Today, we had a walk up to the Hunting Tower, which stands at the top of the Chatsworth House Estate in Stand Wood, UK, and built in the 1570s. The last time I was here, I was much younger, so I'm sure it was going to be tougher this time as the first part of the walk was up a steep hill. We parked up at Chatsworth House, the home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, and made our way to the top.
Along the way we found some very old, creepy arsed trees.
Further along the walk was Chatsworth Aqueduct with its four arches. I like an aqueduct, and this one looked especially impressive in the rain.
Climbing up the steps to the top of the aqueduct, it was all fenced off. I wouldn't have walked to the edge, though, as I don't like heights.
Not far from the aqueduct was Sowter Stone Waterfall. The water flows down to the aqueduct. At the top of the stone steps, I had a breather!
It was a great place to sit for a while as there was a lovely decorative rock pool overlooking Chatsworth House below.
After finally getting to the top, we followed the footpath, hoping it would lead us to the Hunting Tower.
Suddenly, the tower appeared amongst the daffodils. It was built in1582 for Bess of Hardwick, who from humble beginnings became the second most powerful woman in Elizabethan England after the Queen.
It was originally built as a banqueting house or a summerhouse, but it was also used by the ladies to watch the hunting outside. Source
Rather them, than me! It has now been turned into holiday accommodation but it would probably cost an arm and a leg to stay there.
Only one cannon was here at one point. The others were added at a later date. After a brief rest, we made our way back. At least it would be easier going back down the hill.
We passed what looked like some sort of annexe, which also turned out to be more holiday accommodation. A little cheaper, perhaps?
Returning on a slightly different footpath, it got quite sludgy in places. I was very pleased that on descent, the stone steps had a chain handrail to hold onto as it was a bit slippy with the rain. I was glad I got to the bottom in one piece.
It was a good walk with lots of interesting things to look at along the way. However, because of the steepness of the walk, I won't be doing it again!
Thank you very much for sharing
From the pictures you show it is very difficult to climb those steps or walk there because of the slipperiness of the place.
I have always been interested in all these issues of noble titles because everything I have seen about it has been in the literature and to see that part of a publication is related to a house of some dukes and that it is from the sixteenth century is quite interesting.
I liked the publication and that I had no problems walking around these places.
Happy journey
Cheers and greetings.
Thank you @tonyes. It's not too far from me so I visit regularly. I'm very lucky.
How fortunate for you. I always enjoyed it. Happy journey. Cheers and best regards.
There is something delicate in your posts, I don't know how to define it. Maybe it's your way of taking pictures, I have no idea. I love it.
The tower is nice, I'm a huge fan of history and 1500 is one of my favorite centuries at all. But those trees and the aqueduct... 😍
The trees are a bit creepy actually, yes. And the aqueduct? Is it an ancient Roman aqueduct?
Thank you. It was a bit of a struggle going uphill but worth it. The aqueduct was built around 1839.
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