A Day Out in Derbyshire (Mostly).

Mr MF and Dr JK and I had a good meeting and nice lunch at the Lord Nelson at Hoylandswaine near Barnsley. The meeting was for discussing our forthcoming motorbike ride to Scotland.

We are about to depart for home - going our three separate ways, north, east and south. Here MF and JK are saying, "This is the bike we really wanted!"

I decided to take the 'pretty' route south, so I made my way to Mortimer Road which cuts through the Derbyshire High Peak.

It is a very picturesque road - quiet, bendy in parts, good surface with pleasant views.

When I ride alone I stop often to take pics.

This view is looking east. Sheffield is beyond the hills and slightly right.

My motorbike has now clocked more than 24,000 miles. I bought it new in 2005.

Another view from Mortimer Road. This time looking southwest.

Still on Mortimer Road and approaching the A57. I turn right at the junction. You can just see the 'give way' sign.

This picture was taken as I approached Hathersage.

English pubs are under threat. They are often worth more as real estate than as businesses.....

....... but they are wonderful institutions and if they ever disappear England will not be the same.

This is the 'Sir William Hotel'. It is in Grindleford. I thought the sign was worth a snap.

After this I headed for Rowsley and turned right on the A6.

After 4 miles it was left onto the B5056 towards Youlgreave.

Left here and follow the B5056 to Grangemill.

The pretty B5056.

Turn at the junction in 0.2 miles.

This is a pretty stream at the junction with the (even more) minor road that continues on to Alport, Middleton and Youlgreave. I stopped here for 5 minutes to enjoy the scene.

The signs are due for a lick of paint - and perhaps a new post. But money is in short supply!

The B5056 is a very picturesque road. The farms are interesting too. Looks like the farmer's wife did the washing today!

This is a typical Derbyshire farm entrance.

Once again I stopped to take some pictures. This is the 'Hollybush Inn' at Grangemill. My Photoshop course is starting to pay off!

My route from here is left onto the A5012 towards Middleton and then Wirksworth. Don't be fooled - I just came from the Bakewell direction. I got off the bike and walked across the junction for this.

This is the village of Middleton. The burghers of Middleton obviously are proud of their village and have made it look nice.

Their local pub is the Nelson Arms. Naming pubs after Lord Horatio Nelson is popular in England. After this brief stop I rode down the incline to Wirksworth and picked up the B5023 .........

......... via The Railway ..........

...... and the 'Puss in Boots' ....... to my house which is beside the B5023.

It was a good ride of about 110 miles round trip. The main thing is that the plan for the Scotland trip is developing nicely.