We headed east to Derbyshire on the last weekend in September for a camping trip. Our campsite was a Caravan Club site in an old walled garden on the Chatsworth Estate – so location wise it couldn’t be beat. We were given a key when we checked in which was for a gate which took us straight into the extensive grounds of the grand house. There was an enclosed dog run on the site which impressed us more than it did Olaf (for some reason he was not keen) but it was handy to have. The facilities on the site were good and there was a bake sale when we arrived to raise money for the Macmillan cancer nurses so I had to have a look at that of course!
On the way there we stopped at the Chatsworth Farm shop for some lunch on the terrace and provisions for the weekend. I think we probably spent way too much time in the shop looking at all the lovely food and trying to make decisions – and also probably way too much money in the end too but it was a nice treat and what we bought kept us fed for the weekend!
On the Saturday morning, we set off on our first walk through the “secret” gate into the grounds and up onto the edges around the estate. The weather was very nice and we enjoyed the views from the edges. There were lots of them including Dobb Edge, Birchen Edge (where we saw Nelson’s monument and the 3 ships (3 large stones), White Edge, Froggatt Edge, Curbur Edge and Baslow Edge. On Baslow Edge, we came across a herd of highland cows… Coming across a herd of cows when we’re walking is never usually a highlight for us as they are very large and usually very unpredictable but these ones were very docile and happy with people and dogs sharing the headland with them so we were pleased to see them. They were also quite photogenic too! Once we got to Baslow, we stopped for ice cream before heading back along the river to the campsite.
The following day the weather was dry and sunnier than the previous day- we realised how extensive the grounds of Chatsworth were as we stayed mostly in them but still managed to walk 10+ miles. We hit Edensor, Calton Lees and Hob Hursts Ho. We had lunch by the Emperor Lake and ice cream at the Chatsworth stable yard before heading back to based.
On the Monday, it was market day in Bakewell so we headed back home via a stop there. Although Olaf was not very impressed with the diversion to the market, I did find a little metal red breasted robin on one of the stalls which was a perfect Christmas gift for Dad’s garden. We were a little worried about the van and the way it was running so we stopped on the way home at a garage in Ellesmere Port to book it in for work. It did get us there and back safely though and the problem was diagnosed and rectified a couple of weeks later!
Here are some pictures from our weekend. It’s a shame because it looks like the Chatsworth Estate won’t be renewing their lease with the Caravan Club for the campsite but hopefully it will remain as a campsite – just in some other guise…
