Buxton, The Devonshire Dome and The Opera House

After missing a week due to the bad weather we decided we would stick to tarmac and keep away from any muddy tracks. Ike had said he would like to have a look at the dome in Buxton so that's where we went. It was Robs turn to drive and we parked up just outside Buxton Pavilion Gardens.
It was chucking it down with rain as we walked through the park so we sheltered for a while then just had a stroll around the town taking in some of the buildings.

Buxton Dome

One of the many weir's in the Pavilion Gardens

Part of the Pavilion Gardens

This is where the river Wye disappears underground

Buxton Opera House It was built in 1903 and designed by Frank Matcham, one of Britain's finest theatre architects. He also designed two famous London theatres: the London Palladium (1910) and the London Coliseum (1904).

Buxton Opera House through the arches.

St. Ann's spring well

Coat of arms on The Crescent

Looking towards the Crescent

Buxton Railway Station

The Fan Window is a grade 11 listed building

Buxton Dome

Rob & Ike going into the Dome

 The Devonshire Dome was built  between 1780 and 1789 by John Carr of York for the 5th Duke of Devonshire and provided facilities for up to 120 horses and accommodation for the servants and ostlers of those staying in the The Crescent. It was extended by Robert Rippon Duke  who added the then world’s largest unsupported dome Measuring 145 feet in diameter, the Dome is bigger than St Paul’s Cathedral in London, The Pantheon in Rome, St. Peters in Rome, The Duomo in Florence and is still the largest unsupported dome in Europe. In 1859, the Buxton Bath Charity had persuaded the Duke of Devonshire to allow part of the building to be converted to a charity hospital for the use of the ‘sick poor’ coming in for treatment from the ‘Cottonopolis’ of Lancashire and Yorkshire. The Devonshire estate architect, Henry Currey, architect for St Thomas’s Hospital in London, converted two thirds of the building into a hospital The Devonshire Dome is now the new campus of the University of Derby in Buxton and Buxton College.

Inside the very impressive Devonshire Dome

Ike, Rob & Geoff.

Top of the Dome

Ike, Rob, Geoff & me in the Dome

St. Ann's pump station

Another shot of the Dome

Looks like a modern gargoyle

Buxton Opera House

Victorian Post Box

Buxton Pavilion and swimming baths

Part of the pavilion shot from the bandstand.

Pavilion detail

Ike, Geoff & Rob

Another pic of Pavilion Gardens

Radio controlled model yacht

Radio controlled model police launch

Radio controlled square rig sailing boat

Although we got a little wet just after we arrived we still managed to have a really interesting walk around the town with the highlight getting into the Devonshire Dome. An incredibly historic town and we just scratched the surface. Some world record braking buildings and beautiful gardens it must be worth a visit anytime.
See you next week.

Brassington, The Kings Chair and those Carsington Wind Turbines

Geoff mentioned the Kings Chair a couple of weeks ago and it was his turn to drive so we headed up to Brassington and parked up in a lane called Wirksworth Dale. After booting up we carried on up the lane until we got to the footpath sign pointing north. It was quite misty at this time and the sun still hadn't broken the horizon.

This weeks route

 The fields in this area are just covered in old lead mine workings, it was like walking over a bomb sight. We carried on and crossed over the road and walked up the path alongside the only factory in the area, this brought us onto the Midshires Way just under Harborough Rocks.

This couple with there dog said they had done a 22 mile run the previous day and would be doing 10 miles this morning.

After a short walk along the Midshires Way we again crossed the road and got onto another footpath on Carsington Pastures. This led us past the wind turbines but because of the mist we had to get within 100 feet of them before we could see them. There are 4 of them absolutely huge structures, the mist started to fall away and they quickly came into view.

The mist was just starting to clear

Walking towards the Kings Chair we got some nice views of Carsington Water.

This limestone outcrop is known as the Kings Chair

 We had our breakfast next to the Kings Chair with great views of Carsington below us.

Jim, Geoff, Ike & Rob.

 From the Kings Chair we descended a very steep track to Carsington Village.

Geoff & Rob on the way down to Carsington

Rob in the Tunnel of Luvvv

Cottages at the top of Mining Lane

 After coming down Mining Lane we turned right and set off towards Brassington

Here's a nice des res just with great views of Carsington Water.

This looks like a redundant style

More views of the wind turbines from the track to Brassington.

This looks an old track

Pathway to heaven

Some great rocky outcrops around Brassington

St. James Church in Brassington

Rob taking in the view

Back at the car in the sunshine

This was just over 4 miles, it started off dull & gloomy but ended in sunshine with some nice views over Carsington Water. Some of the tracks were very muddy and the boots needed washing down straight away when i got home. A great little walk and i will do this again when the weather improves because of the views over Carsington.
See you next week.