Staunton Harold Reservoir

A good day weather wise, but when it came to the planning we failed miserably. We decided last night that we’d quite like to go to Caulke Abbey - a large estate with lots of space to walk, deer and maybe some exterior shots of buildings/gardens. Unfortunately now you have to book to go almost everywhere and I’d forgotten that you cannot do this after 3pm the previous day for NT properties (if there are still spaces available I really can’t see the issue with keeping them open until the date/time in question). Anyway, on checking the website it said that if there were spaces available it was up to the staff to decide whether to let you in or not, so we chanced it, only to be told that “as it was a nice day, they were not letting any non-booked people in”. Nothing about them being completely booked up or that someone from the previous hour had not turned up so they’d let you take their place - just it’s nice weather so if you’ve not booked it’s tough! What a great way to treat their members....

Anyway, we duly drove in, through most of the estate and then directly out of the exit Feeling decidedly miffed, but it’s a lesson learned for next time. We drove to a car park not so far away called Spring Woods and went for a walk in the sunshine which was nice.  Then we headed for the Staunton Harold Reservoir. Quite a nice place with some welcome toilets(!) and some nice trails. So went for another walk and had a lovely day. My blip today is the old windmill that is now in a state of disrepair.  Apparently there was a plan to restore it, but it proved unviable so it was finally scrapped. 

Weather is not looking too clever tomorrow so we’ll see if it s a day of games or another quick walk near Dovedale/Ilam.