Chatsworth House

The following morning, after another good night of sleep, Nick offered to make tea and coffee and cook breakfast. It was not until the onions and pepper were finely chopped and simmering gently did Nick realise he had forgotten to bring any eggs. There was no dispute on blame, Nick packed all the other ingredients, he just forgot that to make an omelette you have to break eggs! Alfie, who has got a bit accustomed to any left over omelette on a morning was clearly disgusted!

It was a very pleasant steady drive, through some of the narrowest roads Rachel could find, Nick was convinced this was some kind of a test. We stopped off to do some sightseeing en-route and enjoyed some great views across the Peak District. It is easy to understand why this was Englands first National Park.

On the way down to Bakewell we went exploring a potential overnight spot to 'wild camp' - that sounds fairly exciting but really it is just an off road place you can stop the night and not have to pay anyone for the privilege. Rachel had read about a spot high in the Peaks with great views and when we got there we were not disappointed.

Having stopped to pick up some eggs we headed off to Bakewell where we parked up in some huge car park, with loads of spaces and no one near us. It was funny but by the time we got back two other motorhome owners had pulled up next to us. Perhaps other motorhome owners have some kind of need to flock together? Anyway we didn't spend too long in Bakewell, long enough to pick up a spicy cheesy Austrian pork sausages that we both really like.

Before we left Bakewell we spent some time gawping at some of the fattest river trout Nick had ever seen, they get fat as tourists feed them from the bridge so they just float there stuffing themselves. From Bakewell it was only a few miles up the road to get to Chatsworth House, where Rachel had booked us on to our first official overnight campsite, with electricity, showers and all mod cons. The site itself was quite pleasant, each plot plenty big enough for a caravan and a car side by side with room for an awning and chairs. A medium sized motorhome like Heimo took up no room at all.

The site is an old enclosed wall garden about 20 minutes walk from the main house and once we had ourselves hooked up and everything settled we decided it was time to open a bottle of Champagne and properly christen Heimo. After the bubbly we needed a bit of a kip, much to Alfie's annoyance as he was clearly expecting a walk. An hour or so later we got up and left the enclosure of the walled garden and in to the main parkland, which is huge and full of weird horse jumps. The house itself is very impressive too, fabulous big colonnades and loads of rooms. We sat out the front by the river enjoying some warm sunshine before heading back to the campsite.

We enjoyed a light meal of rice and tuna with a bottle of Malbec, unfortunately there was something wrong with bottle, it can only have been half full, luckily Nick had packed a decent Rioja just in case. We spent the evening chatting, planning more trips with Alfie and Heimo and drinking red wine with cheese and biscuits, it was great fun and after three bottles of alcohol we were both quickly asleep.Read more