Monday 2nd November 2009

I feel a bit like nearly every other walk I have done this year has been around Chatsworth. As this one was done for one of the magazines I write for, I had no choice but to return to the Chatsworth estate again. After all the recent good weather I thought I'd missed my opportunity to get some good autumnal pictures on this walk, I was wrong.

Start: Hell Bank Plantation (SK 2867 6806)

Route: Hell Bank Plantation - Rabbit Warren - Swiss Lake - Hunting Tower - Queen Mary's Bower
            - Derwent Valley Way - Beeley - Hell Bank Plantation

Distance: 7.25 miles     Ascent: 267 metres     Time Taken: 3 hours 45 minutes

Terrain: Good paths.

Weather: Sunny with a cold edge to the wind.

Pub visited: None      Ale Drunk: None

Harland Edge, from Hell Bank Plantation.

Looking along the Derwent Valley, to Stanton Moor, from Rabbit Warren.

Approaching Stand Wood, with Longstone Edge on the horizon.

Stand Wood.

Reflections in Swiss Lake.

Hunting Tower.

Christmas displays in the Stable Yard at Chatsworth.

Queen Mary's Bower. I was particularly keen to look at this having recently read 
'The Other Queen' by Phillipa Gregory which uses Chatsworth as one of its locations. 

The view from the Bower, of the River Derwent and Baslow Edge.

The house at Chatsworth is undercover as it undergoes some repairs.

Hunting Tower seen high above the main house.

Not a bad spot for my lunch.

The clouds must have gathered whilst I was eating as by 
the time I took the next picture it looked like a different day.

Heading towards Beeley with a view of Burnt Wood.

Looking across the valley to Falling Edge.