Family Weekend in the Peak District

On Saturday morning we loaded up the car with the kids, the pushchair, our travel cot (pack 'n play), a change of clothes (well a couple for the kids), loads of diapers and wipes, some snacks for Addie and the TomTom and we headed out for our first overnight adventure as a family.  Our destination was England's Peak District which is about 2 hours northwest of where we live. Our first stop was the amazing Chatsworth House. The house was built in the 1500's and has been home to the lineage of the Dukes of Devonshire. One person you may be more aware of these days who lived in the house was Georgina Spencer who married the 5th Duke of Devonshire...so why may you ask would you know her???? Well, she is portrayed by Kira Knightly in the new film...The Duchess. It was actually filmed at Chatsworth house as well. Just thought you'ld like to know in case you feel compelled to see the movie.We got to the house about 1PM and it was crazy busy - literally thousands of people where out and about on the grounds and in the gardens. It was a beautiful day and probably the last nice warm day of the year (warm enough to wear shorts yet). We spent a full three hours just walking around the 105 acres of gardens and we didn't even get to see everything.

Addison had a fun time being able to run freely since we've had her cooped up in the car for the past two hours. She is really growing up and starting to look like a little lady.

This water feature is call the Cascade. It is a huge water fountain that flows down what looks like a stairway going up the side of the hill. This is a view from the building at the top of the Cascade looking down at the Chatsworth House.

We took a quick moment to grab a family picture while Harrison was awake so he could be in some pictures.

We attempted to walk through the huge maze, but after spending 30 minutes hitting every dead end I was ready to head on to something else. Kevin still regrets that we didn't master the maze, but he's an engineer and it drives him crazy not finishing a task laid before him.

We rushed into the house with about an hour left before the park and house closed and we didn't allow enough time even though the said it would take an hour. Nice thing was that since they didn't allow strollers in the house they did provide you with back pack carriers...so since Addie was near melt down and didn't want dad to carry her, I ended up toting her around and tried taking pictures as well because Kevin had to carry Harrison. 

Lots of other stately homes don't let you take pictures inside which I kind of sucks when you pay as much as you do to go inside, but at Chatworth I got ask picture crazy as you can with a 20 month old strapped to your back. Many of the rooms in the house are painted with beautiful murals. This is one of my favorites which was on the ceiling of the chapel.

Saturday night we stayed at Arbor Low Bed and Breakfast which actually is on a farm. I thought this was a little daring to pick a place out in the middle of no where but this was a new adventure. The farm was a little sore on the eyes but the room we had was very nice and perfect for a place to lay our heads for the night. We ate a local pub which we ended up sitting by a family who one of the ladies was actually born in IL. Her sister still lives in Joliet, so she knew where Peoria was...small world. Since Addison didn't have a real nap she was starting to melt down and our life saver was the portable DVD player that we were smart enough to bring along with her now all-time favorite movie - Shrek!!! We had a nice meal and headed back to the B&B where we all crashed after about an hour.Since we stayed on a farm, Addison got to see some real baby chicks that the owners raised. She was pretty excited about this. Kevin and I are both farm kids at heart so it was nice to get to "experience" a little English farm life.
Right next to our B&B was a site with the English National Heritage call Arbor Low Stone Circle (aka "The Stonehedge of the North"). Like the real Stonehedge, it was a bunch of rocks in a large circle out in the middle of no where. Never the less, it was some thing to see and a bit of history to be learned.

Sunday morning we headed towards Matlock Bath to a place called the Heights of Abraham. It's kind of touristy type of place but you get to ride over the beautiful river valley in little cable cars. 

As we are riding up in the cable cars, my husband informs me that he is afraid of heights. Sorry honey, there is no turning back now. The view was beautiful though. In the river below they actually had a kaiaking course set up with people actually going through it. 

At the top of the hill are the entrances to two old mining caves, a stone tower, playgrounds for the kids and a few other exhibits.

We got a family picture in the morning while it was still foggy and drizzling rain. There is a castle off in the distance that we thought would be cool to check out but found out that it was built about 100 years ago to a local hosiery manufacturer and it is now going to be converted into apartments.

We walked through an abondoned iron mine which was pretty interesting to do with two little ones but it was pretty cool. Addison wanted to run all over the place and jump in the mud puddles. Needless to say, I was about exhausted after walking up all the steps to get up and out of this place...what a way to burn of that baby fat.

We ended the day with a nice lunch in the cafe with each of us eating a very "English" lunch. I had a cornish pastry with chips. Kevin had a BLT bagette with crisps. This was the kicker though. We shared a half pint glass of fountain soda Pepsi...we were thirsty so we had another. When I went to pay for the second drink I found out that I paid 1.80GBP = $3.60US for a half pint of fountain soda...and now a second. We just spent $7.20 on a pint of Pepsi...Yikes!!!! But it tasted soooooo goooood!!!!! It was a great weekend and a super adventure.