After packing up and saying goodbye to our B&B host, we hit the road for the two-and-a-half hour drive to Chatsworth, which is in Derbyshire just inside the Peak District. By the time we got there the weather had become quite threatening, but we just got on with what we came to do, which was a tour of Chatsworth House and its gardens. Chatsworth is the home of the Dukes of Devonshire, one of the wealthiest and most influential aristocratic families since the 16th century. The house and gardens are completely over the top, but beautiful all the same. The house is kit out in a baroque style that only a hell of a lot of money can pull off. The library was Phil's favourite, partly because it was relatively understated compared to other rooms...
Some great artworks both inside and outside the house.
The rain had held off all day until we finished inside the house and started walking around the garden. This did not put us off all that much to start with, although after about an hour of wandering around some breathtaking garden features in biting cold winds and driving rain we decided to move along. We looked a lot warmer and drier than we actually were...
From Chatsworth we went to a nearby pub for lunch, and then to the town of Bakewell. Being the intrepid types we are, we walked around in the biting cold and driving rain again until our jeans started to get soaked. Shame really, because Bakewell was quite promising.
Tonight's B&B is in the village of Pilsley, which is on the Chatsworth Estate although it is a mile-and-a-half from Chatsworth House. While we dried off in our small but comfortable room the sun came out again so we went for a walk around the village. We found some pretty special scenery in the process...
Naturally our walk ended at the pub down the street for a quick drink.
What will the two of you do when you get back to Canberra and it's lack of decent pubs?!
ReplyDeletethere's always the George:)
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