dog friendly peak district

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A taste of summer

IMG_0916Friday 16 May was a lot warmer than expected which was a nice way to start the weekend at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here).  Three departures and four arrivals with two cleaners here.  It was nice to hear that the Chatsworth Horse Trials were going ahead.   Went to Chatsworth farm shop to get provisions for the weekend as some warm weather was forecast and the farm shop has some nice items for picnics.  Chris cut grass. First two cottages here by 3.30 with third one arriving about 5pm and final ones, who have been before and were at the horse trials, here at 6pm. It was warm enough to sit outside in the evening but after dinner I had to go to the village hall for a short pre AGM meeting.  Saturday was a fine warm day and great for a picnic.  IMG_0917Two departures and one arrival and one cleaner up.  After cleaning completed and I had done my checks we decided to go out for lunch as it was so nice. We took a chance and headed for the tea rooms at Edensor, with the Horse Trials on we weren’t sure how busy they would be but we found a table outside where we could sit with the dogs. IMG_0931 We then had a little stroll up the hill where we sat overlooking Chatsworth House for a while.  We could see where the Trials were taking place but could not see much of what was going on.  Back home via a busy Bakewell where cottage, who have been before, had just arrived.  Time for a chat and check on emails and phone calls before packing the rucksacks for a picnic.  We parked at Over Haddon car park then walked down the lane to the dale.  The water level was still high as were the nettles!  There were a lot of late evening walkers but luckily no one had nicked our picnic spot overlooking the dale.  After a couple of relaxing hours we walked back to the village and had a swift half at the pub before going home.  Sunday was another warm dayIMG_0934 but the temperature was tempered by a nagging breeze.  One departure and one arrival.  The  cottage had already been cleaned so just  final checks to do. Did some outside jobs and guests arrived just after 3pm.  A quiet evening in, would have been nice to have dinner al fresco but it was too breezy. Never mind.

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A walk from Illam 15 May

IMG_0859Wednesday was a better day weather wise at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here).  In the morning down to Bakewell to get hair cut and get some provisions.  The afternoon went in cottage work and paperwork.  Joanna collected me for the WI meeting with discussions centring on the resolutions for the national WI AGM.  We also had a Police Community Support Officer talk to us about local crime issues and police initiatives for households and farmsteads.  The biggest crime issues around here are oil and Landrover thefts with speeding and distraction burglars also causing concern.  The cows were out overnight for first time this year.  With the forecast being warm, cloudy and dry on Thursday we decided to go for a walk.  I planned a six mile walk from Illam that was mainly level but with a number of interesting features.   We drove to Illam passing the funeral cortège in Monyash of the mum who was killed in a car crash on the a515a few weeks ago.  A car overtaking a lorry in foggy conditions hit her car head on and she leaves a husband a two young children behind.  Accidents like this have a big impact on small communities.  We managed to get the last parking spot in Illam and headed off along the path passing the Izaak Walton Hotel, under new management, before reaching the car park at Dove Dale.  We walked along the rocky path towards the stepping stones when the dogs surprised us by walking in the river. First time in their lives they have voluntarily walked in water!  They also crossed the stepping stones with Chris and even I walked across a few of them before we walked along Dove Dale as far as Hall Dale which we walked up. Part way along we found a sunny spot and had lunch.  At the top of the Dale we picked up the path that skirted Damgate Farm then took the path that passed   Casterne Hall which we visited last autumn. Down to the hamlet of Rushley where a lamb tried to befriend Smudge.  He wasn’t sure what to make of it.  Naturally on reaching Ilam Hall we stopped for afternoon tea with views to Thorpe Cloud.  Back home and time for a quick shower and snack before I was off to Buxton for the local heat of the Derbyshire WI quiz which Over Haddon won!   I did notice that silaging was under way so it’s that time of year again! Enjoy the photos.

