Author: Shirley Swaap

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Walk from Great Longstone

With a pleasant day forecast we chose to go for a walk, but first went down to Bakewell to do the recycling.  Once organised we set off for Great Longstone and managed to park in the village without a problem.  I like Great Longstone, it still has a shop and two pubs but doesn’t have a pretentious feel that some villages do.  Like many in the area it has a god community spirit judging by the posters for the various village events.  From the main street we headed for the church then out of the village using the network of paths to climb up to Longstone Edge.  From the top we had wonderful views across to Monsal Head, we could make out the top of the spire of Bakewell Church and we could make out the wood behind our peak district cottages and the village of Sheldon to name a few.  We walked along the track that in theory took us past the Bleaklow quarry then across to Back Dale Wood before heading down to Rowland and back across fields to Great Longstone.  We had attempted this walk about 18 months ago but a strong wind had forced us to curtail the walk.  Despite the fact we had a map the paths did not tie up with what we had and with the battery in the Sat Nav having gone flat we used landmarks and our judgment to work out where we were.  Luckily we came across a Park Ranger out on a wild flower hunt.  She was able to confirm our position and we realised we were making our walk more of a figure of eight rather than oval, but she did mention that due to quarrying there are a number of paths that aren’t on the map.  Whilst we were chatting she was able to point out some local plants like leadwort, I had always thought it was a larger plant so at least I know what it looks like. Within a few yards we were back on track and by now our view included Chatsworth House.  As we turned round the loop our view changed so now we could see across to Grindleford.  The track continued and soon we came across the Bleaklow Quarry.  Its the first time we have seen it close up and massive is a understatement.  We then took the rocky track that headed down to Rowland.  At the point we crossed it earlier on we stopped for lunch.  With the binoculars I was able to make out Andrews fields behind us and even see some of his cows!  I could see some of the trees that surround our cottages.  Down to Rowland then across the fields back to Great Longstone. No cows for lue to worry about today!   Back home for a cup of tea and catch up om emails and phone calls.
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All change & weather stats for July

Saturday started on the cool side and although it brightened up it never really warmed up.  Most cottages away before 10am so an early start to cleaning.  No problems encountered and with three cleaners all finished by lunchtime.  Every week try to do some different checks until I run out of time, this week it was cutlery and utensils.  After lunch I was still doing my checks when first cottage arrived at 2.30pm.  By the time I finished my checks at 2.45pm three cars were waiting in the car park so Chris, just having cut the grass, came and helped showed guests in.  Of the eight cottages arriving today at our peak district cottages three have been before.  Five cottages were settled in by 3.15pm with two more by 4pm.  Final one arrived just before 5pm.  Seven cottages in for the week. Finished July’s accounts just in time for the August bills to start arriving!

Weather stats for July.  We had 2.78 in rain (July 09 6.29 – but then that was an exceptionally wet month) with the wettest day 20/7 with .5 in, most of which was early am like 2am or 6pm or later.  Warmest day was 10/7 and that night was the warmest with highest temp of 23.3 on 9/7.  Coldest day was 12/7 and coldest night 22/7 with lowest temp of 9.1 on 6/7. Highest UV was 9.3 this month and possibly could be the highest value for this year.  We’ll see.

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Matlock

A couple of quieter days.  On Thursday we went to Matlock for a few hours as it was ‘our day off’.  We had some items to source for my new laundry including roof tiles.  After visiting the roofing firm in Darley Dale we headed to Matlock parking in the centre of town.  We spent a few hours wandering around the shops and visited some of the home furnishing shops we rarely go into.  We also went to my favourite shop, the Matlock Antiques Centre as well as Wilkinsons.  On the way back to our peak district cottages we stopped at a garden center.  I needed a new watering can for my greenhouse.  Andrew was finishing the silaging as we arrved home and the total grass silaged from May and July this year was as much as he got in one silage in previous years.  The forecast for Friday was a wet start but clearing later but the rain held off until later in the afternoon allowing Andrew to fertilise the silage fields before the rain.  One cottage departed and although not returning until tomorrow one cleaner up to turn it round for tomorrow.  The dogs have been in demand this week for being stroked and petted by children we have staying here so they had to say goodbye to some friends.  Went down to Bakewell late morning to get bits for weekend and also visited the wine warehouse as they had some special offers.  http://www.johnhwines.co.uk/  They have a good range of wines at competitive prices.  The afternoon went in preparation for tomorrow and some housework.  On the new laundry front the first blockwork has been laid and I now can see the shape and size of my new laundry!

