exploring the Peak District..by car and on foot..[photo intensive]

we actually had a bit of a late start this morning, so plans of a visit to every thing on the list was put by the wayside.. we had wanted to visit Chatsworth House, Castleton, Matlock Bath, Bakewell and then I really wanted to walk around Eyam...time seems to disappear into the ether here!

driving to Bakewell, took us longer than we expected as a road was closed so we had to turn around and retrace our tracks.

looking at the trees as we drove along through forests, I began to see faces on the trunks and I wish we could stop so that I could take photos but the roads are too narrow and the drivers too fast, so its not a safe thing to do. Hopefully I will get a chance soon to be with some trees, because I am actually beginning to miss my connections with Earth and trees that I have at home.

A PEEK INTO THE PEAKS, as we drive to Bakewell

we arrive in Bakewell in time for morning tea. a gorgeous English village.

beside a stream complete with geese and ducks.

morning tea was partaken at a little tea room called Byways. where we sat and enjoyed a cup of tea and Victorian sponge accompanied by a gaggle of women very much like Hyacinth Bouquet. Hats and cups of tea

and then to the shops. Sometimes, a girl needs a little shopping therapy and we certainly found some bargains, just too many to bring home. But, a nice wooden shelf for 6 pounds and a lovely wooden inlaid tray for 2 pounds and a little bit of Christmas shopping. More postcards sent and then we were off to our next stop, a Harley Davidson shop in Chesterfield, because this vacation is all about give and take.

by this time it was nearly 2 o'clock in the afternoon and we decided to cancel the rest of our exploring of small villages, have a quick lunch at a pub on the way and then back to Eyam to do the walk to Mompesson's well. A short 1klm walk, so we were told.

just through the church yard they said.

along the lane through the gate

and up past the football field, it's a bit muddy, mind..

then along the path to the stile

[we got to the stile, then thought we were lost and returned to the churchyard to find our way again... so back through the gate, up to the stile...]

then you walk through the field where the sheep are and up the hill to the steps, to another path [we wandered around this field for a little time, making jokes about 'aussies chased by killer sheep. I wondered out loud if anyone had ever been killed by sheep and Joe said 'yes, trampled to death'...] the sheep were keeping a watchful eye on us.

[a sigh of relief.. at last i got to put my face next to a tree].. a small rest after walking up a hill that makes the Katoomba St hill pale in comparison

then you get to a gate by t'road...go through gate

and along the road.. not far, it's well sign posted [it wasn't]

and then you can follow the well marked track down into the village ..

by this time, I was wondering if maybe we should have left a trail of breadcrumbs so we could find our way back and was remembering that I read that we should have taken a compass and a torch..

I think we need some of those sticks that every one has here... improvisation!!

thank heaven for tree friends, I didn't feel quite so alone.

I love to go a'wandering .. along a mountain track

a sign!! we were confused as to what concession meant. We decided it meant for wheelchairs or elderly people, so we took the public road..

at last, civilization...

and we never did find Mompesson's well

this 'short' walk ended up being about a 6klm walk! more scones!!

and that finishes our short stay in the Peak District.
 

in hindsight, we would have shortened our stay at Ullswater and spent more time here, but that is the way things are and we are looking forward to one whole week in discovering the Cotswolds and Herefordshire...

a year later - 2013
I will never forget that walk in the forest. That day was a beautiful experience. The scenery stunning and the villagers that we met were very welcoming.  In hindsight, we would have forfeited our time in the Cotswolds and spent a few more days in The Peak District.