Walking in the Wilderness at Kedleston

Now, I know I said I wasn't going out at the moment, but a walk round Kedleston, a local National Trust estate, doesn't count - it's not the same as going to the pub or out for a gig, and for most of the time we were there we didn't see anyone!

The area round the restaurant looked busy but in the gardens there were fewer people around.

I don't know why because the wildflower beds are looking lovely. 

There's an odd patch of cornflowers and Queen Anne's lace peeping through here and there 

but most of the beds now are golden with corn marigolds (at least, that's what I think they are)

With a slight breeze blowing, they're like a golden sea lapping at the feet of the lion perched on his plinth.

After visiting the flowers, it was time for the exercise part of the trip.

It was quite late in the afternoon, and I'm not a quick hiker, more of a 'sit and admire the view' ambler, so my intent was to follow the riverside walk - upstream past the various weirs to where the lakes are fed by a modest brook cross-able by stepping stones, then back down the other side.

We passed one small group heading in the opposite direction, and then had the rest of the walk to ourselves. 

In this direction the park becomes wilder, more like countryside than a formal park, the stream and lakes seeming to occur naturally, rather than as part of a landscaping project.

Shortly after crossing the stepping stones, there's a choice of route - follow the river back on the opposite side or head on through the Wilderness.  And I changed my mind about heading back, deciding to carry on through the 'Wilderness'.

The full Wilderness walk was too long for this time of day, but I decided on a short version, cutting back to the main drive down a smaller road. 

At first the path threads through open grass with clumps of wild flowers buzzing with bees and fluttering butterflies.

Then the route heads under the shelter of trees - welcome on a warmer day than expected. Now we were accompanied by squirrels chasing up and round trees, or scampering across the path. 

Away from other visitors, this area is incredibly peaceful, though maybe not quite as wild as its name suggests.

Walking the least leg along the main drive, the hall seems to be hidden behind the clump of trees before the bridge - perhaps deliberately to create an 'ha ha' moment when the hall suddenly comes in to view from the bridge. 

 

Going Out Even Less

 This week the world, or at least, England, has gone back to normal. Restrictions are so last year. Now we can go where we like, with whomever we like, and not bother with masks or social distancing.

To me it doesn't feel enticing. It's a gamble, and one that I hope pays off, but it's not one I'm willing to take. I feel that to stay safe from Covid right now my best plan is to stick to the routines I've lived by this last year - meeting family and friends outside if possible, going for afternoons out at uncrowded places, and generally living like a hermit.

I'm lucky to be able to make these choices for myself. I don't have to go to work, I don't have to use public transport to get out and about. Many people aren't as lucky.

This week I've gone out even less than normal - it's been too hot!

I've spent the week melting, opening windows to create a breeze through the house, sitting outside under trees to escape the sun, watching the garden grow and flowers pop open, and seeing baby blackbirds come and splash in the bird bath.

It'a not all laziness though. The mini heatwave was a good time to get blankets and chair covers washed and, more remarkably, dried out on the washing line. 

And good weather brings the inevitable rush of crops from the allotment - broad beans, peas, cauliflowers, french beans and so so many courgettes! I think we've eaten courgettes in one dish or another for six nights out of seven - roasted with beetroot, added to stir fries, omelettes, pasta sauces, curries. Some were preserved as bread and butter pickles (though they're normally made with cucumber), and more than I ever remember before have been frozen. At least when listening to news about the shortage of lorry drivers leading to food supply problems I can console myself with the thought of all the courgette-based meals we'll have over winter.

Misadventures without a map

The second (and third) parts of our day didn't go entirely to plan. The morning at Chatsworth had been great, and my intention was to follow it with a visit to th National Trust's Longshaw Estate in the afternoon, then heading onto the moors near Upper Burbage Bridge in search of heather and views. Unfortunately, being in a rush to get out, I left the OS maps behind, and satnav didn't prove up to the challenge of getting us where we wanted to be. 

I thought Longshaw would be quite easy to find - but instead of the visitor centre there satnav led us to Curbar Gap. We even missed the car park there because the instructions insisted it was on the opposite side of the road! Anyway there are several small spaces to pull in just below the rocks of Curbar Edge, where there are lovely views down to the valley without moving any distance from your car. So we sat there, had a small picnic, and watched other cars turn round presumably because their satnavs were giving dodgy instructions too. 

Then we moved the car to the 'proper' car park, and walked out along Baslow Edge.

The views here are amazing, looking north and south along the ridge, and down into the valley and beyond. 

There's a choice of paths to follow - a winding, round-the-rocks trail which keeps close to the Edge itself, and is great for idling about and gazing at the scenery, or a straighter cart track further onto the moor if you've somewhere to get to. We ambled along by the Edge, in and out of weathered rock formations, some of which are even scoured out into bowls.

The heather was just starting to flower and in a few weeks time I'm sure the whole area will have turned purple. And here and there were small clumps of harebells nodding in the breeze.

 I'm somewhat surprised that this is the first time I've been here. Parking high up makes for flattish walking which I like, and the paths are well marked and good underfoot (at least in this dry weather).We didn't walk far this time, maybe half or three quarters of a mile before turning round to head off for our next bit of adventure, but it's a place I'd very much like to come back to.

 

Now, the satnav recognised Upper Burbage Bridge as a destination so we didn't expect any problems. Till it took us to Surprise View car park instead. 

Then I tried to navigate from my phone - driving into Hathersage, missing the turning, doubling back, and eventually realising I was aiming for the wrong destination and the directions wanted us to go down a bumpy private drive. 

To cut a long story a bit shorter we found ourselves near Stanage Edge. Another place with great views and interesting rock formations. It was now getting late - a surprising number of people seemed to be out to see the sunset - and I was too tired to go scrambling up rocky outcrops, so like the sheep I just ambled along looking at the view.

If you happen to know the area, you'll realise that by now we were near to the spot we were aiming for. It was still light, just, when we arrived, but too late for more than a very short walk to see yet another view and then a glorious sunset.

I'll be back - but with a map!