North and south

    Chatsworth park- sheep and deer 

Leaving behind the sea and shore of the south coast , last weekend we ventured north for a short break in our Campervan. In our sights were the haunts of our past life in the environs of Sheffield, S.Yorkshire , the biggest village in England (4th city after London, Brum and Leeds) . 

Just 25minutes drive from Sheffield, Chatsworth's campsite is beautifully situated with a gateway into the parkland surrounding the magnificent country house , it's farm and gardens. 

   Bridge over the River Derwent at Chatsworth 

   The gloriously bright crisp days and acres of parkland provided brilliant dog walks and a chance to revisit this magnificent estate whose house dates back to Bess of Hardwick in the 1560s. Its south and east fronts were extensively rebuilt in the late 1690s , with later additions in every century since. And the result is a very handsome country house , now owned by the 12th Duke of Devonshire. 

                                         

    Chatsworth 

                                    

Though I'm a Londoner by birth, I'm the result of the union of my northeastern mother and south London father , and the pull of the north has always been strong for me . Indeed I've spent the majority of my adult years living in the North. So it was a delight to return to familiar favourite places, including Bakewell on market day. 

   Bridge at  Bakewell 

   On Tuesday we revisited  David Mellor's workshop and shop outside Hathersage , and then sampled the delights of the Plough , with its magnificent views over the Peak . 

  And of course jaunts to visit the family in Sheff were interspersed throughout our tour, bringing us happy play times with the grandchildren ( when prized from their iPads) and tasty meals with their parents. 

    Our final day was frosty and sunny ; Chatsworth park at its best . 

And so on Wednsday we left our Chatsworth idyll and set off on the long journey home, determined to appreciate both north and south, city and country.