Autumn: in the Peak District

For a slightly different twist on my Autumn series, I thought I'd show a few photos from a trip into the Peak District yesterday. For those that don't know, whilst most people think the Peak District is in Derbyshire, quite a decent amount is also in South, and West Yorkshire, Cheshire, and Staffordshire.

This is a view towards the Jodrell Bank Observatory from near Merryton Low in Staffordshire. I love the gentle countryside, then how some peaks have just roughly push their way up above it. There is a lot of this in the Peak District, hence it's name.

In this picture, you should be able to see a moon-like white patch above the rocky outcrop (Hen Cloud). This in fact is the Lovell radio telescope of Jodrell Bank Observatory. Built in 1957, it remains one biggest and most powerful radio telescopes in the world. It's moon-like appearance from a distance, seems fitting.

From a viewpoint further down the road, you could see Hen Cloud, and The Roaches behind it, quite clearly.

Back into Derbyshire, the late afternoon winter sun was lighting the peak above Hathersage in glowing autumn colours. This, and the rest of the photos, were taken from inside the car, so they are a little blurry, but hopefully they will give you a feel for autumn light and colours you find in the Peak landscape.

Further on above Hathersage, this is Over Owler Tor.

An artistic(!) view of the Birch wood at Surprise View.

Burbage Rocks South

 Stony Ridge Road to Black Hill. Can you spot the cyclist?

And... Traffic jam, Peak District style.

Moo.


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Other posts in the series:
  Autumn: Acer palmatum 'Sango-kaku'
  Autumn: Prunus mume 'Beni-chidori'

  Autumn: Salvia 'Amistad'
  Autumn: Cornus 'Norman Hadden' 
  Autumn: Fagus sylvatica

Trentham Gardens - sculpture

Earlier in September we visited Trentham Gardens in Staffordshire. I didn't get around to blogging about it due to lack of energy. Since then, Jessica over at Rusty Duck has also visited the gardens, and blogged! As her blog is such a lovely walk around the garden, which I invite you to read, I don't feel I need to repeat what would be a similar blogpost here.

Instead, this is a photo essay of many of the sculptures at Trentham, some in the gardens, some around the lake, in particular, a year-long display of fairies in the garden. It was a rather overcast grey day, and I think the fairies would have preferred the sun, but they still gave their all. I've listed the name of the sculpture where I could find it.

Dandelion

River of Otters, by Gary Burgess

Shaky

Planting by Nigel Dunnet

Glance

Spring, amongst the dandelions

Spring, different angle

Dip

Wishes

Another 'Wishes'

Hare amongst Persicaria

A third Wishes. Three wishes!

Bridget

I enjoy seeing sculpture in gardens and this was a lot of fun. The fairy sculptures will remain at Trentham until 24th December 2018. It will be interesting to see what will appear in the gardens next year.

Photo essay: Dovedale

Even on an overcast day, the Peak District never disappoints. We decided to venture further south into the White Peak part of the District to explore part of the Dovedale area. It's an area that's decidedly peaky with it's pointy hills.

You can see the medieval ridge and furrow agricultural system still evident in the landscape.

Our main focus was a short walk along the River Dove. This is right of the border of Derbyshire and Staffordshire, the river being the border.

Often when you have a chronic illness or mobility limitations, you cannot get out to walk amongst the hills and ridges of the Peak. However, the one place you can is along the River Dove in Dovedale. Here a hardened path follows alongside the river, flat and easy to walk or use your wheelchair upon.

A peaky through the trees.

Don't be fooled. The green may look inviting, but it's very very steep.

Despite ME/CFS this is one place in the Peak District I can physically explore and be surrounded it's rugged beauty.

A duck fishing for food.

 And a crow (or raven?) pecking through the brittle limestone hillside.

Suddenly the sun poked out from the clouds behind us, lighting up the scene in front.

We walked back to the car park, the sun on our faces, refreshed from a gentle walk and the immense beauty of the Peak.

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If you happen to know of other parts of the Peak District that are accessible to those with limited mobility, please leave a note in the comments.