With the promise of a fine day on Thursday 14 July I had chosen a walk from Middleton by Youlgrave mainly because we had heard about a new cafe there so we wanted to try it out. I selected a walk from www.walkthepeakdistrict.co.uk which was about four miles in length with few stiles so better for Smudge (and us). We set off from the center of Middleton and walked down the lane to walk along Bradford Dale passing Youlgrave and joining the Limestone Way as we did so. Staying on the Limestone Way we headed up towards Harthill Moor Farm passing through a number of fields with cattle and one muddy patch and meeting a number of DofE groups en route. At a meeting of paths we started heading towards Elton and at the edge of Tomlinson Wood we picked up a path heading back to Middleton. We passed close to Robin Hood’s Stride and crossed paths we have walked on many times before giving us nice views towards Youlgrave. On a couple of occasions on the walk we could make out Bolehill Farm in the distance. Descending through the caravan site at Hopping Farm we walked the final stretch before arriving back at Middleton. Here we found Molly Moos cafe where we enjoyed a late lunch. They also have cake but there wasn’t much left! Enjoy the pictures.
Some better weather
Monday 11 July was a showery day but not cold. A couple of arrivals and a cleaner here. Tuesday was dry but a dull day. Buxton in the morning and a visit from our friends in Ashford in the afternoon. Wednesday felt a bit warmer with some sunshine. Final dance session in the morning before the summer break although I have signed up for summer school. Spent some time pottering around the garden in the afternoon and Chris did some painting in a vacant cottage. Thursday was the best day of the week so we did a walk from Middleton By Youlgrave (see separate blog). Andrew fly sprayed his cows and some were moved into different fields. We are expecting the hooligans in the front field any day now, that will be interesting. Later in the afternoon we went to Over Haddon for tea 
and cake and a look at the Well Dressings after which we had a quick drink at the pub. Friday was mainly dry but overcast. Down to Bakewell first thing to get provisions for the weekend while Chris saw off the departures. Chris managed to cut the grass before the guests arrived in the afternoon. Saturday was a drizzly day with a busy changeover. A few chores for Chris and a steady stream of arrivals in the afternoon, most of which had been before. At least we saw some pleasant evening sun. Sunday was a lovely day with a taste of good weather. Chris did some gardening and I did some housework but we also found time to relax. Looking forward to the weather in the week ahead!
A walk off the beaten track
With a fine day forecast on Tuesday 5 July I had proposed a walk up onto Kinder Scout but with with a keen north westerly breeze in the end we opted for a lower level walk. I keep a selection of walks to choose from and I found one I had created using some paths we had never walked before. We drove down to the car park at the old Alsop en le Dale Station just off the A515 and on the High Peak Trail. Ignoring the trail we crossed the A515 and took a path towards Hanson Grange Farm where we got some views over the local countryside. We were just above Dove Dale and could see across the Dale. From here we headed to Bostern Grange Farm before picking up a path heading south. We came across some interesting features, possibly an old lime kiln in a disused quarry and a former windmill we guessed. We also wandered through cows and sheep and had lovely views over the Derbyshire Dales and could even make out Ashbourne in the distance. Up until this point we had only met one other person. Parallel with Tissington we crossed the A515 again and skirted the back of the hall into the village. I had thought about lunch at the tearoom but it was a case of bad timing as there was already a walking group just arrived and a ladies group so it would be some time before we got lunch. In the end we wandered round the corner and had our packed lunch over looking the pond. After lunch we walked back through the village and picked up a footpath heading back to the car park. Part of this was across farmland and then the last part was on the High Peak Trail. A fairly level walk of about five miles. Enjoy the photos.
