Wednesday 15/5/19

Wirksworth is a small market town in the Derbyshire Dales district of Derbyshire. It contains the source of the River Ecclesbourne. The town was granted a market charter by Edward I in 1306 and the market is held still today on Tuesdays in the Memorial Gardens. 

Wirksworth town is a series of steep intricate lanes, alleyways and steps. It seems the town has been built into the very valley walls!

Its past fortunes were built on lead mining, a key commercial activity dating back to Roman times, quarrying and textiles – introduced by industrial pioneer Sir Richard Arkwright at Haarlem Mill, considered by some to be the mill in George Eliot’s novel The Mill on the Floss.

Wirksworth town circuit, about 12 kilometres in length gives you great views as it circles the entire town with new and historical featured along the way. After breakfast Rob and I set out to explore.

From Cosy Cottage we walked up a nearby laneway that was very steep. To give an idea of how steep, following is a photo of Greenhill street looking down towards our cottage.

We walked up and up eventually turning on to a lane and continuing up we came to StarDisc which is close to where The Wirksworth Circuit starts.

StarDisc is a 21st century stone circle and celestial amphitheatre created by Aidan Shingler. It spans 12 meters (40 ft). Carved into black granite is a star chart that mirrors the northern hemisphere’s night sky. The surface of the stone circle is inscribed with the constellations, their names, and a depiction of the Milky Way. Contrasting with the star chart is a perimeter of silver granite on which 12 seats are positioned. The seats denote the months of the year. Dark skies sensitive lighting illuminates StarDsic powered by our nearest star the Sun. Courtesy StarDisc Org.

We had a lovely sunny day for our walk and at the StarDisc I was able to find my birth sign constellation Libra which we don’t see in our Southern skies. 😀

The surrounding vistas of the countryside were pretty good too!

From the StarDisc we walked across the road and onto the public footpath marked with the circuit mark then across fields and roads, passing many quarries which are everywhere in this district!

We had a great walk!