The night was quite windy and consequently smelly for the muck spreading. It made a pleasant change packing an almost dry tent away. I was on my way by 06:50am with an interesting sky to the east. I returned to the main road and started the long descent to Ashford. The road was narrow and uncomfortably busy with large vehicles. After Ashford I turned left to ride to Baslow.

Just after sunrise

My first objective of the day was to ride through the grounds of Chatsworth House. On my last visit I found out the northern access to the grounds is locked to the public. In the village I asked a woman at a bus stop and she pointed me in the direction of a footpath which was also wide enough for bikes. I found it OK but a sign said no cycling. I ignored it and pressed on to a strange gate which was a rotating cage set in a wall. I had to up end the bike onto its back wheel to get it through. Once through I was in the grounds and had easy access to the road.

Sir Joseph Paxton lived near here.
By the entrance to Chatsworth Park

As I rode up to the house there were many people arriving. They were staff and builders as the house isn’t open to visitors till later in the morning. The light was behind the house so I couldn’t get any decently lit photos. I rode off to the main entrance then on to road towards Rowsley.

Chatsworth Park

Queen Mary's bower, Chatsworth
Mary Stuart was imprisoned at Chatsworth

Chatsworth House

Where the old bridge crosses the river are traffic lights. They were on red and as I stopped a cyclist came alongside. He was out for a mornings training ride and we chatted as we rode together for a few miles until he turned off for Chesterfield and I continued. My next call was Matlock. I stopped at the Town centre park area to look at the colourful flowerbeds before continuing.

Delightful park in Matlock

The ride along the valley was enjoyable and I had a good view of one of the old mill chimneys near Cromford as I rode along. I was enjoying the cycling and not concentrating. I missed my left turn onto the A610 and continued along the A6 and not realising my mistake till I’d passed through Belper. I navigated back to my planned route at Heanor but had to ride up some steep hills to do it. I now joined the A609 to take me to the centre of Nottingham. The nearer I got the worse it got. The busses and vans were not cyclist friendly and nearer the centre I had tram lines to contend with. I’ve struggled with the concept of trams in the modern age and can’t understand how they are better than conventional busses that don’t need rails. I left the town along the A60 and was glad to leave it behind.

Nottingham + tram

The way to go

Canal south of Nottingham

Interesting gate post

At Bradmore I left the main road to ride along the lanes through Willoughby-on-the Wolds. I rejoined the main A6006 and rode by Asfordby to Melton Mowbray.

Ordnanace Survey column
in the grass verge

I made a detour ot ride through the town to find an authentic Melton Mowbray pork pie. The first shop I called in didn’tt have any but I continued through the town and found the Olde Pork Pie Shoppe, I hate that contrived old spelling. Their pies are described as nutritionally incorrect with heavy duty pastry and plenty of wobby jelly.

Ye Olde Pork Pie Shoppe
Melton Mowbray

Authentic Melton Mowbray pies

Making a melton Mowbray pie

Melton Mowbray

Lovely house by Stapleford Park

I left the town east along the B676 then turned off along a narrow lane through Stapleford to an area of woodland where I managed to find a good pitch away from the road.

Pork pie for tea