Mercaston edge

About 5 miles north of Derby, past the Kedleston Hall Estate, is the village of Weston Underwood. From here the road climbs up past the now closed pre-stressed concrete works, the empty-but-being-renovated Cock Inn, the house with the rather unusual garden (which I am assured is a pet cemetery) and finally levels out before the crossroads over the A517 Belper Road at Cross o' the Hands.

A short distance before the crossroads is a layby which, on a clear day, gives beautiful views over the surrounding countryside.

Looking roughly west, the view stretches away in the direction of Belper and the Derwent Valley.

While further north, you can look over Cross o' the Hands, to the more hilly countryside around Wirksworth.

Although not quite within the Peak District National Park boundary, this type of countryside is typical of the limestone based White Peak.