The Goyt valley has a mysterious, magnetic draw for us. There’s just something special about it that keeps making us want to head back and explore. Located in the heart of the Peak District, it’s just an ‘over the hill’ drive for us. We’ve navigated some of the hills and the famous reservoir many times over the past year or so, but never the ruins of the old hall that once stood there.

We heard local whisperings that it was a magnificent place, so off we went, starting at the bottom-most of the valley on the road know as The Street. Making our way up the track, with chocolate treats and a thermos of hot chocolate in hand, we followed the path winding along, through old stone gates, steep drops descending down to the rushing stream below.

Finally, stone steps led us up to the ruins where we took kindly for the rest. The children clamoured over the old walls playing make-believe castles and dragons. We just took it all in. Treats and games finished, we wandered for a while finding an old burial ground along the way.  We could have ambled all day.

That’s the thing about the Goyt, you can spend days rambling and stumbling upon hidden secrets. I feel we have only just touched on her greatness.

Images by Nina Nixon