In the dying days of 2019, I fancied one last mini-road trip before I leave England. So I jumped in my trusty Corsa (although, not so recently thanks to it requiring new tyres and new brakes and new sensors FFS), picked up Harriet and headed eastward out of the Cheshire plains.
I set my SatNav for Buxton but on the way stopped off at Blaze Farm.
They do good ice cream here, but it was too chilly for that. There are loads of animals for you to see at Blaze Farm, including cows, pigs, goats, a donkey, a peacock and some little ponies (I guess they were Shetlands – but I’m no equine expert).
In the shed that housed the pigs and ponies, we found a baby in a manger that represented the greatest gift to all mankind…
The manger also contained a Jesus doll.
BTW the picture lies – this cat was loving my attention.
Down some steps behind the farmhouse you’ll find a pond and some nice views of the valley.
Obvs it looks more picturesque when it’s not gloomy AF. Here, you can also find ducks, geese and chickens that you can buy grain for and feed. I wanted to do this but I also wanted to hit the road again as light was already fading.
On the way back to the car we were approached by this very grumpy looking cat.
He/she looked like he/she was looking for trouble, but he/she was very friendly. I think it was a he. Deffo not a he-she.
We then met another friendly cat.
She wouldn’t leave me alone and followed me to my car. I quickly left though before she could put muddy pawprints on my bonnet.
It got foggy whilst driving over Axe Edge Moor. I may be weird but I kinda like driving in the fog (definitely weird cos my one and only car crash happened on my third day of driving in foggy conditions – still got my NCB though #winning). It’s exciting, like I’m sure driving at night with your lights off is exciting…
We pulled over in a lay-by (didn’t crash this time though) to look at some sheep.
What do you call a sheep with no legs and no head?
A cloud. Ber dum chh.
The sheep didn’t come to say hello so we drove on.
Up here on Axe Edge Moor you can find the second-highest inn in England – or at least you COULD until 2015 when it closed down. I used to love going up there as a kid – I loved the feeling of isolation. I only started driving in 2018, so I’m yet to visit in my own car – but the pub should be reopening in 2020 with an added distillery. Fingers crossed.
We arrived in Buxton at around 15:30 and it was very much dusk.
It was that weird time between Christmas and New Year when you kinda do but kinda don’t feel festive. The Christmas decorations were still up and the place looked very pretty, but it was a hollow appreciation. Is it just me who feels that?
Buxton is a spa town and natural, warm springs are located on the site of the old Buxton Baths, which is now a shopping arcade.
There are still clues to the building’s former purpose inside the shops.
And the ceiling is a pretty big hint. Like proper tourists we went in all the shops and didn’t buy anything.
At the very pretty Opera House there was a Cinderella pantomime on. I actually really fancied being cultured and going to the theatre – but we had missed the matinee by about 10 minutes and we couldn’t wait for the evening show. Alas. We wandered the Pavilion Gardens instead.
I pissed off Harriet by asking her to stand under a sign saying “DEAD SLOW”.
I pissed her off again when she stepped in some mud in her brand new Converse.
In the twilight, I saw some gooses.
Although the park was cold, damp and moody, there were still a fair few visitors in it. Anyway, it was time to find some food.
We went to a local chippy and I ordered the world’s most meagre portion of chips.
Seriously pathetic. They were really nice, but I could have eaten them in one bite.
The next day I set Castleton as the destination on the SatNav – we had brought hiking boots and clothes and intended to use them on Mam Tor and/or the Edges. However, we were once again sidetracked, this time by alluring signs to Chatsworth House.
Sitting on the banks of the River Derwent, Chatsworth House has since 1549 been home to the Duke of Devonshire and the Cavendish family – one of the richest and most influential families in England. Despite this, they charge you £4 to park and £24 to visit the House and the gardens.
Of course, the tourists and the middle class folk were rolling out the cash, but with Harriet being a student and me being a tight-arse (I am saving for Thailand, remember), we decided to just wander around the grounds. We saw a nice bridge…
And a nice tree…
And a nice wintery haze for the sun to shine through…
Tbf, I would love to actually visit the House and the gardens, which contain a really beautiful water feature called the Great Cascade. Google it. Maybe another day when I’m not trying to save money…
I dreamed of a life where this was my home, a life in which I was born into aristocracy and never had to worry about money or food… Ahhh, what paradise…
We got our feet muddy and walked around to the old stables where you can actually enter for free.
Inside there was a brass band tooting Christmas carols, shops, a man selling roasted marshmallows for £2 each, hot chocolate, a war horse statue and lots and lots of people. We decided to leave the bustle for the rustle of leaves underfoot.
Behind the House there is a wood you can go for a walk in, and streams you can stand next to.
We found a tree that I though looked like a giant, very aged hare… like a character from Alice in Wonderland…
Thoughts?
Further up the hill you can find an aqueduct that ends in a waterfall.
I’m pretty sure this water supplies the Great Cascade. We could have hiked to the top of the hill to find the reservoir but it was time to head home.
It was a great drive home through valleys and down empty, country roads, and through scenic villages such as Bakewell. We were also blessed with a beautiful sunset.
Not a bad way to see out the Onesies!
See you in 2020! Oh wait, it already is 2020.
#VidOnTour 