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A Chocolate Indulgence Walk

The forecast for Wednesday was mainly dry with a risk of showers.  I abandoned Chris first thing and set off for Castleton where I had arranged to take part in one of Sally Moseley’s guided walks.  Today’s walk was to a chocolate factory discreetly hidden in the Hope Valley.  http://www.sallymosley.co.uk/   With the promise of chocolate tasting what other incentive was needed!  We were a small group of half a dozen, but the the group sizes have to be limited.  We set off from the Visitor Centre and headed towards Ma Tor via the Odin mine, a former lead mine.  En route Sally gave us a commentary on the area and there is always something new I find out.  Passing through one farm we were kindly asked if we would help move some sheep who had escaped from where they should be and many feet make light work, saving a couple of hours work for one person.  We carried on, arriving at our secret destination where we found the Cocoadance factory, having just got wet in a shower.  http://www.cocoadance.com/  We were welcomed with a hot chocolate drink then treated to an hour of information about chocolate.  We tried 100% chocolate and 70% chocolate from different sources.  We were able to sniff ingredients, such as marc de champagne which is put in champagne truffles.  We were able to sample a number of chocolates and make some purchases before heading back to Castleton.  We made a small diversion to look at what remains of the A625 outside of Castleton.  This was the Sheffield to Chapel en le Frith road, closed in1979, as continual subsidence as it crossed the bottom of Mam Tor made it unsafe to use.  Castleton now is most probably a better place for not having heavy traffic drive through.  We had a nice view down the Hope Valley with Back Tor, Lose Hill and Win Hill to our left on the Dark Peak side and Peveril Castle and the Hope Cement works on our right on the White Peak side.  We walked back along the road as it was a bit showery then said our goodbyes at the Visitor Centre.  Back home at our peak district cottages I found the cement for the foundations had been poured and was setting.  A quiet afternoon with a chance to catch up with accounts and some jobs around the house.  Blue has been in demand this week as a number of children have been calling in to see him and stroke him.  Smudge doesn’t get left out though.  Andrew has started his second silaging with the field being cut at the back.  The amount cut is expected to be less than usual, overall the two silages will probably produce the least grass ever.  Have heard there is hay rustling going on.

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Work in progress

With work resuming on my new laundry had to put up with some noise whilst the foundations were dug out.  Two cottages out on Monday morning with two returning into our dog friendly cottages and one cleaner up.  Usual Monday events and one cottage arrived just after 3pm, they also have a collie called Blue!  Second cottage arrived about 5pm.   A lady came to collect some bits I had put on Freecycle and she turned out to be a granddaughter of a previous owner.  She found it quite emotional seeing all the changes but has said she will search out some old pictures and bring them round.  She was also able to fill in some gaps in our knowledge.  Tuesday was forecast wet but like last week it seemed to pass us by.  Spent some time in the morning tidying up and WI Treasurers bits.  After lunch went to Bakewell and onto the outlet village at Rowsley and bought a few bits.  The foundations had been dug by Tuesday afternoon and if the building inspector passes the work on Wednesday morning then the concrete will arrive in the afternoon!  The dogs are coping with the noise and upheaval, for Smudge a chance to cadge lunch of the men but they have been a bit confused by the fact we do not let them out the back door for their walks at the moment.  

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A walk from Longnor

A cloudy start but an improvement forecast and with this in mind we set of for Longnor to revisit a walk we have done a number of times.  Today we were going to do it in reverse and I had extended the walk to make it five miles from the four miles that we usually do.  We set of from Longnor in the direction of the Upper Dove Valley with Parkhouse and Chrome Hills in the background.  After crossing the River Dove we headed to Crowdecote.  After passing through the hamlet and crossing the road we had driven on to get to Longnor we started to head up to the ridge that separated the Dove from the Manifold valleys.  Normally we take a direct path up but this time we took a more diagonal route passing a number of farms on the way.  Today I had brought with me a fold up walking stick that I was trying out for the first time so I used this as we climbed up the hill.  The ground was a little uneven in places and we found a boggy spot where I  managed to lose the tip of my walking stick and get up to my ankles in mud!  At the top of the ridge we walked along the road between Sheen and Longnor for a short while before picking up a path hading back to Longnor.  We found a nice spot to eat lunch with a view to Longnor and the two hills in the background.  We set off again and unfortunately for Blue we encountered some cows.  He hopped over the wall only to find himself with another herd.  In the end he positioned himself between Chris and the wall to get through the field.  Further down we crossed through a farm where we discovered some filming was taking place (for a dark thriller someone told us).  As we reached the River Manifold we picked up the Manifold Way back to Longnor.  There were cows in the first field but they seemed spread around, but when they saw the dogs they started to come over which panicked Blue.  He crossed a bridge over the river and then realised he couldn’t get into the field next to us without crossing the river so Chris had to go and fetch him and walk him through the cows on a lead.  After that we had more or less a clear walk back to Longnor.  When we got back to Longnor we came back to our peak district cottages as I was still too full from lunch to have afternoon tea.  At home I caught up with a number of chores and did a bit of tidying up in the garden.          
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Schools out!

