Derbyshire and Staffordshire

Situated in Ilam Park, near Ashbourne in Derbyshire. This is a very pleasant park and a starting point for the impressive Dove Dale walk. The Victorian Gothic Mansion is now owned by our National Trust and part of it is leased to the Youth Hostels Association. The river here was re-sited and the bridge built anew when the mansion was built, in order to enhance the grounds.

Chatsworth House in Derbyshire is the setting for this view. The great house lies just right out of picture but these arches are easily as interesting. More info: www.chatsworth.org

A distant view of dreams and history. Deep shadows rise up to the milky mist of this Spring day. Surrounded by trees, Chatsworth House can just be made out. Look further and you may see a deer or two.The river Derwent on the right, snakes through the grounds and just to the left of the great house you can just see the glinting waters of the formal lake.

Taken from Birchen Edge, Derbyshire, a reminder after a long Winter that Spring has arrived.

A glimpse of Spring with this view of the splendid church of St Oswald in the Derbyshire market town of Ashbourne.

After a splendid walk along the floor of this ravine like dale we arrive at a pair of improbable tors on each side of the River Dove with a suitable footbridge to cross over. ‘The pinnacle blade of rock on our left here is Pickering Tor tilting backwards, secreting a cave at its base, while on our right here is the remarkable Ilam Rock thrusting upwards (out of picture) into the skies. Each of these towers virtually 100ft into the air: quite incredible.’ (Paul Hannon: Southern Peak –Hillside books) I wish you all, a great weekend, Herb

About one third of the way in this most beautiful valley. One can walk on either side of the river but we are taking the more adventurous path through the scree on the right. Ahead of us, around the corner we start to see the first of the many limestone 'tors' that this dale is famous for, before reaching the footbridge. The valley was cut by the River Dove and runs for just over 3 miles between Milldale in the north and a wooded ravine near Thorpe Cloud and Bunster Hill in the south. Enjoy.

A look towards the majestic flat top of Thorpe Cloud (942ft) at the start of the Dovedale valley. A fine view maybe had from up there as witnessed by the tiny figures present seen from here. Its nearly Easter time and that means many of the local sheep have new lambs (see pips). Apparently not these, but there were many that had. On the other side of this field, behind the sheep is the visitors car-park and start of the walk. .... she did let us pass.... Treat yourself to full size.. See Pip for lambs and more sheep.

Just at the edge of the village of Ilam near Ashbourne. This is the main path up to the hall with its church being just to the left of this capture. At the end of this path you can see the edge of the front walled gardens and garden tower. I wish you all, a great weekend, Herb pip Another looking good full size.

Cromford Mill was the world's first water-powered cotton spinning mill, developed by Richard Arkwright in 1771 in Cromford, Derbyshire. These small water wheels are there just as a demonstration I think, as the main giant waterwheel was almost underground to where this river is heading, beneath the mill itself to work the machinery. 'He chose the site at Cromford because it had year-round supply of warm water from the Cromford Sough which drained water from nearby Wirksworth lead mines, together with Bonsall Brook. Here he built a five-storey mill, with the backing of Jedediah Strutt, Samuel Need and John Smalley. Starting from 1772, he ran the mills day and night with two twelve-hour shifts. He started with 200 workers, more than the locality could provide, so he built housing for them nearby, one of the first manufacturers to do so. Most of the employees were women and children, the youngest being only seven years old. Later, the minimum age was raised to ten and the children were given six hours of education a week, so that they could do the record-keeping that their illiterate parents could not. The gate to Cromford Mill was shut at precisely 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. every day, and any worker who failed to get through it not only lost a day's pay but also was fined another day's pay.' Wiki Enjoy large.

A walk not too far from the village of Cromford is a well known trail 'The High Peak Trail'. Most of that runs over the old railway line. At one place there is a very steep hill and so a solution had to be found to overcome that. This was part of it. A steep railway line where the wagons were pulled up and lowered down with chains driven from a wheel by this Engine house. You can just see two of its great boilers in the red brick. You can also just see the top of the railway incline at the signal. A fascinating place to walk by. See PIPS "Situated at the top of Middleton Incline on the High Peak Trail is the restored Middleton Top Engine House, which was built in 1829. In the past it was used to haul wagons up the incline. Middleton Top Engine House is the sole survivor of nine that once stood at the top of every incline along the Cromford and High Peak Railway. It is designated as an Ancient Monument, together with its Butterley beam engine which in the past hauled the cables up the track. Originally timber was supplied daily to fire the boilers, now it is compressed air that does the job." www.derbyshire-peakdistrict.co.uk/middletontop.htm See Pips

A nice T-Junction here for narrow boats and walkers alike. I am actually on the 'Staffordshire & Worcestershire' canal but just under and past the bridge is the 'Trent and Mersey' canal. Yes, a maze of canals for sure. The bridge is a narrow cobbled footbridge where people and horses can follow the boats North and South, whereas this canal goes to the west.

It looks a good life - cruising up and down this delightful canal. Other boat owners have decided to rest up here, maybe to take a snack in the nearby garden centre cafe. Taken on the 'Staffordshire & Worcestershire' at Greater Haywood in Staffordshire.

The 'Trent and Mersey Canal', is an attractive peaceful water and along its banks sits a few building mostly constructed at the same time as the canal itself. Here near Great Haywood, we see one of a number of special watering facilities that include a shower no doubt for the sole benefit of the boat owners and their guest.

Enjoy these colours and lines. A prize was offered to the first person who spotted what this (or they) are :) - That has already gone to Colin, below. Off course these are the tops of some of our British Narrow boats, all moored on the 'Trent and Mersey Canal' basin at Haywood in Staffordshire.

A fine scene on the’ Trent and Mersey Canal’ in Staffordshire. The swan just about keeping in the frame as I snapped it on this rare October sunny day. The bridge here is a road bridge but nearby are also numerous railway bridges for the West Coast Main Line railway too. I wish you all, a great weekend, Herb Nice full size.

As I walk along by the river here at Crowden, I glance up the valley hillside behind me to see the light doing its magic on these trees. A very low directional sunshine shows the recently made-bare trees in a wonderful silver light which as you can see can be most attractive. Essential full screen viewing

About 14 miles (22Km) from my home lies a very beautiful valley that starts of with a bit of woodland. On this rare blue sky day we thus make a beeline for it as a place we have not wandered for over a year now. I share a moment with you here just as the path turns downwards towards the river. Of course, once again its the golden leaves of Autumn with this light that is my main attraction. Spot the nesting-box. Enjoy full screen.