Friday was a pleasant day but no time to enjoy it! Four cottages out with four back in later in the day and a trip down to Bakewell to get provisions for the weekend.  Still busy in town with holiday makers.  Two cleaners up this morning and no major problems encountered  Three cottages arrived between 3&4 pm, two have been before.  The final cottage arrived about 4.30pm.  Chris has been doing some work on updating the web site so I had a quick run through to see if I could find any problems.Saturday was warm and sunny and two cottages out with one back in to our peak district cottages.  They have been here before.  After cleaner arrived we went down to Torne Valley in Bakewell, one of our local farm and country stores.  They have some potting compost on special offer and I got some other gardening bits including a new pair of wellies.  The trouble with Chris taking me is that he had a look at their special offers and we also came away with a new power washer.  Well we do need one, so he put it to good use when we got back by cleaning various benches, cartwheels, stonework.  I on the other hand washed another double duvet and at least it could dry outside.  It was so nice and I wanted to spend some time in the garden but plan to do so tomorrow.  Guests arrived just before 3pm.  Was so nice had an ice cream but should mention had my first one of the season on Thursday – bought one at Smithy’s cafe in Monyash.  They are really nice from there.  Roll on summer!

The Limestone Way is a 46 mile trail through the Peak District from Castleton to Rocester (home of JCB just to the south of Ashbourne).  When I was looking for ideas for a walk on Thursday I found a booklet I had picked up at the Leaflet Swap.  The Limestone Way passes through Monyash and we have walked on most of the section from Monyash to Youlgreave so that gave me the idea that this year we could walk the Limestone Way – not all in one go – but use it to base a number of circular walks on. So on Thursday after a cottage had departed from our Bakewell cottages we set off for Youlgreave to walk the section from Youlgreave to Elton.  We parked in the little car park at the top end of the village and made our way down to Bradford Dale to pick up the Limestone Way.  Despite the fact it was mid morning we hardly met anyone else along this stretch.  Where the Elton Road crosses the dale we carried on with the path up the hill.  As we rose above Youlgreave we were able to look back down on Youlgreave and across to Over Haddon and eventually we could make out Bolehill Farm on the horizon. As the climbed steepened we passed an old iron age fort before we emerged at the top at Harthill Moor.  The area contains a number of iron age relics including a stone circle. At the top is Robin Hood’s Stride, an impressive gritstone tor.  We took a minor diversion to climb it. It takes it name from a story that Robin Hood strode between the two rocks at either end of the tor but the distance makes this unlikely.  Back on the path we passed Cratcliffe Rocks and just before the path reached Elton we left it to take a parallel path following the line of the village.  By now it was lunchtime so we stopped for lunch with a vista of Robin Hoods Stride and the local countryside.  We walked into Elton and along its main street for a brief while before we then picked up the footpath back to Youlgreave glimpsing Bolehill once we were adjacent to Bleakley Plantation.  Down to Bradford Dale via Mawstone Farm and back to the car.  Pictures to follow.  A last minute booking for the weekend and preparations for a busy day ahead concluded the day.

Tuesday started a lot brighter but breezy.  Had planned to spend some time in the gardens and greenhouse later but that never happened.  One cottage out with two back into our peak district cottages later in the day.  One cleaner up to clean two cottages.  A quick trip down to Bakewell to stock up post holiday weekend. Was noticeably busier.  Today was also the day of Flagg races and although we were offered tickets we could not go.  At least it was dry.  I was also contacted by the Tourist Office who were able to fill my remaining vacancy for the next few days.  More signs of spring as I noticed some sheep and lambs have been let out into the fields and a few fields away towards Monyash a local farmer let his cattle out of the winter barn for the first time and it was nice to see them gallop about and get used to being outside again.  The three cottage arrived between 3&4pm.  Wednesday was the first day for a while with no-one in or out but with a better forecast for tomorrow a walk will have to wait until then.  A bit showery in the morning so a chance to catch up on some outstanding paperwork.  Its amazing how many returns we have to fill out for different organisations.  With the election having been called we learnt today that the Conservatives have done Holiday Cottage Owners a favour (without being in power yet) by getting the proposed Furnished Holiday Lets tax changes dropped as a part of ‘bill bargaining’.  Some good news for a change.  In the afternoon we went to Buxton.  We called in at Markowitz before a quick walk around the town centre and then down to Morrison’s.  After dinner it was my turn to host the WI committee after which I sat down and planned tomorrows walk.

