A long weekend in the Derbyshire Peak district to celebrate Debs’ birthday was a good idea. En route, we stopped at Calke Abbey, a National Trust property just outside Derby. The Bus took up a lot of car parking space, but hey ho, we are members doncha know? It turned out, however, to be a bit of a rush. We arrived early and went to reception to check in. “Would you like to go on the conservation tour?” “Er, yeah, OK”. “Here’s your ticket – be at the front of the house at 1115. What time would you like your house tour?” Too early for so many difficult questions – tilt!
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| Calke Abbey |
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The conservation tour was actually very interesting. We learnt that it is bad to clean things too much and the National Trust, who know a lot about these things, recommend vacuuming once every 5 years. We now intend to conserve our house as much as possible. Calke Abbey is very impressive, albeit the cases upon cases of stuffed birds and animals were a little spooky. The NT have halted the decay of the building, but left it very much in the state that it was handed over to them, so it looks quite sad. Basically, the owners ran out of dosh and just let this huge stately home decay around their ears until the last one lived in splendid isolation in a couple of rooms. Weird!
The gardens of Calke were beautiful and extensive. The figs looked delicious, but we refrained from scrumping.
Whilst travelling to Calke a herd of deer ran out in front of the bus. I slammed on the brakes and managed to avoid all but the rear end of the last one. “Whahay – fresh venison tonight” I thought, but the thing ran off with obviously no damage to him or the bus.
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| 100m from the site and lost already |
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| Yeeuck! |
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On Sunday we watched South African referee win the world cup for the all blacks (he must have had a huge bung from the IRFU to make some of those appalling decisions) then, having carefully studied the CAMRA Peak District Pub walk guide, we set out for the 10 mile round trip around Dove Dale, taking in a pub lunch at The George in Alstonefield. Us Fen dwellers don’t do hills and there are some serious bumps around here. Up and down, up and down, finally stopping at the pub for fantastic Roast Beef & Yorkshire pud.
As we set out again, Debs careful explained to the cows that we passed that she was very sorry that she had just eaten their brother, but he was very tasty. More up and down, over stiles, through gates, passing through Milldale, the stunningly beautiful Dove Dale, Ilams Tor, Dove Holes, The Nabs and finally arriving at a field where the farmer had been very generous with his muck spreading. “It looks very deep there” I said to Debs. Too late – Squelch – right up to the ankles in fresh slurry. Uttering a naughty word she tried to flick the massive accumulation of poo from her boots, missing me by inches
She stank, was annoyed, and told every cow that we passed that she was VERY glad she had eaten their brother and if they continue to sh** all over the place then she would eat them too!
Monday was Debs birthday so pressies were opened, then bikes prepared for a ride along the Tissington trail into Ashbourne for lunch. The camp site is 1000ft above sea level. I reckon by the incline down there that Ashbourne is at sea level , so it was a lovely cruise down, through beautiful scenery, culminating in a huge long tunnel that smelt of years and years of steam trains passing through. Debs is not yet a confident cyclist and the dog running into her caused a very dainty but involuntary dismount into the verge. She was unhurt apart from a few nettle stings. Lunch (chicken stuffed with mushroom wrapped in prosciutto was had in the Horns Inn, there being not many decent places to eat in Ashbourne. We then had a bimble around town, noting that this was the place that Bonnie Prince Charlie proclaimed James 'King of England' during the first Stuart rebellion of 1745. It's the only place in England where a 'Pretender' to the throne has been proclaimed. It also has the longest Inn sign in the world (The Green Man and Black's Head) and is also famous for the Royal Shrovetide Football match, which sounds like a great game to take part in, there being very few rules and the match lasting Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday.
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| Lord of the Manor |
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The journey back up the long, long incline was not so easy, especially as the derailleur on Debs bike was playing up. Eventually we arrived back at the site, again very tired and one of us having an extremely sore derriere. Cheese and biscuits, wine and chocolate birthday cake followed by an early night was in order.
On Monday night it rained heavily, but Tuesday was fine and dry. After a bit of a lie-in and breakfast we packed up and drove to Kedleston Hall near Derby, another very impressive National Trust property. Parking in the beautiful grounds we made a cup of tea and ham rolls and sat in comfort admiring the magnificent park laid out by Robert Adam. Refreshed, we had a walk around the very impressive mansion, although I didn’t quite get the same feel for the family that owned the place as I do from other NT properties. That said, the place was designed by the Curzon family in the 1700s to show off their collections and it is well worth the visit. 
Returning home, the bus was filthy from the narrow lanes we negotiated around the Peak District, but we soon unpacked and the cleaning will have to wait for another day.
No report on fish and chips. The pub ran out of fish!
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| Pleasure Gardens |
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The campsite: tucked into an old quarry it was well protected from the elements. Being half term there were a lot of families there and quite a few hardy souls camping out. I felt very guilty sitting in the bus in a T Shirt and Shorts watching them cook dinner wearing puffa jackets and woolly hats. The site is ideally placed for exploring by foot or bike, but quite a way from any other amenities. That said, there is a very good pub, shop and cafe on site, although the opening hours are a bit erratic. The Peak District has so much to offer – can’t wait to go back!
On Sunday we watched South African referee win the world cup for the all blacks (he must have had a huge bung from the IRFU to make some of those appalling decisions) then, having carefully studied the CAMRA Peak District Pub walk guide, we set out for the 10 mile round trip around Dove Dale, taking in a pub lunch at The George in Alstonefield. Us Fen dwellers don’t do hills and there are some serious bumps around here. Up and down, up and down, finally stopping at the pub for fantastic Roast Beef & Yorkshire pud. As we set out again, Debs careful explained to the cows that we passed that she was very sorry that she had just eaten their brother, but he was very tasty. More up and down, over stiles, through gates, passing through Milldale, the stunningly beautiful Dove Dale, Ilams Tor, Dove Holes, The Nabs and finally arriving at a field where the farmer had been very generous with his muck spreading. “It looks very deep there” I said to Debs. Too late – Squelch – right up to the ankles in fresh slurry. Uttering a naughty word she tried to flick the massive accumulation of poo from her boots, missing me by inches She stank, was annoyed, and told every cow that we passed that she was VERY glad she had eaten their brother and if they continue to sh** all over the place then she would eat them too!
Monday was Debs birthday so pressies were opened, then bikes prepared for a ride along the Tissington trail into Ashbourne for lunch. The camp site is 1000ft above sea level. I reckon by the incline down there that Ashbourne is at sea level , so it was a lovely cruise down, through beautiful scenery, culminating in a huge long tunnel that smelt of years and years of steam trains passing through. Debs is not yet a confident cyclist and the dog running into her caused a very dainty but involuntary dismount into the verge. She was unhurt apart from a few nettle stings. Lunch (chicken stuffed with mushroom wrapped in prosciutto was had in the Horns Inn, there being not many decent places to eat in Ashbourne. We then had a bimble around town, noting that this was the place that Bonnie Prince Charlie proclaimed James 'King of England' during the first Stuart rebellion of 1745. It's the only place in England where a 'Pretender' to the throne has been proclaimed. It also has the longest Inn sign in the world (The Green Man and Black's Head) and is also famous for the Royal Shrovetide Football match, which sounds like a great game to take part in, there being very few rules and the match lasting Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday.
Returning home, the bus was filthy from the narrow lanes we negotiated around the Peak District, but we soon unpacked and the cleaning will have to wait for another day.
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