Thornbridge Hall Gardens, Ashford in the Water, and Bakewell

It was only yesterday that I found out that it's free admission to the gardens at Thornbridge Hall near Bakewell throughout January and February and so have decided to go there at the earliest opportunity.

I travelled to Bakewell today and got off at Pineapple House Farm, the easiest access for the Monsal Trail and walked about a mile and half along the trail to just before Great Longstone Station.

There was a sign placed that was advertising Quackers Cafe and some gardens that were open...there was no mention of Thornbridge Hall though. I decided to leave the Trail here and investigate. 

It was Longstone Hall Gardens - admission was by walking through the cafe. The gardens were quite interesting; there's still a lot of work that still needs to be done though. I spent forty five minutes there.

I returned to the Monsal Trail and walked about a hundred yards to Great Longstone Station. I left the Trail there and then continued along a narrow road until I reached a path that took me to Ashford in the Water.

This building is a separate property; it's opposite the vehicle entrance to the hall for wedding guests.

This sign attached to a tree at the side of the road is obviously not in its original location, and by reading the wording I'd judge it to be at least fifty years old.

When I reached Ashford in the Water. I spent a bit longer than I usually do taking photographs and then took the riverside path back to Bakewell.

I wasn't in a rush to get back home and so I lingered in Bakewell for nearly an hour.

I immediately spotted the deliberate mistake here, did you?

There were some other interesting signs in Bakewell...all correctly spelled though.

When my train arrived back at Doncaster I was worried I'd not be able to get off and I'd end up at York. A young woman was struggling to get off with her bike and I had to wait for her because the train was very busy and some suitcases were blocking the aisle so I couldn't reach the next door. After having no success at all because the handlebars seemed to be stuck and the brake cable snarled she had to push the bike further into the carriage to be able to twist it free and then carry it out onto the platform.