A Chilly Day at Hardwick Hall

I had a minor fall out with Tom, my Sat Nav, who tried to take us on a scenic trip round the back streets of Clay Cross and then directed us down a lane which seemed to get narrower and narrower. The fact that it had grass growing down the middle was also not reassuring.  Yet, unexpectedly, we popped out at the right place. 

There was a hard frost when we arrived at 11am and parked at Stainsby Mill for a walk in Hardwick Hall park.  It later turned out that we shouldn't have parked there, because the walk started somewhere else entirely, but that's what you get for relying on an inadequate sketch map with no scale.  However, the drive was at least dry and ice free.  After meandering round the hill and past some very aged and twisted oaks, we finally came within sight of both the Old and New Hardwick Hall, though the last is somewhat of a misnomer of course. 

The building looked, as ever, imposing and slightly fantastical, its chimneys and finials bristling.  She was no modest woman that Bess, her initials on the turrets must be several feet high.  Sadly the hall shuts for winter, but the snack shack was open as was the Old Hall.  We bought a postcard and sympathised with the attendant in his draughty lobby. 

The Old Hall

Lesley firmly ensconced in her new winter jacket.

After our walk we were still early enough to find plenty of space at the cosy Hardwick Inn, a pub I had never visited before.  Though by no means picturesque inside (the 1980's artex style plastering a little too freely applied) it serves a wide range of affordable hearty meals.  Lesley and I chose a roast dinner each and I tried a half of Bess of Hardwick Bitter - an excellent brew.  We did not expect to be able to clear our loaded plates, but the frost and a walk had obviously made us hungrier than we thought, for somehow most of it disappeared.

A half circuit of the Millers' Pond brought us back to the car, the sun making a brief appearance.