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.