Shady walk at Chatsworth

Keeping up with my latest exercise plan, I wanted to go out walking again but the weather was heating up again. I decided on a two-part afternoon - Chatsworth garden first, keeping under the trees, followed by a walk among the heather on Baslow Edge, at a time when temperatures would be dropping.

Chatsworth's huge Emperor Fountain isn't running constantly at the moment, because of the drought, but we were lucky enough to arrive during its afternoon 'performance slot'. With a light breeze blowing, the water drifted one direction, then another - even catching me standing on the bank, just out of tree cover. For a few seconds it was lovely and refreshing.

Then we walked on, up the beech avenue

to the urn which marks almost the limit of the garden in this direction.

From here there are views south over the wider estate, and back over the calm water of the Canal pond.

With 105 acres to play with, there's plenty of space for trees and shady spots in Chatsworth's garden. A path lined by different varieties of bamboo leads towards the Maze whose walls are currently lined by glorious agapanthus, like a blue wave crashing against the stonework.

I nipped out into the sunshine very quickly to take this close-up shot but then retreated to the shade, 

along a sunken path, 

then along the hillside, through the series of linked flowering spaces that make up Arcadia

Again, following this path it's possible to walk almost back to the exit while staying under the cover of the trees.

Outside though, it was hot. The flying horse sculpture reminded me that one day soon I must go back and discover the rest of the exhibits of the Burning Man exhibition out in the parkland. But that's for another, cooler, day!