Last Friday we took a drive over the moors with visiting family ........
passed Ladybower Reservoir and along the Hope Valley to spend some time in Castleton. He wanted to show his girlfriend some of the places we had often visited when he had come to stay for holidays with his mother. Castleton is a picturesque little town well known for the castle ruins, the mining of
the Blue John mineral (bands of purple-blue or yellow Derbyshire fluorite - bleu-jaune, blue-yellow).
In the UK it's only found at the Blue John Cavern or Treak Cliff Cavern located in the surrounding hills. In the past the Blue John was made into precious ornaments and now a small amount is mined, then fashioned into pieces of jewelry in the workshops and sold in the small shops belonging to the caverns.
We try to visit Castleton during the Christmas period.
We had a quick browse around the shops as the Christmas gift and ornamental items were on sale. I always get something to put away for future gifts or for use at home. This year I bought two toughened glass coasters with a red and gold poppy pattern to add to a set of four.
We took a walk along Peakshole Water, a tributary of the River Noe that runs through Castleton.
We took a look in an antique/vintage emporium, but it was so full of quirky items we would have to return to take a better look when we have more time.
Then grandson S wanted to go and have a hot drink in the café of his choice where we've been before, but in the Summer time.
Since we were there last an extra room had been added onto the back to accommodate more visitors.
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| photo of a Summer visit |
However, inside was warm and cosy, especially as the weather was getting colder and gloomier.
Back in our own locality we stopped by Agden Beck, Low Bradfield so that more photos could be taken by our visitors before returning home for that lunch of lasagna prepared beforehand so that it could just be popped in the oven to bake.
