England 2025, Peak District.

Wow!!

What a beautiful scenic area, hills, peaks green rolling hills with stone fences everywhere that form paddocks for sheep etc. Stone cottages everywhere and off course pubs and more and more narrow roads.

We were staying in a stone but new and lovely apartments in Stony Middleton which was opposite to a high stone cliff where we saw rock climbers ascending.

Our first afternoon pre finding our accommodation was spending the afternoon at Chesterfield Hospital getting x-rays for my Elbow and my rib and wound checked. Thankfully no fracture to the elbow just the ribs, the elbow just lots of swelling and the wound ok but will take a while to heal as its deep.

Day one …. a drive around some of the Peak area

We drove through Hathersage famous for the Bronte sisters then Bamford and out to the

Lady Bower reservoir , a famous dam where in WW2 they experimented here with the dam busting bouncing bombs used later to blow up German dams.

This road continued into the snake pass a scenic drive from the resevior to Glossop.

At some road works traffic light 3 sheep popped thru the fence, so cute

We stopped at Hayfield for lunch at The George inn, John having England’s favourite scampi and of course served with peas, the ever ending staple with most dishes. Yuk

Then south towards Chapel-en-le-Firth detouring pre town to Winnats Pass, a very scenic but steep road through the valley, a pass short but stunning scenery.

Before starting the pass we stopped at Blue John Cavern, world famous for its many varieties of Blue -John stone and the caves originally mined this stone from Limestone and used it for jewellery etc.

John did the tour 490 steps; not for me with my arm , rib and asthma.

Inside was the waterfall Cavern and grand crystallised cavern with a multi coloured dome

and next into Castleton for a village walk and a beer at the Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese Inn.

I Took a picture of Peveril castle a ruin now but didnt visit.

and drove home going past Eyam a old plague village.

Tonight Pork pies a typical English dish.

Day 2

The morning was spent in

Bakewell

A typical English peak district town with the river Wye going through the centre.

First was coffee and to try the traditional bakewell pudding and tart. Bakewell pudding became famous after a culinary mistake in the 19th century. The tart and pudding served with custard and has a almond mazipan flavour.

We walked around the centre and into Bath Gardens

then along a stream and riverside , Stokes garden, by the stream and onto the River Wye walk near the town.

The historic bridge is 700 years old an old roman crossing point over the river wye and visited Rutland square.

Chatsworth house

was our next place to visit and had existed for five centuries belonging to the dukes of Devonshire’s .The family is the Cavendish family and the house belongs to the 12th Duke of Devonshire who is not living in the castle but the future 13th duke lives here with his family.

Inside was amazing, some pictures tell the story

A large delft collection from 1690

The marble statues had lots of roman influence and also busts of Napolean and his family.

The Gardens are an extensive 150 acres, the cascade centerpiece of the garden also dates back to 1690 and the fountain the 18th Century.

A big walking day today with steps 13,000.

Day 3 a day trip around the peak area.

Monsal view point over looks some of the peak district national park

Next was

Dovedale stepping stones installed in the 1800s on the river dove in the limestone river valley in the national nature reserve formed 360 million years ago.

We walked along the trail about 3 kms going over the stones and as far as lovers leap and the top of the stairs and then the return. Not enough time to do the full walk.

then a quick look at Llam park

Then

Wetton and Thors cave a limestone cave which 280 -360 million years ago was sth of the equator and submerged under a warm sea

From bronze age it is a burial site where giant red bear bones have been found.

John did the slippery 198 steps up to the cave, I look at it from the path which was 600m in.

Next stopping at Manifold inn on our way to

Buxton

A spa town known for its opera house.

We visited the Pavilion gardens 12 acres given to the town by the 7th Duke Devonshire in 1871.

Beer and ice cream at the opera Pavilion

and a quick walk around before heading past Solomans temple a folley but only got a glimpse without walking and we were too foot sore after 14000 steps so we returned to our accomodation.

day 4

Bolsover castle used for entertainment for the nobleman of the 17c, a pleasure palace, a little castle that supports the interests of the duke of Newcastle (made duke in 1665_).

The castle went to ruins from family debit and was revamped later by William Cavendish

William was heavily involved in the civil war at this time, which he lost and was in exile in the 1660s.

We viewed the stable and terrace areas then did a guide tour through the small castle.

Our last day was travelling back out past Hayfield and under the aquaduct we are heading west before going north to our next destination Ripon.

We stopped at Hebdon Bridge on our way to Ripon a major detour around Manchester. Hebdon

which is on Rochdale canal and Calder river in Yorkshire . Lots of dirty old canal boats canal bridges and a cute town centre that had a long parade of hand made objects and people on stilts etc