Wednesday was a better day weather wise at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here).  In the morning down to Bakewell to get hair cut and get some provisions.  The afternoon went in cottage work and paperwork.  Joanna collected me for the WI meeting with discussions centring on the resolutions for the national WI AGM.  We also had a Police Community Support Officer talk to us about local crime issues and police initiatives for households and farmsteads.  The biggest crime issues around here are oil and Landrover thefts with speeding and distraction burglars also causing concern.  The cows were out overnight for first time this year.  With the forecast being warm, cloudy and dry on Thursday we decided to go for a walk.  I planned a six mile walk from Illam that was mainly level but with a number of interesting features.   We drove to Illam passing the funeral cortège in Monyash of the mum who was killed in a car crash on the a515a few weeks ago.  A car overtaking a lorry in foggy conditions hit her car head on and she leaves a husband a two young children behind.  Accidents like this have a big impact on small communities.  We managed to get the last parking spot in Illam and headed off along the path passing the Izaak Walton Hotel, under new management, before reaching the car park at Dove Dale.  We walked along the rocky path towards the stepping stones when the dogs surprised us by walking in the river. First time in their lives they have voluntarily walked in water!  They also crossed the stepping stones with Chris and even I walked across a few of them before we walked along Dove Dale as far as Hall Dale which we walked up. Part way along we found a sunny spot and had lunch.  At the top of the Dale we picked up the path that skirted Damgate Farm then took the path that passed   Casterne Hall which we visited last autumn. Down to the hamlet of Rushley where a lamb tried to befriend Smudge.  He wasn’t sure what to make of it.  Naturally on reaching Ilam Hall we stopped for afternoon tea with views to Thorpe Cloud.  Back home and time for a quick shower and snack before I was off to Buxton for the local heat of the Derbyshire WI quiz which Over Haddon won!   I did notice that silaging was under way so it’s that time of year again! Enjoy the photos.