Derbyshire

I decided to stay in Derbyshire between my visit in Manchester and my bridge holiday in Yorkshire. As I post this, I am in a very comfortable B & B in Compton Road, Ashbourne. On Tuesday, I visited Chatsworth. There was an exhibition by the sculpture Anthony Caro and I wanted to find the sculpture by Allen Jones which I have missed on my previous visits. I had an excellent 5 hour wander around, including lunch.

The first image is of the Ashbourne bunting, I took on Monday evening. The Ashbourne festival starts today - 22nd June but main events from tomorrow, so I will miss it.


First stop - the kitchen garden
  The cascade

The first of the Caro sculptures I came across.

  and a few more

  This was the Allen Jones sculpture I finally found.

Lots of notices re don't climb or touch the sculptures but the temptation was too great for some at these 'steps'.

As I missed going to the National Memorial Arboretum on the way up, I decided to visit from Ashbourne. Well worth going but have coffee before you get there, if you are fussy like me. £3.20 for a double espresso which was not even from a Gaggia and tasted foul.

After my experience with coffee and the fact the restaurant was very busy, I decided to repair to nearby Caulke Abbey for lunch and a walk around.

The weather changed on Thursday so I had a drive around. The best coffee yet at Wirksworth. Lunch at Bolsover castle, then the rain stopped and the sun came out.

Today is my birthday but no one here knows. No cards or pressies (left at home) and it is pouring down!  I took a stroll around Ashbourne then went for a walk to Thorpe on the Tissington Trail this afternoon - 4 miles.

The scarecrows started to appear today for the festival.  This was the first I saw and by this evening, I noticed another four or so.

 St Oswald's church

 The tunnel to the Tissington Trail

 A fox I spotted on the trail.  Unfortunately, too far away and my battery went after I took this shot.  The fox spotted me too, so by the time battery was changed it had gone.

Manchester

I had tickets to see the Dalai Lama when he visited Manchester. I drove up north on Saturday and stopped off at Shugborough Hall in Stafford on the way. There was a sculpture trail there too.

I stayed at the Holiday Inn and strolled around the Northern Quarter on Saturday evening.

We were not supposed to take photos inside the Arena but many people decided to ignore this. I was tempted to take out the camera but decided not to. So a few more images of Manchester on Sunday.