シャーリーの天然記念物・トップ5

The car park is free for National Trust members. I love climbing but I don't like heights....confusing I know! I really enjoyed this short climb but I found myself on a small scramble which got my blood pumping a little!

Car park isn’t free but costs £6.60 for the day or £4 for 4 hours

One of the most celebrated events in the village is the annual Well Dressing festival, a unique and tradition that dates back centuries. What is Well Dressing? Well dressing is an ancient custom that involves decorating wells and springs with intricate and beautiful designs made from natural materials such as flowers, petals, leaves, and seeds. Some suggest the tradition began after Tissington escaped the Black Death, with villagers attributing their survival to the purity of their water supply. Pagan Origins: Another theory suggests the custom may have roots in pagan practices of offering thanks to the gods of wells and springs The festival usually takes place during Ascension Week, a religious observance that occurs 40 days after Easter Sunday.

In the Memorial gardens, on the corner of Cokayne Avenue and Park Road, you will find the impressive sandstone gateway to the park, comprising a classical arch with pillars and fluted columns, welcoming visitors to the ornate formal gardens planted in memory of Ashbourne’s war casualties. Pass the bandstand site and in the other corner of the gardens is a statue of the Salvation Army co-founder, Catherine Booth, who was born in Ashbourne. The Henmore Brook flows just beyond the playground, giving lots of opportunities to spot wildlife on Fishpond Meadow.

A massive old Oak tree next to the path between Osmaston and Ashbourne.

At the time of writing, the National Trust has erected signs informing people that the summit is closed due to erosion and the risk of falling rocks. There is no date set for when the path to the summit may reopen (hopefully soon). The path around the hill is still open and affords spectacular views itself.

Thorpe Cloud rises proudly from Dovedale and affords breathtaking views over the River Dove, Bunster Hill, Ilam and beyond. It has a distinctive conical shape and is a popular summit for hikers in the area. That said, it can get extremely busy up here so choose your moment to climb it.

A short but steep climb to the summit is rewarded with beautiful 360 degree views of the surrounding areas. In 1997, the writer Jeff Kent discovered that a double sunset could be seen against Thorpe Cloud from the top of nearby Lin Dale and, two years later, the phenomenon was first captured on film by the photographer Chris Doherty. The occurrence is visible in good weather on and around the summer solstice and perhaps beyond, when the sun sets on the summit of the hill, partially reappears from its steep northern slope and sets for a second and final time shortly afterwards. The precise event and its location are described in Kent's book The Mysterious Double Sunset