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
