Canned all ideas of walking the peak district and headed out instead to a National Trust property, Sudbury Hall, where they have a museum of childhood.
Not only was it wet, but it was pretty chilly as well, even Aidan donning his big coat for the first time.
The museum was great, lots of hands on toys for the kids (and big kids!) to try and even a chimney for them to clamber into like little sweeps. After the museum we were also able to look around the Hall which was used for the internal scenes of Pemberley in the BBC's Pride and Prejudice. One of the highlights was the decorative carving around one of the fireplaces, done by Grinling Gibbons who is said to carve a closed pea pod into his works, and only carved it opened to reveal the peas once he had been paid for his work.
The rain had not lessened when we emerged, so we returned to Belper and found a local pub to warm up with a (very late) lunch and a drink. It was nearly 5pm when we got home and we found some space for a bit of school work for a couple of hours before letting the kids watch a very poor quality Buddies movie on netflix.
Fingers crossed for some fine weather tomorrow.
Thursday 30th June
All that finger crossing paid off and we woke to a sunny start.
Set off for Bakewell via Matlock.
Spent an hour wandering around Bakewell and bought some tarts and puddings to sample sitting by the river. (they were eaten before I could photograph them)
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| Not a shop for tall people! |
Then we cruised round to Edensor to drive through the Chatsworth estate and take a peak at the home of the Duke and Duchess Derbyshire.
On then to Castleton, where we stopped for a sandwich before driving to the car park below Mam Tor and setting out for a 2 hour circular walk to the top and back via the Blue John Cavern.
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| Through Winnats Pass |
Friday 1 July
Left our house in Belper this morning and set off on the way up North. As we have the day to spare and only have to go as far as our overnight hotel in Wakefield, we take a drive to Ilam to have a wander along the river to the stepping stones. Ilam is a ridiculously picturesque village with houses in an alpine style built in the 1830's with their beautifully kept gardens.
The cross was erected in honour of Mary Watts-Russell in 1840 by her husband.
We park the car near Ilam and walk through the Manifold valley to the river Dove.
We skirt around Thorpe's Cloud,
and follow along the river through Dovedale, to the stepping stones.
It is a very pleasant spot and we spend a while, watching people crossing the stones and dogs coming and going and playing in the water. The sun even peeps briefly out of the clouds.
Leaving Ilam we head back towards Bakewell in search of the viaduct at Monsal Head. Stopping first at Bakewell for some lunch which we eat on the riverbank, it is only 5 minutes further on to the pub with the view over the viaduct, now converted to a popular walking and cycling trail.
Then it is on towards our hotel in Wakefield and dinner at a local Thai restaurant.
Saturday 2nd July
We set off first thing to get to York by 11am, via a quick but very nice breakfast at a local Wetherspoons.
We make it to the house sit in York in good time and are shown the ropes by our hosts before they set off on their own holiday.
As the weather has turned very wintery and is blowing a gale, we settle in and set up. Getting the hang of it all now, working out where to keep various things, how to get all the electronics set up for charging and what not and finding our way around the kitchen. 2 cats and 3 chickens under our care here.
The kids are happy to play with the various toys and run around the yard so we stay in out of the worst of the weather for the afternoon, apart from a visit to the nearest Asda for supplies.
As the weather has turned very wintery and is blowing a gale, we settle in and set up. Getting the hang of it all now, working out where to keep various things, how to get all the electronics set up for charging and what not and finding our way around the kitchen. 2 cats and 3 chickens under our care here.
The kids are happy to play with the various toys and run around the yard so we stay in out of the worst of the weather for the afternoon, apart from a visit to the nearest Asda for supplies.
Sunday 3 July
The morning dawns bright and sunny so it is off to the Richard III festival at Middleham Castle.
Lots of demonstrations and a medieval camp outside the castle grounds where we get to handle some weapons and the kids take part in the canon firing and learn a good deal about archery and music.
Lots of demonstrations and a medieval camp outside the castle grounds where we get to handle some weapons and the kids take part in the canon firing and learn a good deal about archery and music.
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| The kids help Richard III demonstrate battle tactics. |
The wind picks up later in the day and feels like it is off the snow so we set off towards home. Stopping in Masham for a snack, we discover a craft fair with some craftsmen demonstrating their skills in the market square.
Holly tries her hand at pot making.
After making preparations for dinner, I take myself into York for a wander around in the quiet of a Sunday evening when the shops are shut and the streets are quiet. Lovely stroll along the walls and around the Minster. Lets hope the weather can continue to be kind.
Holly tries her hand at pot making.
After making preparations for dinner, I take myself into York for a wander around in the quiet of a Sunday evening when the shops are shut and the streets are quiet. Lovely stroll along the walls and around the Minster. Lets hope the weather can continue to be kind.
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