Surprising events in Derbyshire - Saturday 18/5/24
Our grandson is at Uni in Derby so we arranged to go up and see him, however he was not aware of this.
We travelled up the A14 and M1 to a pub just outside Derby, The Ragley Boat Stop, so named because the Trent and Mersey Canal runs past the bottom of the beer garden,
making it a popular stop for narrowboat travellers. The pub had a huge carpark and welcomes campervan stopovers, and was idealy located on the outskirts of Derby
The next day we went to Ashbourne for the morning, and had a wander around the shops. As the weather was so good, in the afternoon to nearby Ilam Park to walk around the gardens and along the river.
That night we stayed at The Ragley Boat Stop again and in the morning headed into Derby, where we had booked a hotel near the cathedral. After a day spent sightseeing around Derby we went to The Flowerpot, a pub nearby where the grandson works in the evenings, and effected a perfect 'swoop and surprise'.
The Flowerpot is a great pub, with some really nice real ales.
Enjoying Derby so much, back at the hotel we booked for another night and the next day went to The Derby Museum of Making.
This was a really interesting museum, illustrating industry from the area old and new. Quite surprising how many well known brands are assosiated with the area.
The Museum of Making, showing the Kestrels that nest in the Cathedral.
Leaving Derby we headed off to the peaks, visiting Buxton and Tideswell on the way. Unfortunately, the spell of fine weather ended and the rain closed in, the low cloud spoiling the views of the magnificent scenery in this area. That night we parked up just outside Castleton, enjoying a few pints in The Bulls Head.
After quite a stormy night, the morning did not bring much improvement in the weather. We drove up past The Blue John Caverns and headed for Chapel en le Frith, and then Whaley Bridge. Unfortunately the inclement weather precluded much sightseeing. Back at Castleton again, we booked a campsite for the following night, and headed off to the pub again.
The weather had improved overnight, and the sun greeted us when we opened the curtains next morning. Driving back up on to the high peak, we visited a few places and after lunch and coffee we went on to Macclesfield for some shopping. Returning to Buxton via the A537, known locally as The Cat and Fiddle, we parked up at the campsite in the tiny village of Crowdecote. After settling in we had dinner at the local pub, The Pack Horse Inn.
