Dovedale and Thorpe Cloud

Dovedale is a beautiful area on the southern part of the Peak District. It is a valley with the river Dove running through it for about 3 miles, from Milldale to Thorpe Cloud. We have been visiting this area for many years, ever since we were children and have very fond memories of this place. Memories of people no longer with us too, but we have good memories from the old days to treasure for always.
                                     

 As we have grown up, we have taken our children to Dovedale to introduce them to the beautiful area and a bit of our childhood and hope it makes good memories for them too. We used to travel many places on day trips, leaving early mornings, picnic by the roadside half way to wherever we were going, many people did in those days.
My Gran would sit in her deck chair drinking her cup of tea, while we ate our breakfast and enjoyed being out of the car for a little while. Then everything would be packed up back into the boot and off we went again on our journey. We saw so many places on our trips and they often included a hike up to some lake or mushroom picking in the woods with my uncle and grandfather. Miss those old days, we did have some good times.

I loved introducing my family to some of what I experienced as a child, I am not much of an indoor person and love being out walking. Unfortunately with the health of my daughter being as it is,we don't get out as a family any more so this was one of the last times we did before she got too ill for this sort of thing.
These days when we want to go out, the family has to be split as someone has to stay at home with our daughter. It's upsetting to have to split the family in this way but there is no way around it and you do what you have to do.
                               

I love Dovedale and all the area around it. It is up to you how far or high you walk. You can walk in the valley and cross the river over the same stepping stones I crossed as a child. You can follow the river into the wooded area to see the large limestone rocks and caves or climb to top and follow the ridge around. Both ways give you amazing views and a lovely walk. The last time we went, there were some rock climbers on the Ilam rock which is about 25 metres high, I must say they are braver than me!
                               

Just to give you an idea of what they were climbing, here is the rock and at the proper angle!

This photo is from the bottom of the Valley, just around the bend of the river you will come to the stepping stones. 

During the holiday season it can get a little busy around this area as there are flatter areas for people to walk or for picnics. If you like it quieter as we do, just follow the river or go up on the ridges.
                                         

Most people who know Dovedale think of it as the picture below, the stepping stones, there is so much more to Dovedale than just them but it is a very pretty area.

One of our boys made everyone wait to cross the stones until it was clear so that he could run across them!

I guess everyone is having ago!

The ridge above the Dovedale Stepping stones. 

I do remember when we were children walking up through this water, feeling the little pebbles between our toes but also having cows walking in the water with us. I think it's just sheep that are farmed in this area these days, but I might be wrong. I sit here smiling, thinking about the old days and the fun we had here, we did have some good times. 'Oh the old days' as people say :) when children played in the rivers and streams, something they do still do in Dovedale.

Going back to this area and taking my own family here, was very special to me and I was so pleased that they loved it and found the area as beautiful as I did.

You can follow the river around for a more relaxing walk but it's not all flat the further you go, be aware of this if you are with people who can't manage steep steps. Don't let this put you off though as there is plenty of  flatter area before these steps to walk and take in the view.

Some of the steps to climb further down the river, there is a place to rest at the top, it's called 'Lovers leap' and is 120 ft above the river. It is said a maiden jumped from here when she was jilted by her lover, but it is also said that she landed in thick bushes so walked away.

Maybe someone can help me with this one, Here and there along the river you will tree logs with money stuck in them. Can anyone tell me why this is?

Dovedale is well known for it's limestone formations, you just look up and you can see them everywhere.

Reynard's cave

 The next few photos show the Tissington Spire, there are more rocks too, one the shape of a lion and you can easily see the head.

The next photo is the view from Thorpe Cloud 

Thorpe Cloud is in the Southern part of Dovedale before the stepping stones, there is a car park here too but be warned, it is not on flat ground and some areas of the hill are a little steep, as we found out the last time we went when my husband nearly burnt my clutch out, trying to reverse out of our parking spot! There was lots of smoke, everyone jumping out of the car, panic over, then hubbie managing to reverse it up the hill with less bodies in the car!  I do remember pulling up here and saying 'I hope they don't make me park there' and where did the parking person tell me to park? Yes right where I didn't want too! Why do you think I asked my husband to drive on the way back? :) Next time we will stick to the National Trust car park further down the river!

 Saying all this, the view as you come around Thorpe from the car park is beautiful.

A little history for you now, Thorpe Cloud got it's name from the Vikings who settled here around 800AD, Thorpe being a Scandinavian name and Cloud got it's name from the old English word 'clud' meaning hill. I like to think it got it's name from feeling your in the clouds up there.

Our son and my daughter on Thorpe Cloud

                                       

Some other areas of Dovedale 

It's a long way down so be careful up the top if you have young children with you.

                  The last photo I really shouldn't put up but I will anyway :)

                            www.nationaltrust.org.uk/article-1356405113085/

Waddesdon Manor - A touch of Europe in an English countryside

Waddesdon Manor, where to start?
It had been suggested by National Trust that maybe I would like Waddesdon Manor which is why I went there in the first place. I had popped down the M40 on my own one weekend in august to check it out. It's a little further than I like to drive on my escapes to be honest and the motorways I try to avoid where possible.  http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/waddesdon-manor/
                                   

There are two reasons I hate motorways, one is because of the other drivers, there are some mad drivers in this World and I always feel a little stressed on the motorway, far too much traffic for me coming from far too many directions and to be honest, when the children were younger and played up in the car and I don't mean just like your average child playing up, but a full scale melt down, it wasn't easy to just stop and pull over on the motorways, side roads you can do that and you can just wait until everything has calmed down. I am sure anyone with children with autism will know exactly what I mean and wear the badge 'been there, done that!'' as I am sure other parents have too! As they have grown older, this happened less and less so driving now has became more enjoyable instead of just a means to get somewhere with a child or two that refused to walk.
                                       

