Flash, Staffordshire (the highest village in England)
Flash sits in the Staffordshire Moorlands, not far from Buxton, right on the edge of the Peak District. Staffordshire is one of England’s many land-locked counties in the West Midlands. This one is known for its many canals, and being the home of pottery. With industrial roots, most canals these days are towpath walks.
Surprisingly (if you thought it was going to be Yorkshire or Durham), the highest village in England is here. Flash is very close to the Cheshire/Derbyshire border. The village was not always so popular. It has a rough history of smuggling and counterfeiting money!
Ilam (a village that looks like Switzerland)
Nearby Ilam would trick you into thinking that you were in Lucerne (minus the lakes). The little cottages and lush valleys are unique in this part of the world. There used to be a stately home here, but it was partly demolished in the 1930s. What remains is now a YHA youth hostel.
Home to the Northern Peak District
You likely know that England’s oldest national park is mostly in Derbyshire. But the northern corner sits here, packing wild moorland and rugged peaks into a popular walking destination. Due to the Midlands being so accessible for so many people, it’s also loved by millions of people.
The ‘winking man’ is a rock formation near the village of Leek, as it resembles a face. Protruding from a hillside, locals know him as ‘Winky!’
Out walking? Follow the Countryside Code to keep all creatures safe. Keep dogs away from steep banks, mushrooms (and other toxic plants/trees) and on leads during nesting season (and near barnyard friends and wild ponies).
How to upright an overturned sheep
If when out walking you see a sheep on its back (due to pregnancy or rain-soaked wool), just firmly right it back (or it will die) then stay with it, until the rain has drained off.
