Shermel Gate

Todays walk was planned to remain in the shade for as much of the walk as possible. The weather wizards said the day was set to be hot, and they weren't wrong; the air was thick and heavy, no breeze to mention, the Sun beat down and it was hot.  Add to that mix the humidity created by high bands of cloud, moving fast enough though not to interrupt the Sun much, and you have a day where shade offers some degree respite.  Under the canopy amongst the stands, the woodland, with its dappled light, is a degree or two cooler, the humidity drops and you can now feel the air as you breath in. Nice. I was lucky, the route I'd chosen for the day allowed us to spend maybe 70% of our walk in well developed woodland or through the woodland fringe. One stretch which was quiet open, in sections, was from Shermel Gate up to Bigley Buildings, about 2 miles or so, uphill for the most of it too. Lovely countryside though, somewhere inside you feel a connection to it, it's a timeless landscape of hills and combes, a landscape which stirs images from deep in your subconscious as if you've always known the place. Lovely.