And then there was Hartington

Derby to Hartington (yesterday): 33 miles

We escaped Derby and eventually made our way into the Derbyshire Dales, which is basically part of the Peaks District.



We did this on a Sunday, a very sunny Sunday, and like our entrance into Whitby waaay back in May, we rode into a traffic jam in Ashbourne. Ashbourne is a fairly cute little market town, with lots of antique shops. It seems to be The Place where people come on sunny Sundays - maybe take Grandma out for a jaunt, maybe eat an ice cream, maybe ride or walk sloooowly along the cycle track that other people also want to use.


Other things we had to negotiate on our way. Fortunately, we were going in the opposite direction... unlike quite a line of cars...

We got to Hartington mid-afternoon, and it too was crawling with people eating ice cream and sitting outside baking in the sun.

Fast forward to Monday, and we woke up to the sound of rain. Which continued on and off for the entire day; no sunscreen required today. Only a little deterred, we ventured out into the Dales for a walk that ended up being a fair bit longer than we expected; it took about two hours to do a circuit that included the site of a Norman motte and bailey castle (all that's left is the motte, or earth mound) and a remarkable number of sheep pastures. Also waterlogged shoes.

However, it was very pretty, as promised by James' cousin on whose recommendation we are here.


Additionally, our B&B is probably winning in the breakfast stakes. My porridge was so good, it probably had something illegal in it.