Eight of us met at Calton Lees to the shocking news that since there is a half term in the month free parking had been suspended. Once I felt I had grovelled enough I led off towards Beeley. After being told off by a farmer for straying off the footpath, I started to feel that this was not my day. However the weather and the company were both good and things began to get better even though an attempt to avoid a known bog resulted in an abrupt U turn at a totally flooded point. Stand Wood wasn’t too busy. despite the school holiday, and we stuck to the lesser used paths to avoid crowds. On leaving one section we were taken aback to find a farm cart full of kids with water pistols heading our way, they were meant to be shooting at sheep targets in the trees but ‘hey’. After admiring various clumps of snowdrops in Edensor we passed 2 large herds of deer one Roe, one Red on our way back to the car park. Having shunned the Chatsworth cafes on the grounds that they had enough of our money for one day 4 of us retired to the garden centre cafe for coffee and delicious freshly baked cheese scones.
Thanks to those who turned out and paid up, it was worth a fiver to walk with you.
Lin.
Submit a CommentPlease be polite. We appreciate that.