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Lea Gardens 7 May

Bank Holiday Monday was a fine day at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here). Three departures and three arrivals and two cleaners here. First Chris had to deal with a knife jammed in a cutlery drawer but eventually a bit of wire coat hanger solved the problem. Everything ready by first guests arrivals, they were here last as B&B guests. Two more arrivals here by 4.30 one of which has been before.  Tuesday was another fine day.  Two departures, one of which has already booked for next year, and one arrival.  A bit of cow movement in the morning and Chris and I helped out.  Chris did some weed killing and I did some jobs in the vacant cottages.  Spent some time on WI accounts in the afternoon and guests arrived about 4pm.  Wednesday was forecast to be a bit more showery. One departure but no arrivals so I had planned a day off.  With a poorer forecast I opted for Lea Gardens in the morning and shopping in the afternoon.  Last spring with everything flowering so late we never made it to Lea Gardens but this year with the cherry blossom out at least a week early the Rhododendrons at Lea are usually at their best when our blossom is at its best. We weren’t disappointed and with bad weather forecast perhaps we have seen them at their best for this year. We started the tour with coffee and cake from the tea room that now remains open after the gardens close in July.  We had the dogs with us as they allow well behaved dogs. From there we went to Junction 28 of the M1 to the outlet centre and had a stroll round. A few purchases then back home and after tea I went over to Joanna’s for this months WI committee meeting.  A lot to discuss so it was nearly 10pm before I got back home. Enjoy the colourful photos

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Another bank holiday weekend

IMG_0630Easter is barely history and the next Bank Holiday weekend arrives at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here). Friday was a much more pleasant day than Thursday.  Two departures and four arrivals so a busy day not helped by me hurting my foot.  Chris and handyman finally finished rounding up all the logs and putting them into the log store.  We also took delivery of a replacement sofa for one of the cottages so there was some furniture to be moved. Usually I go down to Bakewell late morning but with a busy morning I went down about 4pm leaving Chris to deal with the first arrival just after 4pm, they have been before. IMG_0649 Back in time for second arrival just after 4.30 who has been before as had the third arrival just before 6pm.  Final guests arrived just before 8pm.  With frost forecast I made sure my in bloom camellia was covered up.  IMG_0658Saturday was another pleasant day, quite sunny but with a cool breeze.Two departures and three arrivals and one cleaner here.  Was also the day of the annual plant auction in Bakewell but with some curtains to iron and hang up there was no time to go.  Chris found time to cut the grass.  Two cottages arrived between 3and 4pm, one has been before with the final one arriving just before 6pm, they have also been before. May Bank holiday Sunday usually sees us doing the Orchid walk in Deep Dale but with my foot still swollen it was felt not appropriate to go.  So a quiet day at home.  This was after calling in at Green Cowden Farm on the way back from Bakewell and stopping for a cup of tea and a chat then popping in to see the heifer born in our field on Thursday.  Time for chats with guests and a pleasant evening stroll round the fields before facing Monday.

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April’s Weather stats

IMG_0606Wednesday 30 April was another warm day, a little on the cloudy side but dry until later on at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here).  One departure but no arrivals.  Chris headed to Buxton so I took myself off to the Peak Shopping Village followed by a trip to the Chatsworth Farm Shop.  Nice to see all the signs of spring like the first bluebells on the way home from Chatsworth.  Various odd jobs in the afternoon and another 21 cows came across to the fields on this side of the road although they are in a different  field to the 28who have now moved into our drive field.   I had planned to do some preparations for the weekend on Thursday but we thought with no arrivals or departures we would have a day off.  With a dismal forecast we decided to go to Sheffield for a bit of shopping. on the way down the drive I saw a cow lying down with others around it and thought it was an injured car so I got Chris to reverse then realised a calf had been born in the field so we phoned Andrew. IMG_0598 We had a number of things we wanted to look at in Sheffield and of course there is a big Dunelm on the way out. For once we managed to find the car park at John Lewis, Sheffield is a maze of back streets and one way streets once you get off the inner ring road.  We had lunch at one of the sandwich shops in the backs streets by the Town Hall and there was a street market very reminiscent of the Bakewell Food Festival taking place in the main pedestrian precinct.  The world snooker championship was also taking place at the Crucible, not that we popped in.  We also stopped for tea and cake at the Patisserie Valerie near John Lewis. Bought a number of items at Dunelm before an easy journey home.

