opportunity to get together with ward members to take a three-mile walk through the public walkways near Birchover. We decided it would be a great opportunity to get to know the ward members and to see some of the beautiful countryside with someone who knew where they were going. We were not disappointed on either count!
We started the hike/walk in the little town of Birchover, about 20 miles north and west of Derby. Our guide plotted a course that first took us through some really interesting limestone rocks, that had been carved out and used for centuries. These are said to be ruins of the Ancient Druids, a group of cultural/religious leaders from well before the time of Christ that we know very little about. There were many caves and hollows that were fun to scramble around in and explore.
Someone had even carved seats for the three of us out of the rock!
The views of the countryside were stunningly beautiful!
It was a fun way to get to know people in the ward. We stopped for lunch in an old quarry, pictured below.
The picture below shows a ring of stones, called the seven sisters, that were placed there anciently. Legend has it that they were a group of sisters who were turned to stone for dancing on the sabbath.
The terrain was surprisingly diverse for a three-mile walk. We went from wooded greenery to moors of heather and rhododendrons (the rhododendrons were very beautiful, even though they are considered an invasive species here).
The end of our walk took us through a commercial campground that had a peacock and a beautiful garden.
We also got to walk through the cute, little town of Birchover. We could not get over the spectacular flowers! Each little quaint home had a beautiful little yard, brimming over with flowers and benches, and rock walls, and adorable gates. The English people seem to have a great love of gardening, an appreciation of old and beautiful structures, and a talent for blending the two.
The ward members were incredibly warm, friendly, and welcoming with us. We really enjoyed the hiking day and getting to know some of them. Hannah really hit it off with one of the few Young Women in the ward, named Emma. They had fun together on the hike, so that was really nice for her (and for us!). It was a great day!
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