Busy days
Monday 4 July got off to a warm and sunny start. Down the market first thing which was very busy by the time I left. In the afternoon I dealt with accounts and arrivals. On Tuesday we managed a walk, (see separate blog). On the way back we noticed that farmers are catching up with silaging now the ground has dried out a little. Later in the afternoon Chris had to help Andrew round up some cows that had managed to get into the wrong field. Wednesday was mild but overcast. Dancing in the morning and accounts in the afternoon along with arrivals. and Andrew managed to silage his final field. Thursday was dull but warm with a number of drizzly showers. Housework in the morning then some petaling at Over Haddon for the well dressing in the afternoon then dancing again in the evening. Friday promised sunny weather but it obviously hadn’t read the forecast as the morning was quite drizzly before it gave way to better weather in the afternoon. Departures and arrivals and we even managed a trip to the Recycling Center. In the evening we went down to the village hall for a fish and chip supper following the completion of the well dressings. There was a nice sunset on the way home. Saturday was a wet day although it did brighten up later in the day. A busy day with a number of arrivals and departures but with prompt departures all cleaning and checks completed by lunchtime. In the evening we went to friends in Over Haddon for a birthday buffet. Nice to catch up with people we know. Sunday was better weather wise with some pleasant sunshine and a few showers later in the day.
Well Dressings
The week of 27 June saw mixed weather with 1/2 inch rain falling on Wednesday. Another week without a walk as the ground is still so wet. With many well dressings are taking place we visited Youlgreave on Monday evening and Bakewell on Wednesday evening. On Tuesday we went to Buxton to get our eyes tested. With the ground being so sodden we decided not to go for a walk on Thursday in favour of a visit to Hopton Hall. Every year we say we must visit the gardens in summer and we finally made it. A contrast to when we visit for the snowdrops. We were able to have coffee and cake on the patio overlooking the rose gardens. At least it stayed dry and after the gardens we headed to nearby Ashbourne for a spot of shopping. Friday saw the beginning of the second half of this year. Where did the first half go? Last year we reached 30C on 1st July but this year it was a much cooler day. In the evening we walked down to Andrews as he was hosting a dairy event. As we walked back it was even cold enough to put gloves on and we were wearing winter jackets. Saturday was Carnival Day in Bakewell and with a busy change over we couldn’t make the carnival as we had done the last couple of years. This year the weather wasn’t as good with a number of heavy passing showers. At least that made for some nice rainbows. Finally we saw some warm sunshine on Sunday which was a pleasant way to finish the week. Enjoy the photos of the week.
Weather stats for June. 7th June had the highest temp of 22.6C and was the warmest day and night. The 2nd was the coldest day and night with the lowest temp of 5.2C on 3rd. Wettest day was 10th with .85 inches rain with 4.24 inches for the month compared to 2.12 in June 2015.
Better weather
The week commencing Monday 20 June saw better weather. Monday was the Summer Equinox so it’s all downhill now. We had a wonderful sunset with a strawberry moon, not that I could photograph it as I was at the village hall for the committee meeting. On Tuesday we went to Sheffield and found time to visit the cathedral which we haven’t done before. The weather took a brief turn for the better and despite little sun we were able to eat our dinner on the patio after voting in Thursday’s referendum. Earlier in the afternoon we had helped bring the cows in for milking. On Friday morning I was down to Bakewell early to get my hair cut and unsurprisingly the main topic of conversation was the referendum result. Found time between arrivals on Friday to do some gardening. Chris found some of his time taken up with replacing a shower in one of the cottages. Saturday was the Bakewell Day of Dance and the beginning of Carnival week and also the Farmers Market to which I went first thing. There were a few passing showers but luckily the dancing was unaffected. If I hadn’t been working I could have gone and taken part as my Wednesday morning dance class were displaying some of the routines we do. Sunday was also a fine day but the forecast is downhill again for the rest of the week.
The wet weather continues
The week of 13th June remained unsettled. During the previous week we had not gone for a walk because it had been too hot, now it was too wet. A trip to Chesterfield took its place on Tuesday when we had no arrivals or departures. On the social side we went to Ian’s (Andrew’s son) 30th party at Ashford on Friday evening. We’ve been living here long enough to go to his 18th, 21st and 30th birthday parties! The build up in Bakewell had been for the weekend with the third Eroica cycling event taking place. This year they were 
expecting up to 4000 riders (vintage bikes essential fancy dress optional), some of whom stayed with us. Two cottages were returning guests and one came from Austria to take part. The rain had left the show ground in a very soggy state as it is also the flood plain for the 
River Wye. There were traffic problems in Bakewell on Friday and Saturday because of the event with attendees going to the showground to register. One of our guests described the conditions at the showground as Glastonbury with bikes. Even so we went down on the Sunday morning to cheer some of the riders as they set off. The festival that is associated with the cycling event has also grown over the past few years. At least it stayed dry for the cycle ride but rain returned for the afternoon. A 50/50 split between Saturday and Friday for arrivals with some of the guests arriving here on Thursday for the Eroica. We even managed a trip down to the Garden Tearoom on Saturday introducing one of our guests to the scrumptious cakes!
