Having more time left after our wander round Calke's gardens, I decided to head off in search of bluebells. They're not actually difficult to find - the way-marked route through the Serpentine Wood takes you right to them, although it does involve some short but steep up and down sections if walking from the main car park (from Calke Explore you can take a shorter, flatter path)
I've walked this route at all sorts of times of year but only once before at bluebell time, and to be honest I hadn't been very impressed with the display. That time I'd walked anti-clockwise. This time clockwise, and somehow the bluebells seemed much more impressive.
Possibly they angle their flowers towards the sun but walking towards them from the western end of the path they suddenly appear en masse; a stunning carpet of blue beneath the trees.
Having reached the Serpentine Wood, the path is nice and level for a while before the descent alongside the deer park fence to the ponds below, and then the uphill stretch back to the car park.
I was trying not too rush the last bit too much, but had my eye on the clock watching for the cafe's closing time. Fortunately we arrived with minutes to spare as a small treat is always a good way to round off an afternoon out.
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