15th June 2025

 

           Dear All,

 

Another action packed week in Derbyshire with Sue and John, this time Kate remembered her luggage so a better start than last year!

On the way up last Saturday we stopped at Bradgate Park near Leicester, it was the home of Lady Jane Grey of brief monarchy fame and now is a thriving deer park with 570 Red and Fallow deer plus the ruins of the Grey family house.

 

 

Ruins of Bradgate house

 

 

Fallow Deer

 

 

 

 

Red Deer

On Sunday Sue & John accompanied us to the Wellspring church in Wirksworth which is a combination of the Baptist church where we got married and the Methodists. It appears to be thriving with over 50 present and 14 joined in the last 12 months – but no-one under 50 years old. It had been Well Dressing weekend the previous bank holiday and although the number of exhibits is reducing there was one outside the church. After we visited Open Gardens in Gorsey Bank, Wirksworth – there were only four open but they were of a high standard.

 

 

Well Dressing

 

 

 

Gorsey Bank Gardens

 

On Monday we met up with Kate’s brother Phil and family Mandy and Natasha at the Chatsworth Farm shop for coffee before proceeding as is traditional to Bakewell Market. Kate and I visited the cattle auction and this time managed to find the sheep and calf auctions. It is always enjoyable to see the characters attending these auctions and they were busy with over 500 cattle passing through. After browsing through the other market stalls we visited the Bakewell Museum which was very interesting.

 

 

Mandy, John, Natasha & Sue

 

 

Philip, Kate & Mike

 

 

Bakewell Cattle Market

 

 

Sheep Pens

 

 

Museum Exhibit – Wool Spinning Wheel

 

On Tuesday Kate and I did our own thing and walked from the cabin across Beeley Moor an area of dried heather. The walk included a steep descent to a stream and a severe climb up through a wood. After we called on Kate’s childhood friend Elisabeth Bunting who had been fighting cancer for some time then a new experience attending a small cinema in Wirksworth where John had booked tickets to see “The Salt Path”. This was followed by a meal they had booked in Wirksworth.

 

 

 

New Lambs

 

 

Kate on Beeley Moor

 

 

Halldale Woods bridge

 

 

Desirable Residence

 

On Wednesday Kate and I visited Hardwick Hall, home of Bess of Hardwick who came from humble farming stock but married four times and rose in status and wealth each time. The house is famous for its wall hanging tapestries. The original house is still present as a ruin. After touring the house and gardens we did a parkland walk round the fishing lakes.

 

 

Hardwick Hall

 

 

Tapestry of Gideon Choosing his Army

 

 

Ruins of Old Hall

 

Thursday Sue & John came with us to Hathersage and Stanage Edge, Kate and I were there in 2013 with the walking group when a severe snowstorm covered everything to a considerable depth so it was interesting to compare the scenery this time. After climbing to the ridge we visited Ladybower Reservoir to check the water level – which was low of course.

 

 

 

Stanage Edge

 

 

View of Bomford

 

 

 

Our last outing on Friday was the circular walk down Lathkill Dale near Youlgreave. It was an interesting walk with some excellent views only slightly spoil by Kate tripping on a narrow rocky path and briefly fainting, As we were miles from anywhere it was a relief when she recovered enough to continue but was decidedly shaky.

 

 

 

Views towards Cales Dale

 

 

 

 

 

Lathkill Dale

We took Sue & John out for a meal in the evening and left early Saturday morning and were home by 10.30am. After unpacking there was some serious picking, weeding and watering. Kate picked 8 punnets of strawberries as well as raspberries, peas, broad beans, cabbage and cauliflowers. Over won an exciting cricket match beating a very good Tamil team by one run 221 v 220.

 

 

Fruit Harvest

 

 

 

Best wishes

Mike & Kate