Sunday was a pleasant day weather wise at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here). One departure and one arrival but cottage already prepared. A quiet day chatting to guests and jobs around the house. By the time the cottage arrived at 5.30, they have been before, it meant all the seven occupied cottages were previous guests. Monday by contrast was quite a dismal day. Drizzle and rain peppered the day and it turned quite humid. No arrivals or departures and our friends from Yorkshire were calling in for lunch on their way to a stay in a local hotel for a few nights so I popped over to the Chatsworth farm shop to get some lunch. In the afternoon we went to Buxton to do a Morrisons shop and on the way back we called in at our friends at Chelmorton. Tuesday was a better day weather wise with a sunny morning but a bit more cloud in the afternoon. One departure and one arrival and one cleaner here. Tuesday handyman here too. I gathered most of the information and figures for the Valuation return, that took all afternoon and guests arrived at 4.30. In the evening we drove over to the Izaak Walton Hotel and met up with our friends for a very nice meal. Wednesday was a fine sunny day with the temperature tempered by the breeze. Cleaner with broken wrist called in for coffee and then Chris went back to her place to do some odd jobs and I followed behind making a detour to the recycling centre and then the Outlet Village before picking him up. It was too busy for lunch at Edensor so we picked up some rolls from Chatsworth farm shop. One arrival here at 3.30. Later in the afternoon it was nice enough for a picnic so we parked at Over Haddon and walked the Dale to Conksbury Bridge. There were sheep along the Dale and Blue disgraced himself again (see separate dog’s blog) then on to our picnic stop for a couple of hours with a lovely blue sky and warm evening sunshine. Evening rounded off with a drink at the Lathkil. Enjoy the photos.
dog friendly peak district
Bakewell Carnival
So it was a misty start to Saturday at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell see here, but by 10am the sun was starting to shine through. Two departures and two arrivals, both have been before, and one cleaner here. All cleaning and checks finished by lunchtime. With the roads in Bakewell being closed from 3pm for the carnival we had allowed the guests early arrival and one had arrived before we set off to Bakewell ourselves. We parked by the school and walked down to the centre in time to find a good spot to see the carnival procession on a sunny warm afternoon. Bakewell was very busy and we watched the Carnival on Matlock Street as it headed to Bath Street and made its way back along Bridge Street before returning along Matlock Street to the recreation ground. After the carnival had passed back we walked back to the car and drove round to Over Haddon stopping first at the Garden Tea room for tea and cake and a natter with Karen and Mark. Then we stopped at the well dressings and I was relieved to see the rain had not damaged them. Final stop the pub for a beer tapas and by the time we got home the second cottage had arrived so we went and said hello. Sunday was fine for most of the day with warm sunny spells. Four departures and one arrival and Chris and I turned a cottage round. A quiet afternoon with Chris doing some preparation work so he can redecorate his study. A couple of heavy passing showers broke the afternoon sunshine but it was a fine evening in the end. Cottage arrived just after 4pm. Enjoy some carnival photos.
Talking about the weather
Thursday was a cloudy but warm day at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here). The lightening storm was a real talking point around here as it had been seen all over north Derbyshire and South Yorkshire and we think it was mainly over the Manchester area as planes for Manchester airport were apparently being stacked. No departures but two arrivals and one cleaner here. Down to Bakewell to get provisions for the weekend. A day of cow moving for Andrew and for a change we have no cows in our fields, at least for a few days. Blue is happy! After lunch I went back to Over Haddon to help with a little more petaling, this time I was putting in silver leaf. Again the lightening was a topic of conversation. More storms were forecast for Friday night and as the well dressings would be up by then I was more worried they could be damaged by heavy rain. Back just after 4.30 when both cottages, both of which have been before, had arrived so I had a chat with them. By then it was raining and a couple of hours rain cleared the air and the temperature dropped but some more 
warm weather is forecast. When I took the dogs out in the evening I could see they were hay making towards Monyash. Friday was another warm day but it was sunnier than Thursday. Three departures and two arrivals and one cleaner here. Chris fed plants and hanging baskets and cut the grass and I did some paperwork and accounts. All cleaning and checks completed before lunch. First cottage here at 3.30, they were here last before we arrived, and second cottage at 6pm. Luckily the overnight storm kept a safe distance although it did wake us up, but it did really rain hard.
