Alport, Bradford Dale, Low Moor, Monyash, Lathkill Dale,

Again, Tuesday came and we had good weather. We have some really lovely scenery and places right on our doorstep, and the two green and beautiful dales of Bradford and Lathkill are just ten minutes drive from where we live. Lathkill is said to be one of, if not THE, cleanest rivers in Europe. The waters have a very distinctive sparkle, that's for sure. I know there are Kingfishers in Bradford dale, but so far I've never been lucky enough to see one there.

We parked at Alport, simply crossed the road and entered Bradford dale. The river Bradford bubbled at our side as we set off.

Under the trees, and through the gate.

This would be my personal version of a set of pearly gates leading to heaven :-)

At this time of year, green is the colour! These dales are resplendent in their Summer mantle of green, and we never get tired of looking at it.

Sue stands on my favourite bridge at Middleton-by-Youlgreave.
I have an oil painting of this scene that a friend did for me a long time ago. It looks JUST the samed today. The painting originally had a clear, blue sky but I asked for little white clouds to be put in - just like the ones below.

Locals make the most of the July sunshine and swim and splash in the river.

A fine example of a 'clapper bridge'.
You see these bridges a lot in the Peak district.
A clapper bridge is simply a set of stone slabs over a river or stream.

Another one, further up the river.

Ducks too had their share of relaxation and 'fine tuning' of the feathers for maximum waterproofing.

A final flap to make sure all's well.

We were being WATCHED!

A stile in a stone wall.

So easy to say, but such a thing of beauty when bathed in sunshine, reflected off the white limestone.

We heard many a skylark's song today. The terrain was perfect for them, so we lay down in a field and watched as one ascended high, high into the blue sky, before dropping like a stone to the ground. I managed to get a shot of this one before she sneaked off to wherever her nest was.

We crossed a stile at Low Moor and saw this sight of Lathkill dale ahead.

Even the lanes are delight to walk on a day like today.

I love the way the walls are not so high in Derbyshire (like in Wales, for instance) that you can't see over them. There's just so MUCH to see!

Monyash church peeps over the treetops to welcome us into the village.

We were getting a bit pushed for time really, as we were being picked up by friends at 7:30PM, and it was already mid-afternoon and we still had about 5 miles to walk.

We took refreshment in 'The Old Smithy' at Monyash before setting off down Lathkill dale, and the second leg of our 11 mile walk.

I always sigh at the views up and over a ridge on a lovely day. The blue, white and the green are just MADE for each other!

This is a dramatic view ahead of the second half of Lathkill dale. Steep, limestone escarpments abound here.

This waterfall can be spectacular after rains, but today it was in the same mood as us - relaxed.

We always enjoy walking through the excessive vegetation at this time of year (except for nettles!). Here's Sue being almost swallowd by the riverside greenery.

Ever deeper!

Almost at the end of the walk, and it's 6:15PM - good job we don't have far to go to get home!

This is 'Raper lodge', just outside Youlgreave village.

It always look spooky to me. I don't like the place, but it does make for an atmospheric photograph.

And that was it, another one 'in the tin', as the old lead miners used to say.

As you can see, the sky was darkening now, and sure enough, later on it POURED with rain, but by this time, we were looking at it over a nice steak and a good bottle if wine!

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Monsal Magic - the sunset.

On Monday night, straight after work, we went up to Monsal head with our dinner and a bottle of wine, then just sat and watched the sun go down. It was wonderful.

Monsal head is a Derbyshire beauty spot that is just a short drive from where we live in Bakewell. I had been meaning to do this for weeks now, and I can now say that it's a really moving spectacle, and one I will be seeing again, many more times.
Susie gets the dinner out - a nice (home made) red Thai curry & a bottle of red wine.

The sun sets

Looking up the viaduct side of the dale, the sun sets to the right of this view.

This is what it looks like as the sun slides down over the ridge.

Beautiful, isn't it? The camera can't tell the full majesty of this, I really can't begin to do it justice with words or pictures - but this is my best effort.

The last rays - and the lovely silhouettes.

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Longnor, Earl sterndale, Parkhouse Hill, Chrome Hill, Hollins Hill, Hollinsclough

This Tuesday we went out with a couple of friends, Dave and Carol. Carol has a 'dicky ankle', but is trying to harden it up so we took her and hubby Dave to the reef knolls of Hollinsclough. Millions of years ago, the sea lapped against the reef, and as you probably know, limestone is made up of the dead, compressed bodies of BILLIONS of minute sea creatures. It always blows my mind to try and think numbers when I see huge limestone escarpments or buttresses.

Anyway, we were really lucky with the weather (again), and we had a warm, breezy day all day. We finished off with fish and chips in the cafe at Longnor (highly recommended). Longnor used to be a very important village. It had it's own market and tolls. When rail and main roads came though, it went the way of many other 'important' places and fell by the wayside. It still sports a very worn and in bad condition toll board.

We set off up the lovely cobbled alleyway towards the church and open fields.

Sue & Dave chat as they walk through the flowery meadows.

We soon crested the rise and saw High Wheeldon on the other side of the upper Dove dale.
The young river Dove goes along this valley.

A glance left revealed our destination today. Parkhouse hill (left) and Chrome hill (right), but first we were to stop off in the village of Earl Sterndale. There was a special pub there that I wanted to show Dave & Carol.

The quiet woman - how so, I hear you ask?.........

Look closer.........

After refreshment, we set off towards the reef knolls of Parkhouse hill, (on left, behind us), then Chrome hill.
This is Carol, me and Sue.

This was a real test for Carols ankle - this really is a 'knees in chest climb' up to Parkhouse hill top.
This is just one place that was made accessible by the new countryside access bill.

The summit party!

Next - Chrome hill! (After a spot of tiffin, of course)

Onward...................

Looking back to Parkhouse hill from the flanks of Chrome hill.
You can see the path up on the ridge.

Sue closes on the top, and gets windswept hair for her trouble.

On top. we could see the next hill - Hollins. Yet another hill opened up by the countryside access bill. Thank GOD for it too!
We were going to walk along that top ridge, right to left, and down into the hamlet of Hollinsclough.

And here we are - looking across the valley the opposite way. We were standing on that sharp top only an hour previously.

The lovely lane out of Hollinsclough, and on our way back to Longnor.
That's Chrome hill there that you can see.

Time for some well-earned fish and chips. Tuck in, Susie!

Lastly, some of the flowers etc seen on this walk.

Thistle - closed.

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