The Hidden Gardens and Courtyards of Wirksworth

I went to another Open Gardens event today, the Hidden Gardens and Courtyards of Wirksworth. It was a long journey on public transport, but it was worth it. I arrived at 10:15 and so had nearly two hours to look round the town before the gardens were open at midday.

I saw my brother at Wirksworth; he didn't tell me he was going and we certainly hadn't arranged to meet - that's just how he is...we did travel back to Sheffield on the same bus though.

I wouldn't say any of the gardens were anything special but I enjoyed my day out talking to people I met in the town and the gardens.

Castleton, Edale End, and Hope

I travelled to Castleton and walked via Losehill Hall and Losehill Farm to Edale End.

 

I then turned back, going south, taking a path that goes along the bank of the River Noe. For the final couple of miles I chose to use the road today to get to Hope since I didn't want to get my boots and trousers muddy.

I'd just missed the bus when I reached the village so I visited the local farm shop and then went to the pub. The next bus was due in fifty minutes time, it was late, I then got kicked off because the driver decided he didn't want to complete the journey...next I had to get a bus going in the wrong direction which was late, breaking my journey for a pee back at Hope and finally catching a bus back to Sheffield that was also late and further delayed as it approached the City Centre.

A frustrating day on public transport and the weather was very disappointing; I was expecting sunshine and I got cloudy conditions followed by rain.

A Visit To Matlock Bath

A visit on the bus to Matlock Bath; it was lovely in the sunshine but it was very quiet, most of the businesses were closed for the day.

After spending no more than an hour and a half there I walked back to Matlock taking the scenic route via High Tor.

At Matlock I got something nice for my tea, a couple of pork and apple roulades and a Crich fruit square.

Middleton-by-Wirksworth Open Gardens

I'm glad to be visiting the Open Gardens events for the first time in four years due to lockdown, there were a few planned last summer but they were very limited and not worth bothering going to. I caught the X17 Wirksworth bus from Sheffield and got off up the hill at Cromford and walked across the moor to Middleton. It seems that an old quarry has been re-activated though and since I didn't bring my map I wasn't sure where the footpath now goes and so I chose to walk further along the road and use another footpath to reach the village.

Two more upcoming local Open Gardens events were advertised at the side of the road, but not this weekend's at Middleton.

I arrived at the higher part of the village as planned, paid my £3 at the Nelson pub and picked up my programme and route map. I made my way down to the bootom end of the village, visiting all of the gardens and then got up onto the High Peak Trail and walked the short distance to the nearest bus stop, just on the northern fringe of Wirksworth. 

I climbed up and down several hundred steps today, practical all the gardens are situated on a steep hillside or cliff and have terraces.

The final photograph was taken at Matlock Bath, looking through the bus window as the bus was statioary at a bus stop.

Newark-on-Trent and Tuxford

A journey down the A1 today with my support worker. We parked in a different carpark because our usual one was closed; it cost us £2 less though and so we'll using it in future.

On our way back home we stopped at Tuxford for tea and cakes.