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Located in Derbyshire, near to Derby and Nottingham, Elvaston Castle Country Park encompasses approximately 321 acres of open parkland, woodland and more formal historical gardens. It's also the venue for our popular woodland festival.

At the heart of the estate lies Elvaston Castle, a gothic revival masterpiece (not open to the public) designed by James Wyatt in the early 1800s based on the original house dating back to 1633.

Today both the buildings and gardens are registered (Grade 2 and Grade 2*) as being of special architectural and historical interest.

The gardens are locally renowned for their rockwork structures and fine examples of topiary, originally introduced and designed by William Barron in the 19th century.

There's lots to be see and do in and around the park - walking, cycling, horse riding, bird watching, picnicking, kite flying, photography, exploring the park and nature reserve.......... but they don't like drones!

There is no bylaw or FRZ preventing flight but some of the pathways and bridleways that riddle the estate have 'no drones' signs. The Park is vast and I visited on a quiet day and the only witness to my flight was a young lad, and I presume, his mother who were both really excited to see my mini 3 Pro fly........so the choice is yours!

The estate entrance, and only car park for visitors arriving in vehicles, is off Borrowash Road between Borrowash Village and Thulston. Just follow the brown tourist signs from either direction and they'll direct you right to the park.

Some sat navs direct vehicles off the A6 Derby bypass into Elvaston Castle Country Park via a slip road to Bridlegate Lane, Alvaston. There's no access to the park via this route (nor turning room along its length should you commit to it). The lane is clearly marked off the by-pass with a 'dead-end' highways sign.

Your sat nav may direct you into the estate by a sealed bridle path off Borrowash Road, which also leads to Elvaston Cricket Club's grounds. This access route is for authorised vehicles only, with no visitor parking permitted.

There is little parking outside of the park but the closest I've found is on the B5010 near Elvaston Lane where there is a layby. A short walk up the lane will take you to one of the Park entrances. I did see people had parked on the B5010 but it's very narrow where it runs around the park and I wouldn't risk it.

UPDATE @ 28/03/23: Post flight information revealed a Derbyshire City Council bylaw may apply to the Park. See full details in the discussion thread for this entry.

Land owner permission not required.

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Co-ordinates: 52.8928, -1.394071 • what3words: ///snacking.heartache.thudded

The Duck At Drakeholes. Lovely spot to see Narrow Boats on the Chesterfield Canal and have a cool drink or a bite to eat. TOAL was parked up at side of Wiseton Road.Clear LOS

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Co-ordinates: 53.40559, -0.938813 • what3words: ///helpers.pots.supposing

Flew here today after much research, no actual access to site as is actively protected by security guards hiding in building wearing kharki, combat clothing was reported on other sites this their attitude to combat trespass. My drone did draw two guards out of cover whilst hovering above incredible old building in poor disrepute.

Land owner permission requirements unknown.

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Co-ordinates: 53.17417, -3.421029 • what3words: ///hippy.divided.hillsides

Gamelands stone circle lies between the village of Orton and the hamlet of Raisbeck. It is an oval enclosure of around 40 large stones, all of which have fallen, together with three smaller stones. The stones are set into a slight bank. All of the stones are of pink granite with the exception of one which is limestone. The stones are all below one metre in height and are arranged in an oval of 42 metres by 35 metres.

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Co-ordinates: 54.46751, -2.556853 • what3words: ///bonkers.ghosts.opposing

Teignmouth is a seaside town, fishing port and civil parish in the English county of Devon. It is on the north bank of the estuary mouth of the River Teign, about 12 miles (19 km) south of Exeter.

Parked Car and TOAL from the Ness Car park.

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Co-ordinates: 50.53737, -3.499931 • what3words: ///emporium.screeches.breathing

Paignton is a seaside town on the coast of Tor Bay in Devon, England. Together with Torquay and Brixham it forms the borough of Torbay which was created in 1968. The Torbay area is a holiday destination known as the English Riviera.

TOAL from a Bench on the promenade.
Last week in March so not many people about.

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Co-ordinates: 50.43277, -3.558799 • what3words: ///among.keeps.brass

Dartmouth is a town and civil parish in the English county of Devon. It is a tourist destination set on the western bank of the estuary of the River Dart, which is a long narrow tidal ria that runs inland as far as Totnes. It lies within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

TOAL and Parking was on Higher Contour Road. ///roofed.clenching.glider

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Co-ordinates: 50.3489, -3.568722 • what3words: ///sings.rezoning.fists

Park up at the Forestry Commission car park - there is a charge, but also toilets - and walk the short distance to the loch to find a spot for TOAL, we chose the path near the bridge and flew from there.

It can get busy at certain times of day and year, especially when the Fantasy Forest is on in the Autumn, but definitely worth a stop, the reflections are awesome in the sheltered and still water...

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Co-ordinates: 56.71111, -3.765409 • what3words: ///galloped.pouch.store

Blagdon Lake lies in a valley at the northern edge of the Mendip Hills, close to the village of Blagdon and approximately 10 miles (16 km) south of Bristol, England. The lake was created by Bristol Water (Bristol Waterworks Company as it was known then), when it dammed the River Yeo, starting construction in 1898, to designs by Charles Hawksley, and completing this in 1905. The Wrington Vale Light Railway was constructed primarily to bring building materials for the lake.

On the edge of SSI, plenty of birds around the lake, so one to be mindful of.

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Co-ordinates: 51.33576, -2.706242 • what3words: ///promoting.throw.cowboys

Burrington Combe is a Carboniferous Limestone gorge near the village of Burrington, on the north side of the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, in North Somerset, England.
According to legend Augustus Montague Toplady was inspired to write the hymn Rock of Ages while sheltering under a rock in the combe, although recent scholars have disputed this claim.

The Cobme is in a Amber zone for Scientific or Nature interest.
There is a herd of goats living wild among the rocks.

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Co-ordinates: 51.32418, -2.752609 • what3words: ///think.fire.producing

Barrow Gurney Reservoirs (grid reference ST5468) (also known as Barrow Gurney Tanks or Barrow Tanks) are three artificial reservoirs for drinking water near the village of Barrow Gurney, which lies southwest of Bristol, England. They are known by their numbers rather than names.

They are fed by several springs including one which becomes the Land Yeo. Some of the outfall is also used to feed the river which flows to the Bristol Channel.

The Tanks are right on the border of Bristol airport no fly zone.
Parking on the A38 is not practical so TOAL was Dundry Lane.

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Co-ordinates: 51.40883, -2.659324 • what3words: ///left.grant.pest