The quest

Such fun today - finally finding the incredible Motte and Bailey castle that is Bailey Hill, in the lovely sunny Bradfield.  Probably one of the best surviving examples in Yorkshire, according to our walk leaflet.

So off we set on this walk from Low to High Bradfield with a bit of a diversion to find Bailey Hill.  Mike enjoying a bit of shade from the sun.

Very quickly we were in the lovely graveyard of St Nicholas Church which I've featured many a time before, such as in this October 2011 blog post.  This sweeping view always takes my breath away.

 and this time sheep were safely grazing (and sleeping!)

which of course brought to mind a bit of Bach

and while you listen, take a look at the grave of poor Joseph Beaver!  Did the engraver die too?  Wasn't there enough money to complete the wording?  But I suppose it says it all . . .

Anyway, onward we go - above the church and off the walk route and, after a pretty walk through woodland undergrowth, we rounded the corner to find this massive motte and bailey castle - so perfectly formed with it's moat all the way round.

 maybe just look at Mike in relation to the 'castle' to get a feel for the size of Bailley Hill

And naturally this was a bit of a homecoming for Mike Bailey meeting his namesake hill - ha ha!

To read more about this amazing ancient monument see this article on the Historic England website:  Bailey Hill motte and bailey castle, High Bradfield.

Anyway, we move down the hill towards Lower Bradfield with a final view back of the Church

Over a series of impressive steep and ancient stone stiles

 with views right over to those wonderful purple heather-clad moors

and bringing us down to earth - literally - a cuppa at the cute little Cafe in the tiny Post Office.  Sat outside on the sunny bench watching the Council busily and noisily re-tarmac the roads!  (And spot the Tour de Yorkshire remnant from that wonderful day in 2014 - read about it here from a Grenoside perspective.
Lovely blogpost here on Cafes to Contemplate about the Flask End Cafe you might like to read.

So that was it - lovely sunny day, great amble and real wow factor on finding Bailey Hill!