Elvaston

It's a while since I've been to Elvaston Park (last November) so I thought it would be a good idea to go and see how far Spring was advancing there. 

We started at the Walled Garden where various bulbs and primroses were flowering, and the red flowers of a quince brightening a wall.

Then through the grounds towards the house, past an early rhododendron 




 

A more circuitous route than usual took us to the nature reserve, where we spotted herons in the tree tops, then back along the showground past this carved statue of bear and owl. 

Elvaston Park

With Autumn definitely having arrived I was trying to think of local places to visit which didn't require energetic walking but which had trees. My usual choices would be Kedleston or Shipley Park but both involve uphill paths. Elvaston, on the other hand, doesn't. So off we went ...

From the car park we headed in a clockwise direction, through the wilder 'forested' area under trees and alongside streams, to the walled garden where a surprising number of plants were still in flower.

Then up to the hall for ice cream and cake, before continuing round the lake back to the car. 

 

Rhododendrons at Elvaston

The last day of April was bright and sunny, and I was determined to go out - though not anywhere that demanded long distances either for travelling or walking. Elvaston park fitted the bill, especially as we haven't been recently.

The sky was blue, the sun shone, but underfoot was muddy with the path at times dipping under puddles, and some areas were completely underwater, but we trod carefully or jumped if necessary up the northern side of the lake past the gothic ruins. 

The azalea garden was closed - either due to being waterlogged or to protect nesting birds - and only the bushes beside the access road visible, so we followed a slightly unusual route to the castle courtyard, approaching it from the stables.

Again large areas of the lawns were fenced off, so we headed past the listed knot garden and topiary in search of rhododendrons among the trees, before doubling back to the bottom of the lake.

Considering my current state of health it had been a long walk (though it isn't really) but fortunately ice cream kept me going :)
 

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.