Up Among the Heather

After our visit to Chatsworth last week, I wanted to head up to the moors above Baslow to see the heather in bloom.

It's only a few miles away, and stretches an afternoon trip out into an evening one instead of dashing home, There's a car park almost at the top - so no uphill walking involved - and I could see for miles around, with purple flowers underfoot and colouring the distant hillsides.

It was getting late in the day and although the sun was still shining it wasn't quite as fiercely as earlier, so cooler and pleasanter for walking. 

We walked south from the National Trust car park, following Baslow Edge with its weirdly shaped rock formations.

Looking back north, beyond the car park (hidden behind trees to the right) to Curbar Edge.

After a kilometer or so the edge starts to drop down towards Baslow village but a track leads east to Wellington monument, and then leads back in a straighter line across the moor. 

Somewhere in the middle distance is Chatsworth, though the house is hidden by trees.

This is the first time I've walked to the monument, and for some reason I was expecting something taller and grander. It seems quite modest.

The route back took us by the Eagle stone, which sits in the middle of moorland like it's just been dropped from space. 

I saw some people climbing it but even without going to that much effort the views are magnificent.

 The only thing to spoil the evening was our choice of day - every few yards along the path flying ants were struggling out of their nests and trying to take to the air.  It's a beautiful place to sit and watch the sun go down - but not with so many ants around!