Stannage Edge, Derbyshire

We were up visiting Katie, and as it was a hot sunny day thought about going for a stroll in the peak district.
Katie was doing a lot of climbing wall work but not a lot of outdoor "proper" stuff, so it was an opportunity to climb some grit.

The cliffs are just over an hour form her on a good day, however on a hot Good Friday there was lots of traffic and we did not get there until 11am, and the parking was stretched down the side of the road.

We parked up and walked in, then started to find out where we were ..  I only had the summary "best of" guide book with selected routes. The old techniques soon came back and after walking along fro the end for a while to find the Flying Buttress.
The place was busy and a lot of the routes had people on them, it was sensible to get ready then pick one.

Thinking about where to start I settled on a classic VD .. Crack and Corner. The guide book said "polished holds" at the bottom ... and it was not wrong. I set off and promptly slipped, held only by a hand jam in the crack, repeating this got me past his point, btu then the next set of polished holds brought on the doubts ...  not happy and a little uncertain whether it would get worse further up I chickened out and settled for an easier route to the right.

So, suitably chastened ..  settled for Grotto Slab - up the sloping boulder and the wall above. there were a couple of awkward moments but the muscle memory on how to mantle shelf soon came back. Katie got some practice in removing gear ..

After this lunch, in the shelter of a boulder .. Bertie hovering up the crumbs.  Just above this was black hawk area ...  and a crack and corner group that had steady traffic.

Blizzard chimney and Black Hawk Hell Crack..  Starting in the corner but climbing the left wall...  of all the cliff this was a nice cool area and although there were a few tricky moves, it all flowed better.

Katie followed up ...

One thing that I noticed was that the obsession with gear has got worse and everyone seemed to have huge racks of shiny stuff hanging off them ...  as well as the clothes, even my tired rock boots looked out of place.

Enough for one day ...  I had revisited an old haunt, and discovered I was not a capable as I used to be ..  and also the lower grade climbs do require much more grunt than the harder face climbs .

Back through chesterfield to see the spire and and sculptures, for Katie's house.

Bertie was worn out too.

Blenheim Palace, Cotswolds

We were in the area, and never been to Blenheim palace.. somewhere Sue had wanted to visit for a while.
It was on our way home so we joined the hordes of others and parked in the car park, before walking up the long drive. to the front gatehouse - in reality on the side of the complex.

The inside courtyard - very much like a parade square.

The queue to get into the state apartments was huge so we looked at the Turner exhibition first then came back as it died down a little.
The state apartments (accompanied by an audio tour guide on tablet phone) was of its time, and large rooms with expensive furniture in them, all was diluted by the crowds pushing and shoving around.
Outside the gardens were more serene... first the formalised gardens leading down to the lakes.

and the large lawns and "secret" garden next to it.

On the opposite side to the large lawned area was the classic view down to the bridge and up to the monument.
We had shied away from the queues in the coffee shops and went for a walk over the bridge and around the lake and back to the car, through the parkland.

The classic view of the bridge and palace

Through the village gate to get back to the car. Then the snacks we had there before the trail home.

Broadway Tower, Cotswolds

The broadway tower is a folly down a long drive/ road with passing places off the main road... did seem a little odd. however once we could see it, everything made sense.
The tower was on the side of the escarpment positioned by Capability Brown away from other buildings.
We parked on the side of the road, without going down to the cafe and shops (where parking would normally be charged). then walked over the fields to the tower.
A strange 3 sided affair, similar to the one we saw in the Isle of Man.
Downstairs was the shop and reception, from here one staircase was up, another down and the final one closed off.
The next floor had a display on the Royal Observers Corp, the middle one to William Morris, and finally the top one the cold war.

The top had a good viewing platform with views all around.
Towards Wales

Looking North-East

Outside the cafe (only used for the facilities) were these wooden sheep.
There was also a nuclear bunker by the tower... open at the weekends, but only housed a couple of observers.
From here we made our way back to the van along the edge of the escarpment then off to the hotel, and dinner.

Sudeley Castle, Cotswolds

We had picked up several leaflets in the tourist information office .. one of these was for Sudeley Castle. Sitting in some gardens and with a cross section of eras and facilities.
Arriving there early we could have a good look around at our pace without being troubled by the masses.

in the main living quarters ... based around the Henry viii and Catherine Parr era.

Knot garden in the grounds .. and the gate house ...

Sculptures around the gardens

We had followed all the trails around before heading off towards Towchester.

Batsford Arboretum, Cotswolds

Being too early to check into the hotel we followed the signs to a nearby arboretum ... in Batsford park.

A pleasant walk around the gardens .... cherry and magnolias on show...

Numerous Sculptures around the garden.. different varieties

Having gone around most of the grounds in a circular tour, seeing all the highlighted items. The boundaries were limited by a church to the right, and an artificial cave created from stone blocks to the top (also the highest point). Back in the centre following the stream, before going back to the van for some coffee.

2019 Birthday Trip, Cotswolds

For my significant birthday treat, Sue took me off to Moreton-in-Marsh for a long weekend. We were booked into the White Hart on the high street ... An old coaching inn, but parking was an issue - on the main street, but for most of the day this was packed or only for 2 hours at a time. We found a small car park around the back where you could park for £2 all day.

Trip summary

• Day1
• Batsford Arboretum
• Day2
• Sudeley Castle
• Broadway Tower
• Day3
• Blenheim Palace
• Return