Looking Across the North York Moors
Captain Cook's Monument stands on Easby Moor, overlooking the surrounding countryside and commemorating Captain James Cook, who spent part of his early life in nearby Great Ayton. Built in the nineteenth century, the stone monument has become a familiar feature of the skyline and can be seen from miles across the surrounding countryside.
Reaching the top is rewarded with wide-ranging views across the North York Moors, with rolling hills, woodland and farmland creating a patchwork of colours. Roseberry Topping can be seen from here, rising above the surrounding landscape and providing a familiar landmark in the distance. I always enjoy views like this after a climb.
A Day at Chatsworth
On the second day of our trip to Derbyshire, we visited Chatsworth House, with afternoon tea booked for later in the day.
We had a few hours to explore the gardens first, which gave me plenty of time to take photographs. The cascade was one of my favourite features, with the water flowing down the long steps and catching the light. We also wandered through the maze. It took us a while to find our way to the middle, although climbing the hill afterwards gave us a much better idea of where we'd gone wrong!
Inside the house, the grand staircase was one of the first things to catch my eye. There was so much to look at throughout the rooms, from the architecture and decorations to the artwork.
After exploring the house and gardens, it was time for afternoon tea. We chose our teas and were treated to sandwiches, little tartlets, scones and a selection of cakes. Everything was lovely, and it was a rather nice way to finish the day.
An Evening in Bakewell
We spent an evening wandering around Bakewell during our trip to Derbyshire, and I couldn't visit without trying a Bakewell tart!
We wandered through the old streets, stopping to photograph some of the buildings along the way. Down by the river, there were plenty of ducks enjoying the evening, which gave me a few more photographs to add to the collection.
As the evening went on, we found a spot to watch the sunset before making our way home.
Hardwick New Hall
After exploring Hardwick Old Hall, we crossed over to the New Hall, which stands opposite. Inside the hall, there were people in the different rooms who were happy to chat about its history and answer questions.
The New Hall was built for Bess of Hardwick in the late 16th century, and one thing I found particularly interesting was that work had actually started on the new building before the old hall had even been completed!
Hardwick Old Hall
A few weeks ago, I took a trip to Derbyshire for a few days, and our first stop was Hardwick Old Hall near Chesterfield.
The old hall now stands as a ruin, but much of the original plasterwork is still there. Looking at the remains, you can still get a sense of how impressive the building must have been when it was in its prime.
We climbed the stairs to the top, where we were rewarded with beautiful views across the surrounding countryside and towards Hardwick's newer hall. Looking down from the top, you realise just how high the old building was.
