Off at Last

Well a week later than we had hoped we managed to spend some time in the motorhome. As all the sites we wanted to stay at were full during the Easter weekend we decided to take a long weekend the week after Easter.

During our search for a site at Easter we had discovered Upper Hurst Farm near to Hartington which is between Ashbourne and Buxton. This site has only just opened and has wonderful views

 and is well equipped. When we booked for the week after Easter it was easy to get a plot.

My wife had done quite a bit of research before we came away and had found a walk that started at Hartington went by Biggin Dale to Wolfscote Dale and then along the Dove to Beresford Dale and Hartington. We were so close to Beresford Dale that we joined the walk there and went the opposite direction to the original walk.

It was lovely countryside amid marvellous scenery and we really enjoyed it. I must admit that I found the climb up Biggin Dale somewhat energetic and we had to sit down at the top.

Beresford Dale

Caves in Beresford Dale

Wolfscote Dale

Mushrooms in Biggin Dale

Biggin Dale

After a rest we set off back on the way to Hartington. The Devonshire Arms had been recommended and Helen went in to look at the menu and to find out if we could take Sugar in.

We sat in the bar with Sugar at our feet and had a really good meal in a very pleasant place. It really rained hard while we were there and that may have caused us to stay a little longer and have a pudding before we left. We then walked from Hartington to Beresford Dale and back to the motorhome where we did nothing for some time!

Gosh was it cold when we started to get up on Sunday morning. the thermometer showed about 1 Celcius. We decided to have a less strenuous day than the day before. Originally we had thought of walking the Monsal Trail from Bakewell to Monsal viaduct. However this was about an 8 mile walk so we decided to shorten it and joined the Monsal Trail at Hassop station.

We decided to visit Bakewell before we went on the walk. Initially we had a problem parking, we started off trying to park in a large car park where a car boot sale was in progress. However, a fellow motorhomer indicated that it was not available.

Eventually we found the Bakewell Bridge car park where we encountered the most helpful car park attendant we had ever met! He had us wait until a van left the car park and when that spot was taken by a car we waited a little longer and he directed us to a parking bay we could fit into. Even when we left he was most helpful and guided us out.

After a pleasant walk around Bakewell and the surprise of being able to take the dog into several shops we bought a Bakewell pudding and set off to Hassop station.

The walk was good and it was good to see so many people walking and cycling, we even got to walk through a tunnel and the reached Monsal viaduct where the view was really good.

On the way back to Hassop station we came across what seemed to be an enormous cow. When we arrived at the station we enjoyed an ice cream before we went back to the campsite.

We had thought that Saturday night was cold but on the Monday morning it was -1 in the Motorhome, so cold that sugar did not want to get out of her bed bust just lay there while we had our cup of tea.

Before we left the site we took a few photographs at the site and I used my Christmas present a gorilla pod so we could get a photograph together.

On the way back we stopped at Matlock Baths. We eventually found somewhere to park at the station and then walked to the top of High  Tor. After lunch in the Motorhome we travelled down the M1 to arrive home in the late afternoon. And so we wait for the next time.