Elvaston rhododendrons

I'm trying at the moment to make a deliberate effort to get out and about and take more exercise - preferably somewhere among natural surroundings rather than along the pavements near home, and preferably somewhere I know will have  good paths and not involve too much up and down hill walking (post-Covid fatigue has left me bad at the first, my strained ankles are bad at the second).

Anyway, long story short, I decided to head to Elvaston Country Park just south of Derby, and picked a really good time as the rhododendrons and azaleas were all in flower. 

From the car park there's an easy walk alongside the lake, through the azalea garden, to the castle itself, and then a variety of routes heading back to complete the circular route.

There are glimpses of the castle (more of a stately home really) across the lake, gothic mock-ruins along the water's edge,  swans and geese swimming, and gnarled old tree roots to see, and of course the rhododendrons.

The castle itself isn't open to the public other than on special occasions and there's a long-standing debate about whether the city council who currently own it should sell it. There's an information point though in the old stable block, and a tea room where we had cake.

An amble through the listed knot garden and woodland on this side of the lake brought us back to the car.

Not a long walk (and we could have extended it considerably without leaving the grounds) but enough for me at the moment, and a nice way to increase my general step count.