Wednesday 11th May was a weird weather day at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here).  The promise of rain never materialised but the morning felt humid and the sky looked like a storm was imminent.  It lifted a little in the afternoon to give some glimpses of sun and it felt mild.  One departure with one arrival later in the day.  Down to Bakewell for the last of my dancercise classes and back in time for cleaner.  After lunch we went to Chesterfield to Bookers and Dunelm and back via Over Haddon to call in at the Garden Tea Room although they were not open. Cottage arrived at 6.30, they have been before. Thursday was forecast to be a fine warm day so we opted for a walk.  We usually walk Deep Dale near Sheldon on the May Day Bank Holiday weekend to see the orchids and cowslips but with the cooler weather we knew they were not out then.  We took a chance that the recent warm weather had encouraged them to emerge. We parked at Sheldon and took the path down through Little Shacklow Wood hoping to catch some Bluebells but there were none but there was plenty of wild garlic.  It was quite muddy underfoot. We emerged down by the River Wye and walked along stopping to take picture of the old mill.  As we started to ascend into Great Shacklow Wood there was plenty of wild garlic, then Bluebells and also other flora.  When we reached Deep Dale we were delighted to find that both the orchids and cowslips were out in abundance so we took plenty of pictures and also stopped for lunch.  We completed the circuit by walking almost to the end of the Dale then taking the path back to the village, a good five miles in total.  A detour via Monyash to pick up an ice cream before returning home.  Enjoy the photos.