Diwali, Beech Caves, and thoughts!

Been wearing a lot of purple lately! Love bows and flowers in
my hair!

So, it was Diwali yesterday. I got a few presents, which is pretty cool. Diwali for us is more of a tradition than an actual religious festival. Don't get me wrong, it's cool to be colourful and have that form of variation.
Ideally, you're supposed to have the women cook for the men, and the men return it with gifts - usually in the way of clothing. 
However, this is the U.K, and like most religious festivals, though with an underlying of faith, it's become more of a gift giving event.
I got a fencing helmet - to go with the fencing swords I got for my birthday. My weapon collection is forever growing.
I also got a little figure, and some paints! And an outside acrylic painting set!
Which makes the artistic side in me get excited with creativity. It's been a while since I've painted any actual figures, to be honest, so it will be interesting to see how my ability picks up after such an absence.

It's one life, and it really is the reputation you leave behind -  if it's a reputation of nothing but lies, then what are you really if not just a collection of shadows?
I'm glad I'm not a collection of shadows.
And I'm glad that I feel hurt because it means that I am capable of feeling love.

This is the bridge you cross over from the Trentham Estate park
to the A514!

You should see a lot of this on the way!

I took a walk up Beech Caves yesterday. Surprisingly not as difficult to get to as I thought it would be.
Going past the Trentham estate, to the back part where all the trees are, a quick ten-minute hike up there and then down the other side, across a bridge and then a twenty-minute walk down some country lanes and Wallah - they're just there, randomly, kind of misplaced actually!

To be more specific, you go past St Marys Church, and enter Trentham Park. Stick to the path on the left, and follow it up the hill. You should see a gated off lake on the right, and go past the Kingswood Woods on the left. You should hit a high point and be able to observe a lot of the area, you'll notice the M6 down the other side of the wooded hill, and you walk towards there. Going over the bridge, you'll hit the A519, continue to walk down this for about 8 minutes, and you'll come across a turning called Beechcliff Lane. Now you can turn down there, and walk that way. This way
includes taking a turning to the right just before

I really love this new beanie, I swear I wear them because it's
cold and not because of Coldplay! Honest!

hitting the farm shop, and going past a house on the right. Walk this downhill route for about six minutes, and you'll notice that the lane goes into a pedestrian access route which follows behind the Beechcliff Sawmills, and sticks to the right of the M6. Walk this public footpath route and you'll come up to the Beech Caves just sitting there on the left. However, you can also access them by continuing along the A519 for about eight more minutes, walking past some quite beautiful looking houses! As soon as you see a countrylane (on the left) called Beechdale Lane, go down it, about 4 minutes later, you will see the Beech Caves on the right!

There are various ways to get to the place, though in the countryside, the national walking routes make it fairly simple to access. If you're                                                                                        into a lot of walking that is....

And here we go! This is the front view! 

I was a little disappointed if I'm honest. I was expecting to be taken aback by some great caves or something, but it wasn't really that riveting.
There have been some local tales about the place being haunted, but it didn't even have a spooky feel to it. I love the idea of hauntings and things like that, but it was really underwhelming.
Don't get me wrong, there was a great feel of history within the building, and a lot of geological interest, so it was still titillating.
It's said that the cave was a result of stone being mined out to aid in the building of

From the inside of the cave looking out toward the entrance.

Trentham Hall all the way back in 1633. Prior to that, it was simply a red sandstone cliff.  Apparently, it was marked down on old maps as a mere quarry, until centuries later it was actually recognised as 'Beech Caves'. Rumour has is it that there was a lot of commotion about the place during the Second World War. It was that time of which locals believe that it was either being used as a base for the American soldiers positioned at Trentham, or being used to store ammunition. Another theory is that it housed the records of local weapon owners as a means to protect them should the Germans have invaded. There was an ammunition factory not far off located in, I think, Swynnerton, so that's also quite possible. Either way, it was heavily secured and not

At the entrance, looking in.

accessible to the general public. Over the years it has fallen into slight disarray, during the 80s and 90s being used for raves. There's suspicion of it being used for satanic worship, but I find it hard to believe in fairness. There are three farm houses within a short walking distance, it's hardly the most secluded. There's no actual record of any of the deaths that locals say to have happened there - including drug overdoses, or suicides. 

I read in the local paper about someone going in there with a spirit box, it all seems like hogwash to be honest. Knowing my luck, that comment will have angered the almighty gods and I'll be stalked by paranormal phenomena

Looking out towards the holes on the right hand side.

from now on! However, I felt nothing even slightly frightening about the place. You know how some places actually have that chill to them, that sort of on edge feeling about them? Well, nothing. It smelt of earth on the inside, and was littered with fireworks, and alcohol bottles though. So there was some remainder of 'spirits' there, just not the Forteana sort! However, it is still a beautiful piece of both nature and history!

The cave itself has actual brickwork built into it, to reinforce the structure and keep the cave from -ahem- caving I would assume. It appears to hold more brickwork than actual cave stone though. Like most abandoned places of historical interest, it's also covered in colourful graffiti, as well as colourful language - oh urban art, how we love you so! 

Like usual, I took some photos of the adventure:

Through the Trentham Park woods

The country lane leading up the caves!

The country lane leading down to the caves

I was just so happy to be out in the country!

Did I mention that I love the countryside? These are the trees up on the bank near the caves!

"What are Ewe looking at?" I said as I passed the farm shop. 

This was the little cave bit on the right side of the entrance.

I was just so relived I'd made it to the caves without getting lost!

To the left of the entrance.

Further by the left of the caves.

The Trentham woods.

Up the right of the caves - leading to the top of the cliff.

Did I mention that I really love the outdoors?

I have been saying for literally over a year that I've been wanting to go to Beech Caves, and I'm glad I finally did. It's amazing what actually exploring your interests can do, it makes a change to locking myself indoors feeling like I'd just be 'getting a rise' out of someone if I actually went out and lived my life!

I have to say I came back legs aching, and extremely hungry, which is a sign of a good walk!