Chatsworth Ramble and Buxton Beers

We finally woke to a sunny day in what has been a pretty mediocre August - determined to enjoy while we could set out towards Chatsworth - could persuade any of the ofspring to join us so it was just me and the better half - made good time to Chatsworth - surprsingly quiet around Leek and Buxton - love the drive along the A6 which follows the Wye with the Monsall Trail flipping over head - turned off at Ashford - Hassop station looked busy with cars in the overflow car park Chatsworth was steady - meadow car park was already full - can no longer pre book parking so paid our fiver at the hut and actually managed to park very close to Carriage House and shops - we have normally walked by the river and then over the deer park to Edensor but i had read a couple of posts from people recommending the walks up to the Hunting Tower and top lakes someenset off towrds the farm yard and the sounds of happy kids on the adventure play ground - a fair few folk around but beyond the hunting tower we were pretty much on our own - we probably walked for 40 minute without seeing a sole. There are some useful downloadable maps on the Chatsworth website - to see the lake walks look at the bottom for the Stand Wood Walks

we completed the easy going route - around 3 miles whic took us about 90 minutes with just a short stop by the Emperor Lake We cut the corner a bit at the start and went up the steps towards the Hunting tower - these are quite going and as they are under woodland wet and a tad slippy - we met a couple coming down who were taking it very steady and we both said we were glad that we wouldn't be returning that way - must count the steps next time we did it The Steps!

The steps are in flights, with a few flats inbetween and there are a couple of seats on the way up as well - you do make some height pretty quickly - which us great for the rest of the walk as its pretty much down hill for the next 2. 5 miles At the top of the steps the trees thin out amd you start to get some great views quite a few folk up around the tower which i think is now a holiday let, a couple of guys artived by bike and i did wonder what was the crack re cycling around the estate - we didnt see anyone else on bikes - checking the website later it does say that cycling is permitted on tarmac roads across the estate - (most of this route is on tarmac roads)

From the back of the hunting tower there a couple of paths and a road moving up towards to lakes - you hit the corner of the Emperor Lake first - there looks to be a newish holding pond on the left if the path and where the feeder from the moors comes in - i remember seeing on piece about this on the tv show that looks behind the scences at Chatsworth

A short walk then get you to the Swiss lake - there is a very nice Swiss Cottage at the far end of the lake, which again is a very nice hoiday let - the Lake looks a bit forloorn and has been drained - not sure what they plan to do with - it all looks a bit terminal - but there are nice views up to the high moors - we then continued on a very quiet estate road that tooks us out and back - a nice mix of woodland and views over the moors - this is the bit where we didnt see anyone else for quite a while. The road begins to drop down towards the river and the woodland then start to fully enclose you - lots of Beech as you get back nearer to the Gardens the varity of trees on yur right starts to increase - as we got nearer to the old aqueduct met a few more people - think this is the quick road route up to the Huting Tower that misses out the steps - hghlight is a clearing just above famous cascade - unfortunately you don't get to the see the cascade just the top holiding pond - but he view out over the valley is very nice

Its then just a short drop back to the farmyard and main car park - we eat our butties on a bench enjoying the sun and peeple watching - with the sun out the park was now quite busy.

Mid afternoo now so time to make a decision about where to head for refreshment - considered Bakewell and another trip to the Thornbridge - but looking at the steady numbers pouring into Chatsworth, decided it would be very busy and parking a bit of a pain - parking at the Brewery is fine but a bit of a walk into the town - so we agreed on Buxton We have had a couple of nice visits to the pop up beer garden outside the brewery and pre covid had tried to get into the Brewery Tap behind the Crescent in Buxton town, but had never managed - the Tap had been closed pretty much through lock down so agreed that we woud start there - I was also aware of a couple of new micro crafty bars also opening that we hadnt tried - Monk only opens Wed to Sunday - but Red Willow Buxton was open and had an online booking faciity so pre booked a table there for 5pm (Though this wasnt really required) We took the longer quiter route back to Buxton through Baslow and Stoney Middleton - we had stayed in SM a while ago and really enjoyed thus quirky village - good Pub the Moon - Bradfield Beers - we dropped into Buxton via the Tideswell road - Tideswell is a larger village that we haven't really explored - looks very nice range of shops and 3/4 pubs - both agreed that we need to come back here - route through Millars dale very nice Parked up in Buxton - quick walk through town - rubber necked the new facy 5 star hotel in the Crescent - both felt that te entrance is a bit underwhleming - guess there were a lot of planning restrictions - arrived at the Tap - now called 53 Degrees @ Buxton Brewery Tap House - need to do a bit of research about this The place as always was busy - but managed to get a couple of stools just inside the door - in theory they were still doing table service though at times people were also ordering at the bar - great rage of beer on offer - mainly Buxton (See Below)

I started off with 2 halves of the cask on offer - Bonde and Right to Roam - both good - Right to Roam my favourite Mrs had a Raspberry Mjoito

As the sun was shining I also succumed and had a Omnipollo Original Double Blueberry Ice Cream - and opted for the soft serve - a slushy type machine behind the bar tops off your glass - Omnipollo are a Swedish gypsy brewery known for their inventive styles!

Enjoyed it here and glad we managed to get in at last - we then took the short stroll around the corner to Red Willow - housed in what I think was the old Midland or Natwest bank - nice refurb - lots of boths and a nice mezzanine area - but as it was quite we opted for what we took to be the old managers office in teh corner - creating a nice little snug - a large round table with seating for about 8 be a great space to have a session - even had its own hatch

New brewery for me- Redwillow are based in Macclesfied and have 2 taps one there and this one in Buxton - stuck to sampling halves and enjoyed them all and great service from the 2 ladies behind the bar. Sabro Simcoe Pale Ale - probable my top choice Witless - a whitbier 4.2% Wreckless - American Plae Limitless another pale

Unfortunately they didnt have Shameless on - have to come back for one of those - lancashire crisps on the bar caught my fancy especially the Black Pudding and Mustard flavoured - though a little dismayed to read on the back that they were suitable for vegetarians!

All in all - a proper good day out and one that we will do again possibly in Autumn