Monyash Gardens
It rained all Friday night at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell see here. It remained wet for most of Saturday and you know I dislike changeovers in the rain. Four departures and five arrivals and two cleaners here. The milk cows were out for the first time Friday night, almost a month later than usual. All cleaning and checks completed by lunchtime and the rain eased off for a couple of hours. Three arrivals here by 3.30 and remaining two by 4pm. Three have been before, one before we 
were here and they had found some pictures of how Bolehill looked at least twenty years ago! The forecast for Sunday was constantly changing so it was nice to wake up to some sunshine even if it didn’t last. Two departures but no arrivals. We had hoped to go to the Monyash open gardens and the forecast indicated that the morning would be best so we went in time for opening at 11am.
looking to Bolehill
Monyash church like a number of churches in the area needs some roof repairs not helped by some lead being stolen before Christmas. Although we have walked round Monyash many times, like Birchover, we still found houses hidden down little alleyways we didn’t know existed and today we found the Quaker cemetery only visible from someone’s back garden! From one garden we could also make out the trees surrounding our property. There was also a vintage car rally passing through the village so there was plenty to see. We got back to the car just as it started to drizzle. The afternoon went in housework and odd jobs and there were a few passing showers so I think we chose well to go in the morning.
Gardening days
Tuesday 9th June was a dry day with some sunny spells at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here). No departures or arrivals but one cleaner here to complete cleaning from weekend. Tuesday handyman here and he and Chris helped Andrew sheet over the silaging before doing more logging. I spent most of the day planting out bedding plants. Wednesday was a warmer day but breezy. Originally we had thought about going for a walk but as I still had lots of bedding plants to put out I thought I would make the most of the nice day. Andrew came up to move more cows around and chatting to him they have had a good quantity and quality so may not need to silage again this year. Later in the afternoon we went to Hassop Station for afternoon tea. Thursday was a warm day with the breeze keeping the edge of the temperature. Two arrivals with cottages already prepared. Later in
hanging baskets waiting to go out
the morning we went to the nursery and collected the hanging baskets as well as more plants! After lunch we hung up the baskets and Chris watered them as well as everything else I had been planting out over the last few days. Cottages both here by 4pm, one has been before. Friday was forecast to be the best day of the week but deteriorate from the evening. Two departures and one arrival and one cleaner here. I went down to Bakewell to get provisions for the weekend and also went to Chatsworth Farm Shop to get some provisions. After lunch and final checks I caught up on work that I had put aside while dealing with plants and also some preparations for the weekend. Chris cut the grass as Saturday was expected to be wet and guests arrived at 4pm. They have been before.
Silaging begins
Friday 5th June was a warm and humid day at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here) with a risk of showers although we never saw any. Hard to believe in the space of a few days the temperature has more than doubled. One cleaner here to keep up with cleaning. Down to Bakewell in the morning for a hair cut and get provisions for the weekend. After lunch I started planting out some of the bedding plants I bought last week and I also had more arrive in the post. Chris finished 
repairing the front lawn for the time being. Saturday was another dry and sunny day although the breeze kept the edge of the temperature. A busy day with seven departures and four arrivals and two cleaners here. With early departures cleaning was under way by 9am and all cleaning and checks were completed by lunchtime. I did some jobs in vacant cottages before the first of the 
arrivals. All here by 3.45pm, two have been before. Chris cut the grass and I had a sense of déjà vue when I was summonsed to the top of the guest garden. The lock on the gate into the field had jammed and Chris could not close the gate and there was a group of cows eyeing up the garden! Smudge and I held the cows at bay while Chris fixed the gate. They started silaging at Andrew’s mid morning with cutting going on until 8pm in the fields behind us.
Minninglow and weather stats
The weather forecast for Thursday 4th June was warm and sunny at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell see here so with no arrivals (but one departure) we went for a walk. A lazy start to the day and had coffee before we packed up the car and headed to Minninglow car park not far from Pikehall. We did this walk not long after we first had the dogs and at that time Minninglow was not accessible to the public. Now there is a permissive path so we had been thinking about going again for a while. From the car park we set off along the High Peak Trail with nice views over the white peaks and marvelled at the engineering that went into the building of the Minninglow Embankment which is a listed structure. About a mile after setting off we found the new permissive path then headed up to Minninglow Hill. After years at looking at the Hill with its distinctive ring of trees we were finally able to explore the barrow within the trees which has neolithic burial chambers. From the top we were able to get some wonderful views and with binoculars we could pick out Bolehill! We found a spot to have lunch then headed back down and under the High Peak Trail and picked up the path for Roystone Grange. Here we had a look at the old pumping house before taking the track that lead to the minor road to Pikehall. We crossed this and walked along the lane before cutting across fields to pick up the High Peak Trail for the last leg back to the car park. The walk was about five miles in total. Back home via Monyash where it was still warm enough for an ice cream! Enjoy the photos.
