It's been a beautiful mild sunny day and so I took the opportunity to go for one of my favourite local walks; from Hickleton, along the top of Barnburgh Crags, Melton Plantation and then across the fields to Sprotborough.
The views on a clear day along this route are extensive and I took along my binoculars. The strong winds spoilt things though; I couldn't hold then steady. Without using the binoculars I could see the high-rise flats at Sheffield (15 miles), Barnsley Town Hall (9 miles), and Doncaster town centre (6 miles). I also saw Ferrybridge, Eggborough and Drax power stations (all about 12 miles away to the north), and the Trent Valley Power stations (25 miles to the south east); counting Drax 'A' and 'B' separately and including the de-commissioned Thorpe Marsh it's possible to see seven major power stations (as I did earlier today) which between them probably produce a third of the country's electricity supply. Using the binoculars I managed to locate the wind farm at Penistone (15 miles) and the highest hills of the Pennines a few miles further away. I was once told that with exceptionally good eyesight and perfect viewing conditions, it is possible to see both York Minster and Lincoln Cathedral from along this walk - though not from the same place, or at the same time (due to the position of the sun.)
I haven't seen either.
It will probably be the final time that I'm able to follow this route across unspoilt countryside, since construction is soon due to begin on a wind farm in a field right next to the crags.
