Thursday, October 17, 2019

Deer, Trees and a Stately Home

This morning's walk along the River Derwent on the Chatsworth Estate was in wet grass, muddy puddles and beautiful dappled sunlight.


We parked at the garden centre, crossed the road and followed the path down to the river.  It seems ages, years even since we'd taken this walk usually choosing to park in the village of Baslow and walking in the opposite way towards Chatsworth House.

 The ruin of Paines Mill which was designed by James Paine c 1761.  It replaced an earlier working mill close to the house.  It was damaged by falling trees during a bad storm in the 1960s but was preserved and made safe so that it could continue to enhance the landscape.

 Across the river, sheep were grazing.

 The unusual curved weir

Fallow  deer on the opposite side of the river

A shy heron

 The first view of Chatsworth House.

 Above the spray from the large fountain in the gardens amongst the trees and in the background the hunting tower designed in 1582  by architect Robert Smythson for Bess of Hardwick.  It was used as a banqueting house or summer house and was also used by the ladies of the house to watch the hounds in the deer park.  It is now available to let for holidays.

 The sun was very bright.

 The trees looked wonderful in their autumnal finery.

 Looking back at the house as we turned to walk back across the grass....

 ....and under the trees.

 In the distance the bridge over the river designed by James Paine.

 The colours of Autumn were all around

 Fallen oak leaves

 In the distance the spire of St Peter's Edensor.  Sir Joseph Paxton is buried in the churchyard.  He lived in lodgings in the village when he was a young gardener working for the sixth Duke of Devonshire. He was a talented gardener and architect and is best known for his design of the Crystal Palace built for the Great Exhibition of 1851.

Gosh what a long way we have walked and still the sun is shining.

We made our way back past more deer under the trees, there were many hinds each group protected by a buck or stag and plenty of 'seeing off' of other males in the vicinity with low growls which we could hear from quite a distance away.

We had a complete day out without rain which was wonderful. Drops of rain started to fall about five minutes after we go home. We couldn't have timed it any better.

28 comments:

  1. It's a lovely place for a walk and I've been there many times, but never caught such fine autumn colours as you have. There used to be (and probably still are) walks in the woods up behind the house which are also pretty good.

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    1. Thank you John, yes there are walks up behind the house and up by the tower. The autumn colours seemed perfect that day:)

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    1. Thank you William, it is a beautiful building and fits well into its surroundings:)

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  3. Now that is an excellent walk! All you needed was a cup of coffee and a cheese scone to round it off. So many beautiful colours, you must have walked quite a few miles. 😊

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    1. Ha Ha -yes indeed a scone would have been good but this time we had coffee and flapjack before the walk which kept us going as it was well after lunch when we returned to the car:)

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  4. What a beautiful place to walk and how lucky to miss the rain, not an easy thing to do at the moment. The photos are lovely :)

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    1. We set out in low cloud and mist from home, then the sun came out and stayed with us all through the walk, we couldn't have asked for better weather:)

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  5. Oh so beautiful. Thanks for taking us with you! -Jenn

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    1. Thank you Jenn, I'm glad you enjoyed the walk:)

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  6. What a beautiful walk and so lovely to see the Fallow Deer and Autumnal colours. Chatsworth looks wonderful. I've sadly never been to Chatsworth so it is even more special to see your photos. The church looks interesting and so glad you missed the rain. Very showery here again today!! Have a super weekend.

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    1. Thank you, it was a lovely walk and so good that it didn't rain. The church is fascinating, Kathleeen Kennedy is burined in the churchyard too as are many of the Dukes of Devonshire of course. I haven't been inside Chatsworth House and Garden since I was a teenager but have walked in the grounds many times, we really must go in one day but it is so expensive, it would have to be for a special treat, hope you too have a lovely weekend:)

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  7. We've stopped to have a picnic where you walked by the river and have also gone further up by the hunting tower. Chatsworth Estate is one of my favourite areas. This year I've wanted to go back especially to visit Edensor. I hope there'll be a window of opportunity with good weather before the year is out so that we can return. Lovely photos of the autumnal scene and the deer.

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    1. How lovely to have a picnic at the side of the river, Linda. We met cousins at Edensor last year and ate lunch in a lovely cafe there as well as visiting the church. My cousin is a big fan of Joseph Paxton and his works and collects books about him. I hope you get to visit before the winter weather sets in:)

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  8. Beautiful, beautiful walk...

    Autumn in her glory...

    Wildlife...

    Lovely old buildings...

    And no rain!

    You hit the *jackpot*!!!!!

    🍂🍁🎃🍁🍂

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    1. Thank you WoW, it was a lovely day, just perfect:)

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  9. What a lovely walk and perfectweather

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    1. Thank you Barbara, we couldn't have asked for more:)

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  10. Lots of glorious Autumn colours on your walk and always a treat to see deer. They are beautiful. :)

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    1. Thank you shazza, it was wonderful to see the deer under the trees and by the river, we kept a distance of course, they are beautiful:)

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  11. A lovely walk and a great day for it too :)

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  12. A lovely autumnal walk, I bet that was very invigorating.

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    1. Thank you Julie, it was a lovely walk and the good weather helped:)

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  13. What a beautiful day for a walk and in a most picturesque place -Chatsworth!

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    1. Thank you Lorrie, Chatsworth estate is beautiful at this time of year:)

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  14. A gorgeous autumnal day out Rosie. The colours are wonderful! :)

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