If my trip out on Monday was marked by rain, Friday's visit to Kedleston will be remembered for the heat.
We'd booked a time slot, as you have to do these days, with the intent of walking round the parkland- a new route for us, and one to help with my 'extra steps' fitness plan, but the day started hot, and the temperature was forecast to reach around 33 degrees by mid-afternoon. I'm not fond of heat, especially walking far in it, and I mulled over the idea of cancelling but decided it was better to go, even if all we did was sit in the garden and look at the wildflowers, preferably from under a tree.
As it turned out things weren't quite as scorching as I'd feared. Kedleston isn't far from the built-up suburbs, but it feels like somewhere miles out in the countryside and a pleasant breeze (that wasn't apparent at home) was blowing over the grounds.
So back to my original plan - the Wilderness walk; along the lake and river bank, where even the geese thought it was best to find some shade under a tree, then turning east under trees before reaching the entrance drive and following that back to the house.
Most visitors were staying by the gardens or the lakes, so we had the paths almost to ourselves; a major consideration in these times of social distancing.
It's slightly rougher underfoot than the Long Walk, following a line cut through long grass, then a worn path through open fields, but there's less uphill walking.
There are plenty of seats along a the route, but all of them were in full sun, and it was too hot to rest for long. Eventually I decided the best thing to do was flop on the ground in the shade of a tree.
I thought the last section, back along the driveway would be quite dull, but it wasn't.
It was now nearing four o'clock, the last visitors of the day had already arrived so there was no traffic to dodge, and for quite a distance I was back under the shade of the trees.
There's also a good spot to catch a glimpse of the hall; something that rushes past when arriving by car.
Definitely a walk I'll return to in autumn, if not before.
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