Thursday 24th September was another fine sunny day at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here) so we decided to go for a walk.  We had been comtemplating a trip to Chatsworth to the Beyond Limits but after a drive to Chatsworth we decided to wait a couple more weeks for the autumn colours to get more established.  Plan B was a walk along Monsal Dale to Monsal Head and back.  We hadn’t done this walk since the tunnels were opened.  The forecast hinted at a risk of showers from midday but luckily we never saw any.  We parked at White Lodge car park on the A6 and crossed the road to walk beside the River Wye.  At the footbridge just before the weir we we crossed the bridge to take the path that ended up at Monsal Head.  When we reached Monsal Head we bumped into a couple of our guests whose walk crossed ours.  We all had lunch outside at Hobbs Cafe (they also had a dog) before going our separate ways.  We took the path down to the viaduct which we crossed then took the path down to Netherdale.  This wended its way around the bend in the river to go under the viaduct and then we followed the River Wye back to the car park.  About 3 miles in distance so we were back mid afternoon.  Later I popped down to Bakewell to get provisions for the next few days.  Another lovely sunset.  Enjoy the photos.

Monday was again the worst day of the week weather wise at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here).  One departure and two arrivals and one cleaner here.  Rain on and off during the morning but the sun came out during the afternoon.  Usual Monday routines and paperwork during the day.  First cottage here at 3.30, they have been before and brought with them some of their award winning delicious Suffolk honey.  Second cottage arrived at 5.30, they are here for nearly two weeks.  After dinner Chris went to the first session of the Bakewell Photographic Society for this season.  Won’t be long before indoor bowls starts.  Tuesday was a much more pleasant day with long spells of sunshine.  No departures but one arrival with cottage already prepared.  Household jobs in the morning and in the afternoon I went to Buxton to do some shopping including a trip to Morrisons.  Cottage arrived while I was out but Chris saw them in and I caught up with them on my return, they have been before. Wednesday was another fine and mainly sunny day.  We thought about going to Chatsworth to see the Beyond Limits exhibition but decided to wait another couple of weeks hopefully to take advantage of autumn colours.  So it was a quiet day with Chris doing jobs around the house and I concentrated on getting the information together for all our tax returns and dealing with our adverts for the 2016 Visit Peak District brochure.  Mid afternoon our friends from Ashford popped in for a cup of tea.  Wednesday was the autumn equinox and autumn colours are starting to appear in the trees.

Unlike Sunday, Monday was worse than initially forecast at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here).  Rain on and off for most of the day and no sunny spells.  No departures but one arrival with one cleaner here.  Usual Monday routines and cottage arrived just after 4.30.  Tuesday was a better day with one departure and one arrival and one cleaner here.  A number of odd jobs before cottage arrived just after 3pm, they have been before.  Nice enough to sit outside for a cup of tea in the afternoon.  Later I collected Joanna and we went to Bakewell for Septembers WI meeting.  Our speaker was a local photographer who gave us an interesting slide display of the Isle of Mull.  Wednesday was initially forecast to be very wet and windy, an amber warning was in place, but during the day the forecast changed and in the end we did not see any rain and it turned into a nice day.  A morning spent on accounts and mid afternoon Chris dropped me off in Bakewell as I was going to the Rutland Arms Hotel for afternoon tea.  Wednesday was WI day and across the country hundreds of WI’s were having an afternoon tea or similar to celebrate 100 years of the WI.  An enjoyable afternoon was had by all.  Thursday was a bit disappointing weatherwise as I was hoping we might squeeze a short walk in but the afternoon was quite overcast with a few passing showers.  One departure and one arrival and one cleaner here.  Went down to Bakewell late morning to get some provisions for the weekend.  After lunch we went to Chesterfield for a couple of hours to so some shopping.  Would rather have gone for a walk.  Never mind.  Back before cottage arrived at 7pm.  The sun finally came out just when taking Smudge for his evening stroll.  Typical.  We have been having some nice sunsets recently.

Monday was a pleasant day at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here) despite the forecast.  After a dull start it brightened up and was quite warm in the afternoon.  No departures so Chris and I went down to Bakewell to the market and had coffee and cake at the Lavender Tearooms.  Back home in time for a cleaner as we were expecting one arrival.  Cottage here at 3pm so rest of afternoon went on catch up jobs and paperwork.  In the evening I went to Over Haddon for the Village Hall Committee meeting.  I always pick a seat so I can look at the view and I noticed it was a nice sunset and luckily so did Chris so he went and took some photos.  A cool night but a fine start to Tuesday.  A busy day with Tuesday handyman here and Phil from next door also here to help start work on some handrails in the courtyard.  One departure and one cleaner here and one arrival.  The weather deteriorated during the day and by 3pm, when cottage arrived, it had started to rain.  Afternoon spent on accounts.  Wednesday started wet despite the sunny forecast but it brightened up mid morning and turned into a pleasant afternoon.  Two departures and one arrival and one cleaner here.  A busy morning for phonecalls and emails resulting in some bookings.  Cottage arrived at 4pm.  Thursday was a pleasant day with a risk of an isolated shower but we never saw any.  Later in the morning we went to Bakewell to the dentist and also to get some provisions for the next couple of days.  Back and after a quick lunch collected Joanna and headed to Thornbridge Hall Gardens to meet up with others from Over Haddon WI .  The Gardens are open on Thursdays in the summer and we thought it would make a nice outing.  Luckily the weather held and we had a wander around the gardens finishing off with tea and cake!

