Derbyshire

I have decided to explore Derbyshire as much as possible and a good start was made with a walk up the unusually shaped Chrome Hill (on the left) and, from there, look down on the ridge of Parkhouse Hill. It also introduced me to the lovely Staffordshire village of Longnor, which recently boasted four pubs but now only has one, managed by a Wiccen with a limp, as a result of a fall following a heavy drinking session.

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The Derwent Valley is dramatic and very popular, being just across the border from Sheffield. Slippery Stones provide a ford across the Derwent at the head of the valley and has a handsome bridge that was moved here to save it when the lower valley was flooded at the beginning of the 20th century. 

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On a round walk from Hathersage via Bretton we looked back to see the Derwent Valley shrouded in mist, with the peaks in full sun. The Iron Age fort at Carl Wark can be seen on the horizon.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Wark

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The walk took us above Bretton Clough and on to The Barrel Inn at Bretton, from where there is a fine view across the enclosed land to the south.

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A trip to a rather soulless Derby, to see the Wright of Derby paintings, was enlivened by an open art exhibition, an interesting stairwell plus a visit to a fine Georgian house museum, once owned by Joseph Pickford, the architect of Keddlestone Hall and much else. There were even a few Georgian folk in the garden, not really knowing what to do with themselves.

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I only spotted this wonderful pediment as our train home was about to arrive. I presume Wyvern House was the head office of the Midland Railway.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_doorway_of_MRs_Wyvern_House,_Derby_(6731883789).jpg

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The railway theme was extended by a visit to the Middleton Light Railway in Leeds; the first commercial steam railway in the world.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middleton_Railway

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