Is Mr Darcy at home?

Two daus, three nights in Buxton in the middle of England on our way north. 

Chatsworth House. My goodness!

Home to the Devonshire family for around 500 years, this place is huge and palatial. Every room we entered was jaw-droppingly opulent as was the approach when we drove into the property and the gardens.

The impressive gardens include a 90 metre gravity-fed fountain.

A grand tree-lined avenue.

And the most ridiculously huge rock garden like you could never imagine. How did they lift all these massive rocks in the 19th century?

Inside, we had pick our jaws up from the floor in every room.

The library.

The entry hall.

A small bedroom.

The current family continues to add to the art collection. Guests actually do sleep in this bed made by Irish artist, Joseph Walsh.

Looking down the stairs in the entry hall.

The stables and coach house which is now a cafe, restaurant and gift shop.

The only horse now standing in the stables. What a magnificent creature.

As you can see from my outfit, we had not managed to outrun the heat.  Icecream and a sit-down in the shade was required at the end of our visit. We needed to cool down. It was a lot to absorb but we loved it. A fascinating place with connections to so many people and events in the history of England. 

Buxton town.

Then we went to Pemberley, aka Lyme Park. Mr Darcy - where are you?

Vistors could dress in period costumes to match Jane Austin's story which was filmed here.

Still grand and impressive, but a much more liveable size than Chatsworth.

It seemed that Mr Darcy was not at home. But the house lived up to expectations.

Then we continued driving north.