Here are Aprils weather statistics

Highest temp on 21st of 16.4 deg C with warmest day 30th and warmest night 5th.  Lowest temp of 1.0 deg C on 19th with 19th coldest day and 18th coldest night. 7th was wettest day with .48 in rain with total for month 1.83 (April 2013 0.65 in).

 

 

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Some nice weather

IMG_0536Sunday was forecast to be a showery day at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here).  No departures and down to Bakewell to get the paper.  As we found a parking space we had a walk around the food festival. They were filming an episode of a new TV programme called Antique Map of Britain.  If you hear a dog bark in the background that was Blue woofing! Otherwise it was a quiet day at home with Chris and Smudge helping to bring in the cows for milking.  No showers so the weekend’s weather had been much better than forecast.  Monday was a fine day and off to a warm start.  Three departures and two arrivals and one cleaner here.  IMG_0534It was nearly 11am before we stopped chatting to guests on their way out for the day. Chris took advantage of the nice day to do some weed killing.  I took advantage of the nice weather to wash some curtains. First cottage here by 3.30 with second ones arriving just before 8pm when I was off to the Village Hall Committee Meeting. They are from New Zealand.  It had been a pleasantly warm day and Tuesday was the same.  No departures or arrivals but one cleaner and handyman here too.  He and Chris did some more logging and I had planned to spend the day doing accounts but I decided to potter around the garden and repot some plants.  Later in the afternoon I went down to Bakewell to collect one of the New Zealand guests and as they only have a few days I took her round to Ashford so she could see another side to the area.  The grass is really growing fast now and this year our fields are full of dandelions, apparently because of the mild wet winter we have been told.

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Bakewell food festival

IMG_0454Thursday 24 April was another pleasant spring day at our cottages near Bakewell (see here).  No departures or arrivals but cleaner here to keep up with cleaning.  Had one of those days where I couldn’t decide what to do.  Chris decided to do some painting in a vacant cottages.  I went down to Bakewell to get provisions for the next couple of days.  After lunch I decided to wash the car but I took a break to watch some of the dry cows come over to our fields.IMG_0468In the last week the grass has really started to grow and the cows are over here a couple of weeks earlier than usual.  I have noticed that our cherry blossom is not far off blossoming and the trees are just coming into leaf.  Friday was a contrast weather wise.  Cold dismal and damp. No departures but three arrivals and one cleaner.  With no arrivals until later in the day I spent some time getting this months accounts up straight.  IMG_0485First cottage here at 6.30 with second one at 8.30 and final one at 10 pm, two have been before. Saturday started overcast but it had brightened up by mid morning. I was down to Bakewell early leaving Chris to deal with three departures.  First to the farmers market and then I had a wander around the streets where the Bakewell Food Festival was taking place.  Over two days Saturday and Sunday it is now an established weekend event on the Bakewell calendar. IMG_0488Made a couple of food purchase and also bumped into the people we know from Ashford so had a chat with them before returning home.  Cleaning well under way and Chris took advantage of the fine weather to cut the lawns.  Four cottages arrived between 3and 4pm, all have been before so by the time we had a chat with them all and a cup of tea and piece of cake with one (thank you) it was almost tea time.  A nice sunset led to some interesting colours for photographs.

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A fine end to the weekend

IMG_0378The forecast for Easter Sunday was cool and overcast at our Bolehill cottages (see here) which it was with a bit of rain in the morning.  It did brighten up in the afternoon but it remained cool.  One departure but no arrivals and a day of odd jobs as well as doing the VAT returns and reviewing the annual accounts as prepared by the accountant.  Monday was a complete contrast.  A misty start which soon cleared.  Three departures but no arrivals which is unusual for an Easter Monday but many schools are back on Tuesday or Wednesday.  IMG_0383We decided to go down to Bakewell market in the morning and have coffee.  We were expecting it to be busy but we managed to park without difficulty. After a wander round the market stalls and the shops we went to Naughty and Nice for a coffee and piece of cake. They recently won the Derbyshire Cafe  of the Year award and are almost next door to Costa Coffee.   On the way home we went via Over Haddon to drop some bits from the WI supper off at Lynne’s.  IMG_0385They had just let the cows out for the first time.  Back home we had lunch al fresco as it was warm enough.  A couple of hours work in the afternoon before heading out again as it was so nice.  We drove down to Over Haddon and called in The Garden Tea Room which has just opened for the season.  We had a cup of tea and another piece of cake and even when we left just after 5pm they were still accepting customers. IMG_0389We opted to walk down to the dale where the river was still fast flowing and we followed our usual route along to Conksbury Bridge passing a swan who was nest building.  From here we walked up to the pub and had just sat down with a drink outside when we felt some raindrops so we went inside. We were joined by Ian who had just finished a shift behind the bar.  A nice relaxing day before getting back into the swing of things.

