Chatsworth

 Since our last trip a lot had happened.

We had been on a great weekend in Liverpool to watch the gymnastics

Christmas had come and gone.

We had a ruby wedding.

New year had come and gone.

We had been on a great weekend in Watford to visit Harry Potter.

We had been on a great weekend in Blackpool to watch the football.

Ian had been on two skiing holidays.

And we had acquired two new family members.

It had been a long winter, but at last Spring had sprung. It was time to dust off Dame Shirley Bassey. Ian had been keeping an eye on her electrics throughout the winter and she seemed to be holding her charge well. 

Over the week before I checked her insides over before loading her up with all the paraphernalia required for a weekend away. On the day itself Ian went into the office in the morning then worked from home in the afternoon to ensure a quick getaway. Meanwhile, I busied myself with the ironing before giving the dogs a walk around the woods. 

Some weeks ago, I had cashed in some Tesco vouchers for a magazine subscription to Country Walking. Marvellous magazine, I highly recommend it. But so what, I hear you cry. Well, Country Walking has encouraged me to sign up to ‘Walk 1000 Miles’. You print off a sheet where you fill in how many miles you walk in a day, with the aim of reaching 1000 over 12 months. I am just counting miles on walks, not around the home or at work, although I’m sure that would be fine too. So every walk while away in Dame Shirley will count towards my 1000 miles, and you may find me banging on about them! I will, of course, keep you posted as to my progress. Double Dog walk around the woods, 2.5 miles.

The time crept by, but eventually it was 4’o’clock, time to depart. Ian removed Dame Shirls winter blankie, spun the seats back round, and we were off, five long months after our last trip. Georgie Kelly took us unerringly to the Chatsworth Caravan and Motorhome site near Baslow, and before half five we were pulling in and being directed to superpitch 26. Ian set up the electrics, filled us with water, and erected the awning. I made a coffee then put my feet up. A superpitch has its own water supply, and a nice little hedge. It also had its own grey waste disposal grate, for which you need a pipe, one of which I had purchased on Amazon, and which had arrived 30mins before we left. 

Ian wrestling with Dame Shirls blankie

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In situ on the superpitch

Looking across to the peasant pitches

A cosy looking Dame Shirley 

After resting with a nice cup of coffee we set out to explore. The warden had given us a key. A special key. Chatsworth CMC site is surrounded by a wall to keep out the riffraff, and the key is for a gate in the wall that takes you out on to a path to the house and gardens. Arriving at the gate we unlocked it and passed through to find the house just a couple of hundred yards away

Through the keyhole

But that was for tomorrow, so we passed back through the secret gate and headed for another special place, one that we had spotted on our way in. The Chatsworth CMC chip van. We arrived just after a man who had a lot of questions. In fact he questioned every item on the menu. Decided what he wanted. Asked more questions. Changed his mind. It’s a chip van! They do fish and chips! Eventually we ordered a large fish and chips to share. As we left a new couple had arrived. ‘Do you do spam fritters?!’

The chip van

Meal of kings

As we walked back from the chip van the sky was awash with chattering rooks. Hundreds of them. The trees around the site are rammed with nests, and they don’t half make a racket. We devoured our tea, fed Misty hers, then hunkered down with the noise of the rain pitter pattering on the roof. Heaven.

We spent a peaceful night with only the heavy rain, wind, rooks, morning chorus, and a bloody pigeon to disturb us. I still managed a lovely lie in though. I fed Misty and took her for her morning ablutions in the very nice dog area, before rustling up a Full English.

Dame Shirley in all her morning glory

Dog ablution area

Top Full English

We then waited for our breakfast to settle, and the rain to subside, before setting off on our walk. Secret Key in hand we headed for the wall and let ourselves out amongst the normal people.

The secret door

As we first set off it was raining, but it soon stopped and we ended up having a lovely walk. We walked up to the Hunting Tower, around the Emperor lake, then back down. We ended by having a snack (!) at the cafe, before returning along the riverbank. 

Andrew and Christine’s aqueduct

The hunting tower, and the view

At the emperor lake

Blue skies in the woods

A small snackerel 

Followed by an ice cream

Threatening skies over chatsworth

Looking behind

And in front

Back through the secret door Ian headed for the dog wash, and Misty was soon all clean and fluffy. 

Let’s take a look at that 5.5 mile walk on Strava

After a rest and a shower, we all set off for Baslow for some tea. Out of the secret gate we turned left for the one mile walk (that’s another two toward the 1000). As the sun set we were treated to some lovely skies before arriving at the Wheatsheaf dog friendly Hotel where we ate and drank. On the walk home the skies were clear and the stars had come out. Amazing!

Stunning skies over Baslow

There was just time to watch a show about musical shows before bed.

Boy did it rain overnight, but it was lovely listening to it hunkered down in Dame Shirley. I didn’t wake up till 8’o’clock. Poor Misty! But wait, the clocks had gone forward so it was really only 7. I rolled over to hear Ian getting up. Poor lad hadn’t realised. Never mind. The rain had just stopped so his walk to the dog ablution area wasn’t too bad. It was porridge for breakfast today, with raspberries, before we decided to go ahead with our planned walk to Baslow Edge. We had seen the edge from the house, so Ian planned a route up and along it. We were so glad the rain held off as it was a fabulous walk. We went back into Baslow then up, up, up to Wellington monument on top of the hill. Then past Eagle rock, along the edge, and down into Curbar, where we had a late lunch in a lovely cafe. Back along the river Derwent on a very muddy path, then through Chatsworth Park and back to the secret door. Over 7 miles towards my 1000, and no rain!

Looking over Chatsworth

Wellington Monument

Whisper stop where we met a fellow Miller

Eagle Rock

Top of Baslow Edge

By the Derwent

Much needed dog wash

We returned to Dame Shirley in time to watch England beat Ukraine before packing up and setting off for home. What a brilliant first outing. Not too long to wait for the next one either. A week in Norfolk in two weeks.

Site rating

Brilliant. Nice flat pitch, although my new tube was too short! Fab dog walking area that even Monty could be off the lead in. Secret door to another world. Great location. Fishy and chip van. Showers that turn on and stay on. Pies for sale (although we didn’t partake). Only downside were the rooks, but we got used to them.

Neighbour watch

As expected for somewhere as posh as Chatsworth the neighbours were all charming. I met a nice man in the washing up area who gave me a tip for a site near Newark with a micro brewery. I must have looked like a drinker! Everyone said hello. No screaming kids or feral dogs, although a little Westy in a red jacket was a bit feisty.