Derbyshire

On Saturday we left Exmoor and drove straight to Derbyshire, & the Peak District. We're staying in the same cottage at Barlow that we used in February. It's looking rather different now as not surprisingly there's no snow! The weather'sbeen mostly ok, warm but with a few showers. LB has been practicing thenewtechniques he learnt last week and has been successful with his fishing and we've both enjoyed some nice walks.

On Sunday we we had a gentle stroll through Dovedale. This is famously beautiful and, being a weekend w

as pretty busy. On our way home we turned off to visit Arbor Low. We'd never heard of it before but it is a very impressive neolithic henge dating from about 2000 BC. The stones are now all lying flat. They are thought to have been toppled in mediaeval times by people unhappy with their pagan associations. Even so it's an awe inspiring structure. There's a large circular earthwork with an internal ditch surrounding the stones and we spent some time sitting up high looking down and wondering what the place and the people were like when it was first built and in use.

Yesterday we did a slightly more strenuous walk in Cromford Dale. We climbed up to the Black Rocks above the town and then had wonderful views as we walked along the ridge, down into the valley where Arkwright built his first mills at the start of the Industrial Revolution. Although now a rural area there were plenty of signs of recent industry including an old stone steam engine winding house which used to haul trams up the incline which we used to get back down into the valley. Once off the hillside the walk followed the canal towpath past numerous families of waterbirds with their young. Here's yet another moorhen chick as I think they are so cute!

Albarracin

Tonight's hotel, the Dona Blanca in Albarracin is a little gem. It might look a concrete monstrosity from the outside and , to be honest they're still building the top floor (peace has now descended at 7.00pm as the builders have just finished for the day!) but it's perfect for us. Albarracin is a mediaeval hilltop town with impressive walls, narrow streets that climb up 1 in 4 hills, or steps and no other hotel with parking. The dona Blanca is on the flat below the town but in easy walking distance, with secure flat parking & cctv, we have free wifi in our room, safe, mini-bar, hair dryer and balcony with the view below of the town walls for €60. Not bad!


We've enjoyed a walk around the town although it's pretty much shut up at this time of year. We're having a little rest before going out to eat.

We've had quite an interesting day. There was a good road out of Ruidera, so good LB got caught speeding by a radar trap and had to pay an on the spot €70 fine. Amazingly, considering we were riding together & I was setting the pace, I got off scot free! We briefly met heavy rain near Cuenca but the mountain road from there to Albarracin cleverly managed to weave between the dark clouds on either side of us and head towards the small patch of blue sky ahead. We were thankful the rain held off as we were on a very twisty mountain road that had virtually no tarmac for one ten mile stretch! It's a great road though and I'd love to do it agaain on a fine day. We're heading north again tomorrow for a bit of luxury in the Parador at santo Domingo Del Calzada.
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