Chatsworth & more ...

We stayed at Chatsworth for a few days a couple of years ago and wanted to go back. We love the Peak District – the walking is great, the views superb and it never seems to be as busy as the Lakes or the Yorkshire Dales. So this year I made a point of booking a full week on the opening day for bookings, although as it turned out I needn’t have worried as there was still availability for the week we wanted quite a time afterwards!. It’s quite difficult for us at the moment; we have to plan our walks carefully as one of our dogs  is well into his 14^th year and won’t go far whilst the other one seems impossible to exhaust. So we plan walks to end somewhere picturesque. One of us takes the youngster, Harry on a walk whilst the other takes a good book and goes to the end of the walk with George, possibly persuading him to go for a gentle stroll there. Then in the afternoon we swap roles. It works quite well and means we don’t have to leave either of them unattended. An unexpected bonus is that we’ve realised just how far afield you can get from sites on foot, especially if you’re just doing the walk one way and being met at the far end.  I’ve written reviews of the sites we stayed at in their respective entries, so will concentrate here more on what we saw and did.

Day 1 – Moreton in Marsh Club Site.

We’d been having a new bathroom fitted and the guy finished two days ahead of schedule – so woo hoo – that’s extra time away in the van then! Booked a last minute night at Moreton in Marsh club site – it’s not far away and we visit quite often but it broke the journey up this time and knocked the first 50 miles off.  Our favourite walk is out of the site and turn left just before the high street. Left again, doubling back past the site and you’re on the Monarch’s Way footpath. You can go all the way up to Batsford arboretum which is well worth a visit, or cut across to the right just before the buildings on a footpath which brings you out onto a quiet lane back to the village. A great way to start the holiday and the weather was perfect. A leisurely pack up and depart after coffee the following morning and we’re well relaxed!

Days 2 & 3 – Midshire Barn CL (just north of Loughborough)

We were lucky to get a pitch at late notice. The CL is a little gem, but with some limitations! (see review). We had found details of a long walk over the West Leake hills direct from the site – quite a strenuous climb but rewarded with superb views over the village of Gotham and the city of Nottingham – well worth the effort – so good that Harry had to do it twice, Once with me then next morning with Mrs M! Had a leisurely pack up on Sunday morning as we knew we couldn’t book in at Chatsworth until 1 o’clock.

Days 7 to 10 – Chatsworth Park Club Site.

Timed the journey almost perfectly and arrived at Chatsworth at about 5 to 1 to be greeted by the predictable long line of even earlier arrivals! The wardens have a lot of patience and an excellent booking in system which means there is no hassle from anyone trying to queue jump! The site itself divides opinion – some complain that it’s cramped and many of the pitches are shaded by huge trees, others love it for the fact that you get such easy access to the park and grounds surrounding the house. We’re definitely in the latter category! We were lucky enough to find a nice south facing pitch with some shade for the two dogs. They were equally lucky to find the neighbours were the proud owners of two viszla girls – fortunately all the dogs got along very well! Had a leisurely Sunday afternoon getting set up and then a short stroll in the park.

There are so many walks to do in this area – there is now something called the Derwent Valley Heritage Trail which runs alongside the river through the park. We walked south as far as Darley Bridge and north as far as Grindleford and hardly met a soul in either direction! Stopped off at the plague village of Eyam – what a fascinating place – and a walk back to the site from there. Also over the hills to Monsal Head which is rightly regarded as one of the outstanding views in the area and is subsequently more touristy – for an equally breath-taking view with less company take the little lane out of Great Longstone, signposted Longstone Edge. It’s a stiff climb but there are superb far reaching views to reward you. Whilst in that area we visited our favourite pub – The Packhorse at Little Longstone – a proper walkers’ pub and the food is great and well priced. (We also went there for an evening meal and it was every bit as good as many “posher” places nearby.)  My last walk was along the Monsal Trail – an old railway now turned into a walkway  and with all the tunnels opened so that you don’t have to keep leaving it to skirt round them. The stretch from Millers Dale station into Bakewell is about 6 miles and passes through glorious countryside – high rock cliffs, the river deep down beneath and the meadows covered in yellow for the right reason (buttercups, not oil seed rape!)

We had a wonderful week and, oh yes, I almost forgot a couple of visits to the Chatsworth Farm Shop is a must.

It may not be everybody’s cup of tea, but we loved our time at Chatsworth and will certainly aim to be returning.