Trip 9: Darley Dale & Matlock
The day started with rain before we had left home but everything was already packed into Iona. It took us 2 hours to get to Darley Dale and the journey was in and out of storms. It was still raining when we arrived so we just parked up and waited for the rain to slow before we finished setting up.
Once the rain had stopped we went for a walk which started by heading for the river and then we followed a track which looked as if it went to Matlock.
We turned around and walked back, crossed over the river Derwent. We could not resist calling in at the Square and Compass for a drink before continuing home.
Once back at the campsite we erected the Quest gazebo and Sue set it up ready for tea. Tonight we had Teriyaki chicken and salad although I had new potatoes with mine.
Day 2:
We set off towards Matlock, following the railway. We crossed over the river and got a little lost before finding a footpath that went under the bridge and then followed the railway into Matlock.
The town was busy and we found a small market where Sue bought some spring onions. We left the market and walked through the park which has a cafe in the centre and at the far end there is a boating lake and a children’s paddling pool and play park.
Our walk continued into another small park and the footpath took us upto the top of what felt like a mountain.
On the top of High Tor is a war memorial with views back over Matlock.
We made our way back down from High Tor to the park where we found a bench to eat our lunch and people watch.
After lunch we walked through the sensory garden and then headed out of the town towards the railway and the footpath home.
We had walked just on 9 miles. The rest of the afternoon was spent reading and trying to clear the waste drain of the motorhome but it will have to wait until we get home.
We had a BBQ for tea and we sat outside until it got dark at around 22.45, it certainly was the longest day.
Day 3:
We started our walk today from Darley Dale Peak railway station and headed to Rowsley station. We got to Rowsley and continued to The Peak Village Outlet where Sue had a look in every shop but she never bought anything. I had seen a bakery which looked promising. I wanted something like a Danish pastry for lunch.
The shop was meticulously laid out but most of the cakes were pre wrapped in plastic. They didn’t do Danish pastries but he tried to sell us a coffee and a hot pasty. Foolishly I bought a slice of Swiss roll and a piece of lemon drizzle cake. I then saw an Eccles cake and a Bakewell tart so I bought those as well.
We walked from the Village to the nature reserve and found a bench near the river to eat the Swiss roll and the lemon cake. It was very disappointing , the Swiss roll had more sugar than Tate & Lyle , Sue liked her cake. The man had told us the shelf life meant he could not do Danish pastries but the Swiss roll came from Ireland and had a months shelf life.
On the way home I saw an unusual type of Stile in a field next to the track.
We walked home and stopped in Church Town and called at the Church Inn for a pint. We sat out in the garden while the sun shone then it was off to the Whitworth park.
People were playing bowls so we found a seat over looking the green and we ate our lunch. I shared the Eccles cake with Sue, it was very flaky and hard but we managed it, again not a great buy.
We left the park just as it began to spit with rain but we got home before we got wet. We had walked another 8 miles today.
Day 4:
Today we stayed around the motorhome just reading after two days of walking. We did walk around the Whitworth park and saw people playing Croquet and bowls, then we went to the coop to get a couple of items before walking back to the campsite.
The sky has clouded over but no rain is forecast but we are ready to take the quest room down if it does rain.
There is a constant stream of Caravans and Motorhomes arriving for the weekend but we are still without anybody on one side and then another motorhome joined us.
We took the Quest gazebo down but this was the first time we have used it this year and I forgot about taking two poles out before collapsing it. We could not get it to collapse properly and it was a bit embarrassing to be the afternoon entertainment. Once I had remembered about removing the two poles it went away properly.
We decided that we will practice at home so we are not the entertainment at the next campsite at Pateley Bridge.
Iona’s Travels 