May’s weather stats. Highest temp 18.1 deg C on 11th with 11th being warmest day and 10th warmest night. Lowest temp of 1.4 deg C on 1st with 1st being coldest night and 2nd coldest day. Wettest day 20th with .6 in rain with total for May 3.61 inches (4.09 May 2014).
A colourful day
Thursday was one of the better days of the week weather wise at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here). I had planned a walk in the Cromford area as we had heard that the bluebells at Bow Wood were out. We parked at the High Peak Junction car park and walked along the Cromford Canal to the wharf. The wharf cafe is closed for refurbishment but there is a temporary cafe so we stopped for coffee and cake. We then had a quick look round the mill area before setting off along the road to Lea. We picked up the path that took us to Wood End and when we emerged in the fields we had a view over Cromford including the mill, canal and Willersley Castle. The bluebells were out in Bow Wood but just past their best but it was still a fine three mile walk by the time we got back to the car park. From here we drove the short distance to Lea Gardens but just as we got there a short sharp shower drove everyone into the cafe so by the time we had got round the gardens they had stopped serving lunches and only cakes were available. Shame. A slow drive home via the Peak Shopping Outlet and Chatsworth Farm Shop to pick up some tea. By the time we were home the cottage had arrived, they have been before. There had been one departure earlier in the day. Friday was a warm but cloudy day with a few drizzly showers. Down to Bakewell in the morning to get provisions for the weekend. The afternoon went in some gardening jobs, checks on cottages and preparations for Saturday. Cottage arrived at 7.30 pm, they have been before. Enjoy the photos from Thursday.
Still unseasonably cool
Monday was a busy day at our Bolehill Cottages (see here). Two departures and two arrivals and one cleaner here. A wet start to the day but a much brighter and drier afternoon. Passing showers left rainbows. We have already had half a dozen days this months with over quarter of an inch of rain and four of those had nearly or over half an inch. May is turning into a wet month and it is still cool. Our cherry blossom is at its best though. The milk cows are still in at night as the grass is not growing fast enough and the hooligans haven’t come out yet. Chris had jobs in cottages and I was kept busy with emails and chatting to 
guests. One paid for early arrival here at 1pm with second arrival at 3pm. Rubbish and laundry collections too. In the evening after walking the dogs I went to Over Haddon for the pre AGM meeting. Like Monday Tuesday got off to a wet start and it felt cool. No arrivals or departures so a day to catch up on general work. Tuesday handyman here and he and Chris chopped logs and took the well dressing boards (which we had been storing) down to Over Haddon. I went down to Bakewell to get provisions for the next few days and after lunch I did some WI accounts and paperwork. In the evening I was out again, this time at Bakewell WI where we discussed the resolution to be put forward at the national AGM then we had a supper that we had all contributed to. Wednesday was drier, brighter and warmer than Tuesday. A quiet day so housework, accounts and paperwork. A last minute booking saw Chris and I finish turning a cottage round for Thursday. Tried to get hold of the nursery to see if they had stocked up on bedding plants yet but they will be getting them in next week as it is too cool to keep them outside yet. In the evening I was back at the village hall in Over Haddon for the Village Hall AGM.
Tissington well dressings
Friday was another pleasant spring day at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here). One departure and three arrivals and one cleaner back from holiday here to catch up with cleaning. Chris spent time strimming and cutting the lawns while it was nice. Everything ready by lunchtime and I had the afternoon to do some preparations for Saturday as well as chat to guests. First cottage here at 3.45 with second cottage at 6.15 and final cottage at 9pm. One has been before. Noticed that it is still light at 9pm, the longest day is not too far off. Saturday was a fine day although the wind took the edge of the temperature. Three departures and five arrivals and two cleaners here. All cleaning and checks completed by lunchtime. Four cottages here by 3.30 and final one at 4.15. All have been before so we spent some time chatting to guests. Had some time to do some paper work before dinner and a nice walk in the evening with the dogs. Sunday was a cool cloudy day with a little drizzle. One departure. After getting the paper Andrew and Joanna joined us for coffee. In the afternoon we went to the Izaak Walton Hotel for afternoon tea. It has recently reopened and being just outside Thorpe has some nice views of Thorpe Cloud and towards Dove Dale. From here we went to to Tissington to have a look at the well dressings. As it was later in the afternoon the crowds had gone so at least we could get close to the wells and take photos.