Second day of our holidays

Day two and we're raring to go at the crack of 09:30 after the engine had been run.  Taking advantage of this HOT weather and doing a wash each day, leaving the clothes to cook on the clothes airer in the cratch and its bone dry on return.

Result.

David got me to drive today and he map read, well of course he is a man....! 

We took a scenic route to Buxton via the Goyt Valley and the Fernlee and Erwood reservoirs.  

So the Goyt is a valley starting high up in the Peak District.  The river Goyt runs through it and arrives at Marple and it flows under the Marple aqueduct.  But more about that later, 

Fernlee reservoir

 We wound our way along the valley and very beautiful it was too.  Lots of lycra clad cyclists here and by good fortune, we were able to drive right out, but the lane became very very narrow and one way in our favour.

Top of the Goyt Valley

Then on to Buxton and a most attractive town it is.  Bathed in glorious sunshine we popped into the tourist information centre and asked what we should see for a whistle stop visit.  Here is the Opera house below, we like a bit of opera but sadly not on tonight, only a play.  I asked about dress code and was told by the ticket office that yes, shorts, tee shirts and trainers is absolutely fine, but not for opera....

The stunning foyer.

Around the corner, is this Dome.  Its the biggest free hanging or something, bigger of its type than St Pauls dome, can't remember, but today its part of the university and its fab.

Arty shot of the dome.

Hard to photograph due to its size.

One of the most famous residents of Buxton was 

Vera Brittain   HERE  (who's famous book A Testament of Youth).  A wee glass case in the dome had details about her, but I had never seen this photo of her in much later life.  She was attending a "Ban the Bomb" rally, I thought you may like to see it Reader.

In the dotty dress on the right, Vera Brittain

 Walking on and around heading for Costa and sushi, found Costa and sadly today for us this is the hotel, its under going a massive refurbishment costing trillions and willions its going to be a Five Star one.   I suggested to David we stay in it on its opening, he didn't say yes.

Refurb in progress.

 We carried on up the hill, looking for the art gallery, it was open but closing in three weeks for a major refurbishment too, its collection was away today with an exhibition of children's art.  So we flee in next door to the Green Man Gallery, what a find, local artists work on three floors and by now we were short on time, ten minutes left on the car parking, good thing we had our trainers on.

View from the 3rd floor of the gallery, I like roof tops too.

Brought one just like this, but with cows too.  Walls again.

Running back to the car now...

Pretty red roses in the metal work.

Ran back to the car with 3 mins left to spare, out of Buxton and headed for Dovedale.  Empty roads, I think everyone is up in the hills walking.
Another scenic route and we ended up at Ecton or there abouts.   We took the last parking space and followed our noses, I think we were at Wetton Mill, we went past a cafe without stopping, through a gateway and through a meadow to get this view.   

 On the opposite side of the valley, these cows amused me, walking in line on a narrow path, I had zoomed in, they were pretty high up.

Down there is a river and two lanes, I think its at Wetton

Harebells, tricky to photograph, they keep moving.

Now David had read recently that one of The Times best pubs in the country was very near here at Alstonefield, The George.  Now I am not going to say a single word more about it so you can draw your own conclusions or read my review on Trip Advisor.  

But, while we waited for the place to open I saw this on a wall in Alstonefield.  It says that they used to sell coffee tea tobacco and snuff.

We went for a walk toward the river below, I didn't realise just how far down below but too far down for me.  However as I prevaricated a family with small children arrived up to us having walked form another village, the children simply had Crocs on their feet....  I carried on a bit further, it was very very steep now and I feared a fracture....

Walls and gates, footpath goes through here, how lovely is that?

This was the view I think the little children had come form up the other side.

Then through the undergrowth, this popped up.  Small surprise

Yooo Hooo

We had sat down in the shade to have a drink.  She pushed past us to do the same

We had been sat on the tank on the left.  (Belted Galloways)

We left them to it, didn't go down to the river, but instead found a wall in the sunshine in a meadow of untouched grass and laid there for an hour....