A damp start and although it brightened up it never really cleared up.  Three cottages out this morning with one cottage due back in to our peak district cottages later.  One cleaner up to prepare a couple of cottages.  Found time to do a bit of tidying up before guests arrived about 4pm.  A number of phone calls and emails resulting in some bookings and a quiet night in followed.

Supposed to be the best day of the weekend weather wise.  One cottage out of our peak district cottages with one due back in later.  A showery start to the morning and on the way back from Bakewell we called into Green Cowden Farm to see how the lambing was going.  Only five cades (orphans/abandoned lambs) so far.  Out in the sheds they were giving some of the lambs oral antibiotic shots against bacteria in the ground that they could pick up when they go out.  Stopped for a cup of tea before coming back and cleaning the cottage needed for later.  Had thought a bout squeezing a short walk in but with showers still passing over ended up finishing off quaterly accounts with a little time for me!  Guests arrived about 4.30.

Sunday saw the clocks change which meant Chris had to do the ususal round of changing clocks and timers.  Also the Peak District featured in Coutryfile in the evening.

Saturday was a bright and breezy day.  One cottage out of our cottages in the peak district with two back in later on.  A trip down to the Farmers Market to get some provisions for the week. One cleaner up this morning and after she left found time to do some jobs like put new toaster and saucepans in cottages.  Also sorted out leaflets that arrived yesterday.  Discovered the bath has other uses like washing a double duvet in!  They are very heavy when wet so I left it to drip dry bfore tumble drying it on Sunday.  In the evening we went to Eccleshall Church for the Baslow Spring Concert which was good as usual. Sunday was another bright and breezy day and the rain luckily didn’t materialise.  A day for catching up on jobs around the house and with the end of the first quarter approaching we also took the opportunity to review how the year had gone so far and think about what things need doing or to be looked at.  After dinner we collected Joanna and went to Over Haddon for this months Film Club which was showing Valkyrie, a film based on true events and starring Tom Cruise.  It was good film.

A misty start but by 10am when we left for our walk it had almost cleared.  We picked up a paper in Ashford before parking at the small car park in Upperdale between Monsal Head and Cressbrook.  From here we crossed the river and picked up the stony track which headed for Brushfield.  As it plateaued out we had views back towards Monsal Head and also down into Monsal Dale itself and across to Fin Cop.  We also had some fine views of the local countryside. As the track progressed we could hear the A6 and soon we could also glimpse Taddington.  After passing through the farms that make up the hamlet of Brushfield we took the path heading towards Millers Dale.  The sunny weather had brought out many walkers and we stopped and chatted to a number on our walk – the walkers camaraderie!  Before we descended into Millers Dale we found a spot for lunch.  In the distance we could make out Tideswell and the A623.  Just before reaching Millers Dale we picked up the Monsal Trail. Signs told us that work was being carried out on the tunnels.  There are plans to reopen the tunnels although no dates have been given.  With these tunnels open for walkers and cyclists there are plans to make links to the Tissington and High Peak Trails. Where the Monsal Trail finished at one of the tunnels we took the permissive path which looked down onto Water Cum Jolly and across to Cressbrook Hall before we picked up the Monsal Trail again and then the track back to the car.  We stopped off at Hobbs Cafe beside the Monsal Head Hotel for coffee and cake.  I chose the Chocolate and Courgette cake for Chris which I think he enjoyed!  Will post some pictures this week.  Back home and time to catch up and prepare for the week ahead.  We have a number of cottages in and out for short breaks this week and with other things going on how will I fit it all in!

Here are a few pictures from our morning at Hopton Hall.