A warm spell of weather
Welcome to my new style of blog where I will sum up the events at Bolehill Farm in a weekly blog but will write special one off blogs as appropriate.
First I need to start catching up with this month. During the week of 6th June we saw the fine weather continue. With Tuesday being our day off we headed to Lea Gardens for our annual visit although we were a few weeks later than usual. Nevertheless the gardens were still a rainbow of colours. Whilst we were in the area we headed to Wirksworth as we hadn’t been there for a while. We walked down to the station and had a look at the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway which is a short heritage line between Wirksworth and Duffield. The line uses diesel trains and has recently been awarded a grant for further work to the rolling stock and a visitor center. We also managed to sneak a night away visiting our old neighbours in Hertfordshire, it was lovely to catch up with them. The weather broke on Friday giving us a very wet day with some localized flooding in Bakewell and Monyash. Saturday saw a busy changeover on a muggy and overcast day and although the weather wasn’t too bad by the end of the weekend we had had almost a months worth of rain in the previous few days.
A pleasant weekend
Friday 3rd June was more like what it should be for June at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here). A sunny mild day with no departures but two arrivals and one cleaner here. Down to Bakewell first thing to get provisions for the weekend and back in time for coffee where we were joined by the architect who has done work for us over the years. All cleaning and checks completed by lunchtime. Both cottages here just after 3pm, one has been before. As usual on a Friday afternoon I paid the bills that had come in during the week. An early dinner then down to Over Haddon for a brief meeting of the village hall committee. Saturday was a warm and at times muggy day even though there wasn’t much sunshine. Five departures and five arrivals with two cleaners here. With a couple of early departures cleaning was underway by 9am and all cleaning and most checks completed by lunchtime. Final checks completed by 2.30. Chris cut the grass. Four arrivals between 3 and 3.30pm, two have been before. Final cottage held up with car problems and arrived at 5pm, they have also been before. In between these arrivals caught up on paper work. Andrew’s neighbours have been silaging and it looks like the weather will hold for the next week. Sunday was more or less wall to wall sunshine and warm as well. No arrivals or departures. Down to Bakewell and called in at Little Cowden Farm on the way back. Jobs around the house and garden during the day and later in the afternoon we packed up the rucksacks and headed towards Sheldon where we stopped for a picnic at one of our favourite spots and made the most of the nice end to the day.
Hello June
It was the first day of meteorological summer at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here) although it didn’t feel like it. A brisk north wind certainly made it feel cold. Two departures but no arrivals with one cottage changing cottage so Chris and I turned it around. After coffee we went to Buxton, first to take a load of stuff to the recycling center then we called into the nursery and picked up the hanging baskets. We’ll put them up in the next couple of days. Spent the afternoon on personal paperwork and Chris was out and about sorting out various computer problems. Andrew was 
busy in the afternoon moving cows around, mainly into the silaged fields so they can eat around the edges, but also the youngest heifers came out for the first time but will stay on Andrews side for a few days. For the first time this year the milk cows came out for the night. Thursday weather wise was better than forecast which makes a nice change. One departure and one arrival with one cleaner here. A morning of odd jobs and after guests arrival just after 3pm we headed to the Chatsworth Garden Center to pick up some more plants. From here we called in at the Chatsworth Farm Shop for some provisions and drove home via the Garden Tea Room at Over Haddon. By the time they closed the sun had come out so we went for a walk down to the Dale with all the dogs before returning home.
Weather statistics for May. Highest temp 22.2 on 8th which was warmest day and night. Lowest temp on 21st which was the wettest day with .72 in rain. Coldest day and night was 1st. Highest UV 7.3 and total rain for May was 2.17 in (May 15 had 3.61 in).