The View from Win Hill

 A visit to England’s oldest National Park had me reflecting on bravery, sacrifice, and the need for waterproof trousers.

England has many protected outdoor areas, each with their own character, and the Peak District National Park showcases the highs and lows of visiting rural Britain. This splodgy area between the industrial cities of Sheffield and Manchester contains history, outstanding natural beauty, local character and sporting activities. Yet the wind and water that lurk in the clouds still derail so many plans…

We drove through the Midland countryside from Bristol to our base at the Yorkshire Bridge Inn, passing the twisty tower of Chesterfield church and the home of the synthetically tasty Bakewell tart. Blessed with sunshine on our first day, we skirted around the Ladybower reservoir, watching the luminous grass banks host olive-green smudges of colour from the shadows of the overhead clouds. It’s hardly original to describe a sense of peace when reconnecting with nature but it is honest. Memories of cramped city commutes, computer screens and conference calls dissolve when even mobile phone reception fails.

Find the full series of blog posts at Inside the Travel Lab