Friday started bright but clouded up by lunchtime at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see link) before it started raining mid afternoon. Two cottages out, one a day early as their dog was not well and one cleaner up. Chris out at the village hall for a while sorting out a new router.  Always handy when there are skills in the community. Time chatting with guests and preparing cottage for arrival. After lunch headed down town to get provisions for weekend. Guests arrived about 5pm, they have been before. Did some preparations for Saturday too.  Saturday started quite cool and damp although it did brighten up mid morning.  Six departures and seven arrivals and three cleaners up. No problems encountered and Chris had time to “hoover” the lawns before lunch. Four cottages in by 4pm with the remaining two by 5pm, four have been before.  Chris took down the hanging baskets in view of the forecast for Sunday.  There was a colourful sunset when taking dogs for their evening walk.  An enjoyable evening with one of the cottages joining us for tea.  Apparently there was a lovely sunrise on Sunday morning, sorry but I had a little lie in on Sunday so missed it!  The forecast for Sunday had been awful but the expected heavy rain didn’t arrive until lunchtime although it was windy from the start. First thing we went down to Bakewell to get the paper and call in at the Agricultural Centre.  Here the National Bird Carving Championships were taking place and one of our guests was exhibiting. There was some extremely good exhibits, shame I forgot my camera.  Did some baking in the afternoon.  The forecast for the week ahead shows the unsettled weather continuing although with a prospect of warmer weather later in the week.  I’d just put my sandals away and now they were saying don’t put the t shirts away just yet!

On Tuesday we had made plans to go to Manchester.  Over the last few years a number of guests staying at our Bolehill Cottages  (see here)  have enquired about visiting the Lowry Gallery in Manchester.  So we thought it about time we did!  We could have gone by car bit our guests have always used public transport so we set off to catch the first off peak train from Grindleford. We were early enough to have a cup of tea at the cafe before catching the train. The train from Grindleford was busy with walkers who were getting off at the next few stops. The advantage of going to Manchester this way (rather than from Buxton) is that you go through the Hope Valley and Vale of Edale so we had wonderful views of the Kinder Plateau.  By New Mills all the walkers had left the train.  At Manchester Picadilly we walked the short distance to pick up the tram line to Salford Quays where we found the Lowry Centre.  This area has been redeveloped over the last few years and almost adjacent to the Lowry Centre is the new BBC complex. After we had gone round the Lowry Centre we walked the short distance across the Manchester Ship Canal to the Imperial War Museum (North).  A striking building and after we had lunch we toured the exhibitions.  After the War museum we had a look round the local outlet shopping centre and the foyer to the BBC Centre before catching the tram back into Manchester.  We had just missed a train back to Grindleford so we had time to stroll round the centre of Manchester before catching the scenic train back.  It brought back memories of London in the rush hour.  The dogs were pleased to see us, one of our regular guests had taken them for a walk round our fields with her dog in the afternoon so they had been looked after.  Next time we get asked about Manchester we will have first hand experience of getting there.

Sunday was a cool day at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see link).   Although showers were forecast once again they seemed to bypass us.   After a busy Saturday time to catch up on personal bits and house work.  Also gathered all the information for our tax returns.  Over the next few days we have no arrival or departures so we are planning a few outings.  Another misty start to the day on Monday with the morning going in chatting to guests, phone calls, emails, and laundry.  Chris went down to Joanna’s to sort out their computer.  After a late coffee we went over to Buxton without the dogs.  We had a stroll around the shops and lunch  out.  This was a part of trying to get out as much as possible this week.  It is rare we go out on a Monday as we usually have arrivals and departures.  By late afternoon the showers were coming in one after the other and it did feel a lot cooler.  Back home kept busy with emails and bookings.  My spring bulbs have arrived and I have 250 bulbs to find homes for.  This week is the first Peak District Cycling Festival so it will be interesting to see how successful that is.  One of our guests reported mushrooms back in the fields so will have to get picking.  More morning mist photos, our guests go out and photograph them too.

