L2L Day 31 Ashbourne to Matlock - 12 miles

Ashbourne is a delight. 

The original building shop frontages have been retained and the variety of spaces and changes of level made it feel comfortable.

There was traffic rumbling through but that felt more like life-blood than a nuisance.

I set off along the Tissington Trail and  caught up with Cathy and Dave from Ilkeston.

Dave had been with the RAF at St.Athan and has happy memories of his time in Wales. Cathy has been in retail. We chatted about  their favourite place,  Weymouth and fishing off the beach at Chesil Beach. They had decided to sell up to spend more time with their familiy and are both enjoying their retirement to the full.

I'd been told that the cafe in Tissington was known for its bacon butties but I was sure I didn't deserve one yet however tempting.

All along the Fenny Bentley Cutting the hedgerow, in glorious sunshine, was busy with Orange tip 

and Brimstone butterflies ( very difficult to photograph) and the almost constant sound of Song thrushes, chortling blackbirds, robin and wren.

I branched off the disused railway along the Limestone Trail.

 

I met a couple of walkers who recommended the British Legion in Parwich for a great cup of coffee.

On the steep hill down into Parwich I met Susie and Indie. 

Susie has lived in a house overlooking the green for 20 years and now has her family and grandchildren living close. Susie gave me directions to the Bristish Legion, what to look out for on my way to Chatsworth and great advice on the distinguishing features and superior qualities of a Bakewell pie over a Bakewell tart. We could have talked for ages.

I must have missed the opening hours of the British Legion so found my way to the pub for a coffee instead and on the way went to have a look at All Souls Church

and the Parwich Tympanum 

- a salvaged stone over the East entrance and read sbout the part it played in the The Biblia Pauperum.

In the graveyard I met Lynette, a Canadian lady who'd moved to Parwich over 30 years ago when she'd bought a tumble down house overlooking the churchyard. 

Lynette was tending to the cherry tree in the graveyard which shares its space with a Wedding Day rose. The rose hasn't flowered for a number of years but things are looking very promising this year and with the cherry coming into flower the churchyard will soon look stunning again. A few yards away, there was another of her well establish roses - a Rambling Rector.

Lynette's father was Llewelyn and as an adult changed his surname to Lloyd-Davies to give himself a proper Welsh provenance and to add to the intrigue, Lynette's sister chose to move to Borth y Gest.

After a reviving half of 'Wainwright' at the pub, and a steep climb out of Parwich I came across another "Friendless Church" at Ballidon.

Calmness and perfection - one of the loveliest churches I've visited.

The route then took me across fields, 

over the top to Brassington to meet David and Anne 

who'd been waiting patiently in the sunshine outside The Miners Arms.

David and I set off for Harboro' Rocks at a height of over 1200 feet there were amazing 360 degree views.

As we walked down towards Hopton we met Andy, Margaret and Helen from Bemrose Trials club on their 250 trials bikes. 

Andy had organised a major event taking place over the weekend and they were checking that everything was in place for the early start tomorrow morning. 

They each gave us a demonstration, skillfully picking their way over obstacles and through crevices in the rock face - all done with seeming ease and surprisingly little noise.

Then back down to Anne and David's converted farm buildings at Hopton on Carsington Water to sit in their courtyard and enjoy a delicious barbecue in the evening sun and feel the warmth emanating from the stone walls.

All washed down with red wine and a very fine single malt to finish. 

An excellent day.