Glorious Poppy Fields and Curbar Edge

Back from a holiday in Scotland so i joined up with Ike and Geoff for a quick trip up to Bubnell to show them the poppy field. I had been up the day before and thought they might enjoy it. Just the 3 of us, Rob was off to a reptile fair. We set off as usual at 06:00 and it didn't take long before we got parked up right outside the poppy field at about 06:40. There were already a couple of photographers there, one of them Ray a professional snapper had travelled 50 miles just to get pics of the poppies.
We had  wander around the poppy field and then went on to Curbar Edge where we found a sheltered spot from the wind to have our breakfast.

Poppy Field at Bubnell near Baslow

Ike & Geoff

Ike, me and Geoff

The Derbyshire Stoop at the entrance to Curbar Edge car park

Footpath to Baslow Edge

Some heather starting to bloom

The poppy field from Curbar Edge

One of the old unfinished millstones

Breakfast time

Baslow Edge in the background

Curbar village

Geoff & Ike

A Meadow Pipit

Calver Mill

Cracking little catering truck at Curbar Edge car park

 This was a lovely Sunday morning stroll, we were expecting it to be warm but that was a mistake it was quite cool on Curbar Edge with the wind blowing. That poppy field is the biggest field of poppies I've ever seen and with modern farming methods may never see it again.
See you next week.

Walk Around Calver & Bubnel

Just 3 of us this week, Ike was on Christening duty. We went up the A6 and parked outside the school in the lay by at Calver. This was a route none of us had been on so we were looking forward to it. We diverted slightly to have a look at these lovely little cottages just off the main road. Back on track we just followed the footpaths on the map. Unfortunately there was a lot of muddy tracks about just like last week. There was an initial climb up a muddy track and i managed to slip in the mud and skidded about 6 feet back down the hill. After we got to the top it was a lovely level track with some good views. Rob was in front and he heard a bird of prey sound and when he looked over the wall there was a pheasant amongst a load of feathers still twitching. Looks like something had just attacked it. We met an interesting chap out with his dog who had moved into the area and had a good natter with him. We stopped for breakfast in an area sheltered from the wind then carried on until we hit a road. WE spotted an odd looking stone structure in a field and still not sure what it is for. From there we just followed the track which was muddy again past Bubnell Hall then onto Calver. When we got to a small bridge Rob and myself gave our strong walking sticks (Rob had cut them from a hazel) to a young Chinese couple and he insisted on taking our picture. Back to the car and off home.

lovely old cottages in Calver

A shed with En Suite

Snowdrops

Rob

Some nice houses

Rob & Geoff

Calver Mill (AKA Colditz)

Geoff & Rob

Geoff in a tunnel 

Dead pheasant

This pipe through the wall Rob thinks its to let badgers through.

Fabulous gate covered in moss

More mud

We're not sure what this stone structure is for.

Old barn

Bubnell Hall with Baslow behind

This looks like the remains of a dwelling of some sort.

Mandarins

A well

Geoff negotiating even more mud

Calver bridge

The Bridge Inn at Calver.

 A cracking walk just over 5 miles along a new route for us and we might revisit in the summer.
See you next week.