The second reason I normally avoid motorways is because you miss so much on your travels. I much more prefer to travel on the old roads and see the beautiful sights, the rolling yellow fields, the corn growing, old stone buildings in some very beautiful villages, hills, valleys, woods, all missed on motorways. OK so you might get stuck behind the odd tractor or two but that's country life, I have learnt patience with the children over the years and as I always allow for extra time, it's never a problem.
                                                       

                                             
On my trip to Waddesdon Manor I did choose to use the M40 and it was the first time I had driven on that motorway. I didn't have much time that day and the alternative would have added 45 minutes to my journey giving me less time at the Manor.I arrived later in the day than most people so was parked quite a way down the hill. I was given two options, one to walk up the long drive for about a mile or a quicker more direct route, up and over the hill which is the one I chose. (Since my daughter has been ill, I just don't get out much these days so have put on a little more weight than I am happy with and also with my lack of walking become unfit!)  This hill I chose to climb, I am sure did not look that steep from the bottom! After getting to the top of it and getting my breath back, all I could say was WOW and WOW again. What a beautiful site to see! I had come up the back way and there before me was the beautiful garden with all it's lovely colours with this amazing house in the background!
             

I did not expect that view when I was climbing the hill as you can't see the house from the bottom. It was well worth the journey so much so that a week later I returned with all my family to celebrate my birthday. It was our first trip out as a complete family since my daughter had become ill with CFS/ME so I was split a little between worrying how she would cope and excitement of showing them where I had been. We brought a wheelchair with us and were kindly allowed to park at the top of the hill where the ground was flatter and access was better for disabled. I must say the lady who chats on twitter and the parking attendants couldn't have been more helpful than they were and for that I thank you all very much.
                                       

Waddesdon Manor is yes another National Trust property and with our membership, which to be honest has normally paid for itself before Spring even starts, it only ever costs us petrol to get anywhere. Of course you have the option of eating out at most national trust properties or bringing your own picnic which is what we do as we have too many allergies to work around, it just makes life a little easier. Saying that the menu did look very good at Waddesdon Manor, it is on our list of places to try should we mange to escape sometime without the children.
                                       

I must admit my favourite view of this glorious house it the front of it, it brought tears to my eyes the first time I saw it. The house was built in the Neo Renaissance style of a French Castle (Château) in the 2nd half of the 1800's for Baron Ferdinand de Rothchild . The Rothschild's family have a few houses built in a very similar style to this house. The Baron wanted this house to be in the style of other Château's built in the Loire Valley so employed a French architect, Gabriel-Hippolyte Destailler to build his dream.
                   

The reason the view of the front of the house brings tears to my eyes is because it reminds me of a place I miss so very much and a place very close to my heart. The roof and spires of Waddesdon Manor are something that is seen not just in France, but through many countries in Europe and when I first walked down that drive, it felt a like a little bit of home here in England. The place I am talking about is Prague and I feel very proud to have been born there. It is also known as the city of 1000 spires and this house reminded me of it which made it all the more special for me on to be here on my birthday. The closest I could get to the real thing. Now you know a little more about me :)

Waddesdon Manor is an amazing house, it has beautiful grounds to walk around and so much to see, We are planning another visit to see what we didn't have time to before. I guess you could see it all in one day but I don't like to rush my visits to places, I like to walk slowly and take it all in and also leave something to explore for another visit.  The grounds are as beautiful as the house and you can walk as little or as much as you wish, some areas are a little up and down but there are plenty of flat areas if you can't manage the hills.
They also have one of the biggest aviaries I have seen at a Historical house such as this.
                                   

 We were also lucky to happen to visit on the same day as the Chilli Festival so came home with some nice goodies :)
                       

Inside Waddesdon Manor

As for the inside of the house, this did not disappoint either, there is lots to see inside so be warned if you can't walk far as they have many rooms open for people to view (which I think is great). They do have a lift in the house and wheelchairs to lend out so do ask for help if you need it, they will happily help you.

The next three photos show one of the two beautiful spiral staircases from outside and in. I loved how the curve of the stone banister followed beautifully from outside the house to the other side of the stairwell inside, it was perfectly built.

                             

                 

There is so much to tell you about this house and estate but maybe I can leave that for you to explore on a visit and just show you a few things you will see instead.

This house has some amazing chandeliers , if I remember correctly, this one weights 3/4 of a tonne! I am pleased I don't have to clean this!

 These photos don't show you the true size of beauty of this chandelier.

My favourite room in the house has to be the downstairs main dining room, it is truly beautiful, the work that has gone into this room is really something but it is also how the room has been dressed to add the finishing touches. I think it's one of the room people take spend the most time in.

When walking around the house, remember to look up too, this house has quite a collection of different types of lights

This next one is great, do you think someone had a Greek night before making this ? :)

This was the table the broken crockery lampshade was above for more private dinning.

I have added a few more photos from around the house for you to get a better idea of what you would see if you went there.

As You can see there is so much to look at from the floors to the ceilings and all very beautiful.

This part of the house is the men's club and not open to the public at the weekends but worth seeing.

So many old weapons 

Of course there has to be one of these in this wing of the house!

 I took far too many photos as usual here so will end it here but give you a link to the rest if you wish to see them. http://www.panoramio.com/user/3130920/tags/National%20Trust%20Waddesdon%20Manor

 Waddesdon Manor have been posting photos of what it's like at Christmas, very nice :) I would love to see it in the snow one day too but of course it is getting there and back in such weather. But we will see. Here is the link if your interested .
                   www.waddesdon.org.uk/plan-a-visit/christmas-at-waddesdon

We loved Waddesdon Manor and will be back a few times of that I am sure. I hope you enjoyed my new blog.