The forecast at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here) was for another fine weekend. Friday saw one departure and one arrival and one cleaner here. A lovely start to the day with early morning mist making for a fine photographic opportunity. Jobs around the house as we were expecting a friend for the weekend and Smudge was awaiting her arrival as she always brings him treats. She arrived in time for a late lunch and cottage arrived at 5pm. In the evening we went to Simply Thai in Buxton where we enjoyed a nice meal. Saturday was a fine, warm and sunny day although it stayed a little bit hazy. Six departures and five arrivals and three cleaners here. With prompt departures cleaning got swiftly underway and all cleaning and most checks completed by lunchtime. Chris cut the grass and we can already see the trees are starting to change colour. Three arrivals here by 3.30 with two more by 4pm and final cottage by 4.30. Like last Saturday all have been before so it was nice to catch up with arriving guests. We then took advantage of the nice late afternoon sun to head down to the Garden Tearoom in Over Haddon and enjoy tea and cake. We were there until the sun was setting as we were nattering to Karen and Mark and other customers. Then back home for a light supper as I was full of cake! Sunday started warm and sunny but clouded up in the afternoon. One departure but no arrivals. Friend left after lunch so a quiet afternoon although one of our regular guests called in to show a friend where she stays. In the evening we went to the village hall and saw the first of this seasons films Testament of Youth which was very good.
dog friendly cottages peak district
Mixed weather
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.
A busy September Saturday
Friday saw three departures at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here) but no arrivals. Another lovely day beckoned but we had plans to travel to see our friends in Yorkshire as we were helping him celebrate a birthday. This meant we were missing on the Tour of Britain Cycle race that was coming through Bakewell at lunchtime, although Mark Cavendish was absent as he had crashed not long after the start of the stage. Those who saw the race pass through said it was interesting. We didn’t get back until very late. Saturday got off to a wet start with showers, some heavy, on and off during the day. The first of a run of busy Saturdays with four departures and six arrivals. Cleaners able to make an early start with the cottages vacated on Friday and thus achieved an early finish. This gave me time for my checks but it was too wet for Chris to cut the grass. Three cottages here by 3.30 and remaining three here by 4pm, all have been before so some catching up chat took place. At least I could take Smudge for his evening walk in the dry, sunset is getting earlier and you know summer is over when the Last Night of the Proms takes place! Sunday was a pleasant day, far better than expected. No arrivals or departures and with it being so nice I made time for some gardening. We also stocked up on logs in readiness for cool nights and Chris cut the grass. Another nice sunset but wet weather is forecast for the week ahead.
Another heather walk
Wednesday started misty at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here). It soon lifted and became a fine albeit cool day with a few passing showers. No departures but one arrival with cottage already prepared. A catch up day having been away for a few days and later in the morning we went down to Bakewell to get provisions for the next few days. Cottage arrived just after 4pm, they have been before. Thursday started like Wednesday but it cleared sooner and turned sunny and warm. With no arrivals or departures we headed off to the Goyt Valley late morning to see how the heather was. When we had visited a few weeks back it was still not quite out so it was nice to see that it was looking good. We parked at the Goyt Lane car park and set off along the dismantled railway that was a part of the Cromford and High Peak Railway. It was quite breezy along the track and we followed it to the old Burbage Tunnel which went under Burbage Edge. This edge is the local watershed for rivers flowing into either the North Sea or Irish Sea. Here we turned off onto a footpath and we were in the lee of the wind so it was much warmer. The path followed Wildmoorstone Brook and we had wonderful views of the heather up on Wild Moor and surrounding moorland. We followed this until we reached a junction of paths and then picked up a path that led back to the Errwood Reservoir. At another junction of paths we took a track back up to the car park and the end of the 3 mile walk. We drove to Derbyshire Bridge and then the Cat and Fiddle tearoom for a late lunch. It was nice enough to sit outside with Smudge. From here we headed to Buxton to do some shopping and spotted the bikes which were out for the Tour of Britain. Back via Monyash (milk and ice cream) and Over Haddon where we had a quick drink at the pub then popped into the tearoom before heading home. Enjoy the photos.
A brief break
As you may be aware it has been quite eventful at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell over the last week or so with the loss of Blue (see Smudge’s tribute to his brother here). After a brief planned stay with my sister I am back and blogging will resume shortly.
In the meantime here are Augusts weather statistics
Highest temp 23.5C on 22nd which was warmest day and night. Lowest temp 8.1C on 16th with 31st coldest day and 15th coldest night. Wettest day 26th with .46 inches rain with 1.69 inches for August (3.57 inches August 2014).
August Bank Holiday Weekend
Friday was a fine day with a few passing showers at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here). Three departure and two arrivals and one cleaner here. No problems encountered and all cleaning completed by lunchtime. More work continued on our new railings in the courtyard. First cottage here at 4pm, they have been many times before and second cottage at 8pm, they have also been before. In the meantime I caught up with a number of jobs and later in the evening Chris went round to the Magpie Mine to see if he could get some nice photos of the sunset. Saturday started sunny and I was down to Bakewell early for the Farmers Market. First said goodbye to three departing cottages. Two cleaners here. Farmers Market not as busy as thought and a few usual stall holders not there but got enough to keep us going for a few days. Cleaning well underway by time I returned and everything ready by lunchtime for the four cottages due to arrive. Chris cut the grass. Three cottages here by 3.30, two have been before with final one here at 5.30. Another nice sunset. Sunday was a quiet day. No arrivals or departures and down to Bakewell to get paper. Chris had to fix a part of the garden fence which had broken, don’t want cows in the front garden again! We were considering a walk to Sheldon in the afternoon as they were doing cream teas in the village hall but it always looked as if it was going to rain. In the end we went down to the Garden Tea Room in Over Haddon later in the afternoon but they had run out of cake! We stayed for a cup of tea though. Didn’t start raining until nearly 8pm and again another nice sunset.
Thornbridge Hall Gardens
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!
A mini heatwave
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.
A heather walk
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.
Arrivals and departures
For a while now at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here) we have had mainly weekly bookings but for a few weeks we will have more short breaks so will be busier. The cleaners are happy with this as they can earn more money. Monday was a dull day at although it stayed dry and was mild. One departure and three arrivals and one cleaner here as one cottage was already prepared. Usual Monday routines and also did some accounts. First cottage here at 5pm, they have been 
before with remaining cottages here just after 7pm. Tuesday was another dull day with some light showers, could have been worse. Each time I looked at the forecast it changed. One departure. Tuesday handyman here and he and Chris did some pruning jobs around the properties. In the afternoon I went to Sainsburys in Matlock. Took the dogs out for their evening walk and stayed to watch 
the sunset, Chris joined me and we went as far as we could on Andrews fields to get the best shots. At least we saw some warm sunshine on Wednesday morning. Two departures and one cleaner here with one arrival. With a couple of empty cottages I took the chance to get some extra jobs done. With bookings, cancellations and enquiries the morning soon went. It clouded up in the afternoon and the rain arrived about 5pm and our guests just before 6pm. A lot of emails in the evening but no nice sunset to photograph.