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The Easter weekend begins

IMG_0321Thursday was a bit cooler and overcast than previous days at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see link).  No departures and one arrival and after a busy Wednesday it gave me time to catch up with myself.  ‘Rescued’ a group of Duke of Edinburgh walkers on our drive and pointed them in the direction of the proper footpath.  It’s that time of year again!  Early in the afternoon I went down to Bakewell calling in at Joanna’s first to take some bits back to her from Wednesday.  I was braced for a busy Bakewell and had resigned myself to queues and traffic but it wasn’t as bad as I thought.  Once back I stocked up on some more logs as there are still a few cold nights forecast.   Joanna said there had been a frost most mornings this week.  The cows are still in overnight.  Guests arrived just after 6 pm.  Friday was a much more pleasant day.  IMG_0323One departure and three arrivals and one cleaner here.  Chris cut the grass and after a late lunch we were joined by Joanna for a cup of tea.  She had walked up as Andrew and apprentice were continuing with walling.  With it being so nice many guests were taking advantage of the sheltered courtyard and were sitting outside so we chatted with them.  First guests arrived after 4pm they have been before with second one about 4.30pm.  Final cottage arrived about 5pm, they had already dropped off bikes earlier on, we have a lot of bikes here this weekend! Saturday was cooler but after a dull start brightened up in the afternoon and the good news was the forecast rain for Sunday would not materialise until later on in the day. One departure with one arrival and one cleaner here. Everything completed very quickly so it was nice to have some time to catch up with some paper work and personal finances. Guests arrived about 4pm, they have been before. A quiet evening but the dogs and I are enjoying our evening walks.

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A WI day

IMG_0317Wednesday 16/4 was another fine day not that I saw much of it at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell  (see here).  One departure and one cleaner here.  It was the day we were hosting the Lathkill Group WI Spring Meeting at the village hall so I had plenty to keep me occupied including making potato salad for fifty.  Luckily Chris gave me a hand.  With it being a fine day I decided to get the carpets in one of the cottages cleaned as it was vacant for a couple of nights and it would be the last one to be done.  No sooner had we finished cleaning the carpet when someone phoned wishing to book it from that evening unfortunately I had to turn the booking down.  Joanna collected me just before 5pm and we picked up Lynne as well and with four others set up the village hall for our meeting. We had a ham salad for main course and trifle for dessert. We had finished setting up by the time the first visitors arrived who were from Bakewell, Monyash, Youlgrave, Great Longstone and Ashford WI’s.  We also had a representative from Derbyshire WI HQ who gave us an update on county affairs including new WI s and the WI Centenary Baton Run (more on that another time). One concern is that there was a fire at the Derby Assembly Rooms a few weeks ago which normally stages the Derbyshire WI Autumn Conference so a new venue will be needed as the Assembly rooms are going to be closed for the foreseeable future. I had a number of responsibilities during the evening. I collected the entrance money, sold raffle tickets and helped with serving tea.  I also helped with the washing up and later in the evening I gave the answers to the quiz I had done and oversaw the raffle.  Our main speaker was a local lady who runs a theatre group and she gave us a talk about all the things that can and do go wrong in productions. She was very amusing and we all enjoyed her talk.  Everyone enjoyed the supper and the views over Lathkill Dale and by the time our visitors left and we had cleared up the hall it was 10. 30.   It had been a long but enjoyable day.  Pity I forgot the camera to take pictures of how the hall looked but here is a picture of my camellia to brighten up the blog.