Friday was a dull day at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here).  A warm day had been forecast but in the end we only got to 19C with a humid feel.  Down to Bakewell first thing to get provisions for the weekend and banking etc.  Two departures and two arrivals and one cleaner here.  Cleaning took longer than anticipated but we got there in the end.  Chris went to Matlock to get some iron work for new railings we will be installing in the courtyard.  First cottage here at 3.30 and second one at 4pm.  A damp evening and it was wet first thing Saturday.  The forecast showed a misty start with it warming up later in the morning but in fact the sun came out sooner than expected.  Three departures and four arrivals and two cleaners here.  With cleaning underway by 10am all cleaning and most checks finished by lunchtime.  Chris cut the lawns.  Three cottages here by 3.30.  We took adavantage of the sun and had a cup of tea and ice cream on the patio before the first of the thundery showers passed over.  Final cottage here at 5pm then a couple more waves of thundery showers.  Dogs were a bit reluctant to go out for their evening walk!  Sunday was forecast to be another warm and sunny day but it didn’t live up to expectations.  The breeze kept the edge of the temperature and it clouded up by 2pm.  One departure but no arrivals.  We thought we would go out for lunch and headed to Hartington.  As it was still nice all the outside tables were taken so we had no trouble in finding a table inside the cafe.  It was quite breezy by the time we got home and by 4pm it was raining.  A disappointing end to the weekend.

Thursday was our day off at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here) even though we had one arrival.  The cottage was already prepared and guests not expected until the evening.  Anticipating that the heather would be in its glory I had planned a walk in the Goyt Valley which is one of the heather hot spots.  When we got there though we found it still was not fully out so we drove out of the valley via Derbyshire Bridge onto the Cat & Fiddle road and stopped at the Peak View Tearoom for coffee.  From here we had a scenic drive via Winnats Pass and Castleton to Hathersage where we had recently walked. We were pleased to see that the heather here was really good so we donned our walking boots and set off on the same route along Millstone Edge we did a couple of weeks ago.  We found a different lunch spot with lovely views over the Hope Valley but with a steep drop if we had lost our footings!  Before we got to Higger Tor we headed down and took a lower footpath along the bottom of Millstone Edge passing a number of oldd workings. We crossed the main road and walked a green lane through the old Bolehill Quarry where there were plenty of millstones before heading back to the main road and car park.  We took plenty of pictures of the heather so enjoy.  On the way home we stopped in Hathersage to browse the outdoor shops.  It had stayed cloudy most of the day but at least the sun came out before we left the heather. It turned into a pleasant evening and guests arrived just before 9pm.

Monday was warm day at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here) but not always sunny.  Cloudy in the morning with showers in the afternoon.  No departures but our late arrival from Saturday cancelled because of continuing ill health.  One of those days that went fast with nothing to show for it!  Tuesday was better with long sunny spells.  Tuesday handyman here helping Chris with odd jobs.  For me some housework and gave the car it’s annual clean!   Also got some new fencing going up.  Wednesday was a lovely warm day with one departure.  A quiet morning and after coffee we packed up the car with some recycling and the dogs and first went to the recycling depot then the peak outlet centre.  We were going on to Ashover for the show but as traffic was still heavy around Ashover we stopped for lunch first.  We got to Ashover about 1.30 and still had to queue but not for too long.  The Ashover Show is always popular with the farming community and locals alike and we always bump into people we know.  Andrew and Joanna were manning one of the dairy refreshment tents so we stopped for a cup of tea there.  Had a good look around the livestock stands before checking out the old tractors and steam engines.  Also had a look round the craft, horticultural and food tents.  We also looked at all the machinery stands , not that we need a new tractor.  The show is nowhere near as big as the Bakewell show and we had looked around everything after three hours.  We came back via the Chatsworth Farm Shop so I could pick up some tea and it was still warm enough to eat outside.  What I have noticed is that even some of our lawn is starting to turn brown, it has been a few years since we have seen that and I was shocked to see we have had less than a quarter of inch of rain so far this month.  That may change over the next few days. Enjoy the photos from the show.