And what a splendid day it was. I hadn’t realised how beautiful and accessible this part of the world is - I’m definitely coming back!
I was up and washed soon after 9am. Breakfast was bagels and tea. Not the famous Kimbo Brunnehilda Omelette but it fulfilled the need of a full stomach to start a busy day. I think I better point out … Its not that I am not capable of cooking an omelette it’s that I suspect Mrs Michelangelo was handy with a paint brush but she didn’t bother to try and paint a masterpiece? Once you’ve tasted the best why bother with the rest!?
I picked out a nice drive to Castleton. Ignoring the sat navs’ suggested route in preference to a slow and pretty one. I had spent sometime searching for a walk on line with not a lot of success so I thought I would just head for Castleton.
I arrived at about 11.15am. They is a nice big car park with Visitors Welcome Centre on the edge of the village. I strolled confidently into said centre and asked for a recommendation for a longish walk that dogs could be off the lead. The lady, who clearly forgot temporarily that her primary job was to “welcome” was a bit short with me. She thrust a £2.80 guide in my hand and said there were no walks where dogs could be let off the lead as there was a lot of stock in the fields. Oh sure I said, they’ll be on the lead when sheep were around. It’s not just the animals she snorted. It’s the nesting birds too. I must have looked quizzical so she added that they nest in the grass! My mind was screaming well any flippin bird that nests on the ground doesn’t really have the necessary evolutionary requirements to make it through with or without Ben and Tilly’s help! I didn’t - I paid the £2.80 and told her my dogs would be firmly shackled at all times. I’ve got to say, the locals have all been lovely - apart from her! A bit ironic given her welcoming role?!
I bought a load of drinks and snacks adding up as I went to make sure I got the necessary 4 x £1 coins for the car park - “A” Level maths not wasted after all?!
The 5 mile walk took about 2.5 hours and was bloody magnificent. I soon stripped down to my tea shirt for the long haul up the hill. There was virtually no sheep in the fields but in deference to the birds and twitchers (not the welcome lady) I kept them on the lead for most of the first half of the walk. They were off the lead for most of the down ward half. 2 pulling collies are good for going up hill but not so advantageous going down hill!!
Got to say … there was no problem at all with sheep or birds!! The map shows were we went - it was all wonderful.
The dogs loved it and so did I. Not many folks around but greeted all with a smile and a typical British comment on the weather.
Arrived back at the car back at about 1.45. I had a quick but disappointing walk around the village. I was looking for a pub or coffee shop where I could drink outside with the dogs. I didn’t find one! My plan at this stage was to head back to Brunnehilda for a cuppa. I decided to go via Bakewell to buy some puddings for friends and family at home.
Bakewell was busy and seemed to be completely full of 60 something couples chatting happily browsing the shops and drinking coffee. This used to be very much my/our sort of place but somewhere I now avoid like the plague. So I illegally parked flew into the Original Bakewell Pudding shop, bought 4 puddings, parted with £32 and left!
I went the pretty way home going through a lovely little village called Sheldon. On my way out I was passing a lay-by with a couple of footpath signs. I Wasn’t planning to but something made me pull over and I suddenly found myself parked up and heading out into the beautiful Derbyshire Dales with my 2 delighted companions.
And what a walk. I didn’t meet a soul. Went over some very steep stiles (the dogs needed throwing over!), went up a very very steep hill, only passed through one field with sheep in and came out at the wonderfully atmospheric Magpie Lead Mine.
What a place? I think I must have inherited some of my fathers love of industrial archeology, so I found this 300 year old deserted Lead mine such a fun place to poke around. There was lots of useful information dotted around the site to answer all my questions without referring to Google! Talking of this … everywhere around here has great 4G connectivity. It must be because it’s so high up??
Home to Brunnehilda and I’m now on my own - the other van has gone! I tried to find the farmer to pay him but he must have been out farming!? Another episode of Ken Burns’ Civil War and then off out to Buxton.
What a lovely place. Kim and I had never stopped so I hadn’t appreciated that it was a proper old fashioned spa town - a la Leamington, Bath and Harrogate! Only problem was that here again the town was infested with happy couples! I had planned to sit in at the Simply Thai Restaurant. I didn’t. Like all the other restaurants it was full of middle aged couples enjoying their evening meal. I ordered a take away and left them to it.
The takeaway was more than adequate and despatched of with the speed of a man who had walked 10 miles over the dales after only consuming a sausage roll and packet of Salt and vinegar since breakfast!
More Ken Burns, chats with the family on WhatsApp and then off to bed. The weather is due to turn tomorrow.
So, what about the big decision? By 5 o’clock I had convinced myself that Brunnehilda was here to stay. Doing stuff that Kim wouldn’t have done - all that hill walking and impromptu forays into the unknown countryside were not her cup of tea - seemed to work best. Visiting pretty wee towns with nice shops and lots of coffee shops and restaurants to peruse is not so good! And, I am beginning to realise I am never going to enjoy my own company for dinner! I’m not sure I can blame Brunnehilda for this or for that fact that 60 something couples (ones I don’t know that is) seem to send me in a downward spiral of sadness, envy and then self pity. Oh well, at least I know what to avoid.
One funny and related story. As I sat on a bench waiting for my takeaway a couple of middle aged ladies approached me and asked me where the cinema was. I explained I wasn’t a local and didn’t know. She seemed quite surprised! As they were walking away, I realised why … I looked like exactly like one of those old men (locals) that sit alone on benches and watch the world go by!!
The fairly miserable evening couldn’t take away from the fact that I’d had a bloody wonderful day.
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