After the fine weather of the last few weeks Sunday was cool, overcast and breezy at our cottages near Bakewell (see here).  The last few years we have seen the Red Arrows in glorious sunshine at Chatsworth so this year we decided to try a different viewing point especially as the performance was at lunchtime rather than in the afternoon.   We had opted for Baslow Edge some time ago and without the dogs after the barking everyone had to endure last year.  We set off just before midday  having planned our route but just as we left Bakewell on the Baslow road we found ourselves in queuing traffic for the show and at this point it was still two miles to Chatsworth for those who were going there. We turned round and picked up the Calver road only to find traffic queuing from Hassop roundabout to get to Chatsworth but having cut across this we got to Calver crossroads without any problems. We turned onto the Baslow road and hit the queues for Chatsworth at Calver Mill but luckily this is where we turned off and headed up past the car park for Curbar Edge and on to find a parking spot by the Sheffield Road.   Here we picked up the path to Baslow Edge but by now we also realised we were not the only ones to have this idea.  Well we weren’t expecting to be alone but we weren’t expecting masses of people.  We found our spot with half an hour to go which gave us time for lunch in a spot out of the wind as other families and people also bagged their places and had lunch.  The heather was still in a good condition up here too.  We were able to see them make their approach from miles away and we were treated to a wonderful display.  Being higher up there were a couple of times when the planes were practically over head and being higher up we could also see the number of cars at Chatsworth. Too soon the show was over and we headed back to the car passing the Longhorn cattle. We had a clear run home and spent the afternoon on house jobs and a number of bookings. One of our guests said it took them an hour to get to Chatsworth from here (normally fifteen minutes at most). In the evening we had another lovely sunset but I’ll save those photos for another day, you can enjoy some of the photos I took of the Red Arrows here, although for a change I did also make sure I enjoyed most of the display.  Hope the Longhorn Cattle did too!

   Tuesday was another fine day at our self catering cottages near Bakewell (see here).  The day got off to a misty start with me (and others) out there to get some photos. One departure and two arrivals and one cleaner up. Rubbish collected but laundry won’t be collected until Wednesday. A number of jobs to do in the empty cottages.  First cottage arrived just after 3pm, they have been before and second cottage arrived just after 5pm. Caught up with friend on phone.  Took camera with me for some amazing colours at sunset.  Wednesday was another fine day. No departures but one arrival and one cleaner here. Went down to Bakewell in the morning to get some provisions for the next few days. Guests arrived just after 3pm. They have been many times before so had a natter before they settled in. We then went over to Monyash to view the flower festival in the church and as it was so warm I had an ice cream from the Smithy Cafe. We did a short circular walk to the church and back so the dogs also stretched their legs. Hope you enjoy these photos, I have kept some back for future use.

Monday was a fair day although we were expecting a little more sunshine at our cottages near Bakewell (see here) but it stayed dry. One departure and one arrival later in the day. One cleaner up and usual Monday routines.  Chris spent some more time pruning and sorting out a friends computer and I caught up with some paper work including our advert for the 2014 Peak District and Derbyshire Visitor Guide. Guests arrived about 6.30. Tuesday 20/8 was forecast to be a fine day and with no arrivals (but one departure) we opted for a walk. With the heather out we decided we would go up to Howden Edge and do a walk we had done a few years ago. We were able to park at the end of the road which follows the reservoirs (closed weekends and Bank Holidays) without any problems. We set along the track beside Howden Reservoir to Slippery Stones, which was where a packhorse bridge that had been rescued from Derwent village was moved to when the valleys were flooded.  The water was low in all the reservoirs. There was a helicopter in the air and as we picked up the path up Cranberry Clough we met a National Trust volunteer who explained the helicopter was dropping of wooden steaks for volunteers to fence of grazing land.  The path turned into Bull Clough and we soon found ourselves above the helicopter, luckily the dogs seemed unfazed by it. The only problem was that once we got up onto the moorland there was not as much heather as we expected. It had started to cloud up by now and the breeze was increasing. We picked up the path along Wilfrey Edge and found a sheltered spot amongst some rocks (at 1765 feet) for lunch.  Here we had far reaching views across the moorland with the heather in its glory. At Howden Edge we cut across the moorland to a path that would take us back down to Howden Reservoir. This was hard going at times as the path was not obvious and you couldn’t always see where your feet were going but with all the dry weather it wasn’t too boggy.  There was another helicopter up on the moorland bracken spraying (so a notice advised us) as bracken is an invasive plant on the moorland.  Luckily the further we walked the more heather we came across and when the path became a bit more obvious we followed it down Howden Clough back to the reservoir.  With the sun back out we were able to get some better shots of the heather.   Walking back along the shore line we spotted a short cut which meant walking across the river which the dogs didn’t like but we  were soon back at the car.  As we had set off a little later than planned, and with the walk being nearly seven miles it was too late for an afternoon tea.  Still it had been a nice walk.  Enjoy the photos.

We always enjoy a trip to Crich, which is about thirty minutes away from our cottages near Bakewell (see link), every now and again especially as they allow dogs.  As Crich was having a special weekend (1940’s weekend) we thought we would pay a visit.  The forecast was fine with occasional showers and luckily we didn’t see any. We were there early before it got too busy and there were lots of re-enactors around. There were a number of trams in operation and as the morning got busier more came out to carry passengers along the line. Part from enjoying the atmosphere we had a look at the static displays, a walk along woodland walk and a ride on a tram. Unlike the wartime weekend last year at peak rail there were no staged gun fights so the dogs did not have to worry about noise. We left early in the afternoon and came back via Bonsall where we had lunch at the cafe. Back home I made a cake for our WI tea on Monday and Chris put the electric fence back up along the drive as the cows will be coming back into the front field in the next few days. Blue will be happy!  Here are the photos from Crich.