Solstice Adventures at Kedleston and Calke

The shortest day of the year proved to be a bright sunny one - luckily because we were taking our grandson out for the day.

First we headed back to Kedleston Hall to see if a four year old found the Advent Trail as much fun as we did. He did - running in front of us to find the next door, opening the latches, playing with the glove puppets, trying to work the music boxes, counting stars etc. 

It's great fun for children, especially on a fine sunny day, and we could have spent longer exploring the grounds and park but we needed lunch before our second adventure.

The second of our adventures took us to Calke to see the festive light trail. I loved it. It's not as huge as, say, Chatsworth display, but there are more lights than in previous years, and all included in the general admission cost.

Paths strung with lights lead to the house, with stars illuminating one side, and colour-changing lights another.

From the house, a trail of small illuminated trees lead to the church and gardens, where there are 'fireplaces' of light, a Christmas tree, and an illuminated tunnel. Although it wasn't cold, by this point my phone decided it had had enough, so I couldn't get more photos, and having to hurry to keep pace with a four-year old didn't give me time to properly focus for them anyway. 

Of the two trips, the advent trail worked better with an enthusiastic small child. In daytime, with limited possibilities for mischief, he could run in front of us and find the doors himself; in the dark he had to stay close, and walk at our pace for risk of losing him, which I think he found frustrating. Something to remember for future excursions.

 

Advent Trail and frozen lakes at Kedleston

Like many country houses, Kedleston Hall is decorated inside for Christmas, but on a sunny (but frosty) day I wanted to explore the Advent Trail. To be honest it's aimed at children but it added an extra bit of fun to the Short Walk, even for us old folks.

Twenty-four festively-decorated 'houses' fastened to trees have doors which open to disclose wintry/Christmassy related facts or simple activities (count the painted stars, sing a carol, for example).

There are opportunities for selfies and family photos by the massive parcels and evergreen archway, in a sleigh, or even crouched inside a Christmas bauble, and all in all it's an enjoyable way to get outside for some fresh air.

The Short Walk itself was looking beautiful with sun shining across frosted fields and lighting up the remaining leaves, but, having found all the advent doors, we turned round at the viewpoint, and headed back downhill to see something special which I'd noticed on the approach to the Hall.

Passing over the bridge I'd noticed that the lakes had iced over - or at least almost - and I wanted to see them from closer up.

Water was still flowing freely over the weirs, but most of the lakes above and below were frozen. 

Here and there, where the current was strongest, the water had remained clear for most of the day, but by late afternnon even that was starting to ice over.

There were very few birds remaining on the water and I wondered where they'd gone - till a helicopter flew over the neighbouring golf course and disturbed them, filling the air with their raucous noise for a few minutes before they settled again.

We didn't walk far. After a while one frozen lake starts to look much like another, and the temperature was dropping as the sun set.

 By this time, just the trees over on the golf course were still in light, and reflecting on the frozen lake.

Chatsworth Illuminated Garden

Christmas is creeping up on me without me being at all in the mood, so in an attempt to change this we went out one clear but cold evening last week to see the festive illuminations at Chatsworth garden 

The trail is longer this year than previous ones, leading up the beech avenue, through the illuminated bamboo tunnel, and winding back via the Maze and Rock Garden, to the Casacde.

 And we timed thing right to be accompanied throughout by the full moon, making it all even more magical.

A sunny day!

The weather of late has been so dull and dreary that any sunny day has to be ceased and enjoyed. It was late afternoon though by the time we got to Shipley Park to enjoy the sun.

It isn't long since I was last there but the mood semed to have moved from autumn to winter. 

Only a few leaves still clung to trees, and the colour came mainly from shining pale trunks and bright red berries.

I said we were late in the day, but I was surprised to see the sun setting as we started to walk up Horsepool Hill. 

... and totally set as we headed back down to the car park.