Friday was a relative quiet day.  With no guests in or out went down to Bakewell early so had the rest of day to get on with things.  My old laundry was knocked down so it was a bit noisy at time.  Having took a lot of stuff to Buxton yesterday I was able to do some more tidying up and I put some stuff on Freecycle. Spent some time on accounts and preparation for tomorrow.  After dinner we went to Buxton as we had preview tickets for the Great Dome Art Fair at the Dome.  There were some interesting products on display.  We came back via Hartington where we stopped at the Youth Hostel as there was a beer festival so had a half pint and listened to the live band as the sun set on the Derbyshire dales.  Saturday of course was busier.  Six cottages out with six back in to our peak district cottages and one staying foe a second week.  Three cleaners up and no problems encountered.  Most guests were away by 9.30 so an early start was made on cleaning whilst I nipped down to Bakewell for the Farmers Market.  It was the 10th anniversary and there were cameras there too (from Channel 5 I was told). Chris had to cut the grass for the first time in weeks.  Andrews neighbours on the Over Haddon side have started their second silage, but they did their first one quite early. Andrew will probably do his second silage in a couple of weeks depending on the weather.  Five cottages arrived between 3 & 4pm, two have been before and final one arrived just before 5pm.  With the schools now out we had a number of families arrive too.  Cooked goat steak (from the Farmers Market) for tea, it is very much like beef.  Took the dogs out for a late evening walk, it was trying to drizzle.  All being well we will go for a walk tomorrow.  The first for a few weeks.

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cows on the move

Wednesday was a brighter day so took the opportunity of washing net curtains of the two cottages that were arriving today at our peak district cottages.  They were washed and hanging back up well before guests arrived.  One cleaner up this morning to keep up with cleaning. First cottage arrived about 3pm and second one about 5pm.  Caught up with some paper work and housework during the day too.  Thursday started damp and as I was taking the dogs out Andrew was moving some of the cows.  Chris came out and helped move the hooligans back to the other side of the road.  The in calf heifers in our front field have been moved to the side field and locked out of the front field so the builders could bring their machines up. It seemed to start brightening up by the time I left for Buxton.  Had some recycling to do as well as buy an airer and take some stuff to the charity shops.  I also took an item to hand over to a Freecycler.  Freecycling is an way of extending the life of goods which could end up in the tip.  In recent months I have donated small items of furniture, some electrical goods and recently a whole lot of plant pots to people to have asked for them.  You can ask for items or offer items.  The weather turned quite miserable and it stayed quite cool all day.  Back home I found that the first of the builders had arrived and work had started on the footings for the new extension.  In the evening a former colleague of mine from when I worked in London called in with his partner (who I also knew) and we went out for a meal at Great Longstone.  On the way we showed them Monsal Head and the well dressings at Little and Great Longstone.

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The weather

The forecast for Monday was a damp start then cloudy with some sunny intervals.  We had the damp start but then the sun soon came out and Monday turned into a warm and humid day so can’t grumble.  Two cottages out of our peak district cottages and one cleaner up to prepare cottages for next guests.  After lunch went down to Bakewell and Chris came too.  Probably last time this side of the school holidays that I go to Bakewell on a Monday.  Tuesday saw one cottage out and two back in, one has been before and one cleaner up.  The forecast had been for a weit day with up to 2 in of rain and feeling cooler.  The main ran did not materialise until later and then most came in a short heavy downpour so added to the rain that fell early in the morning, Tuesday will probably be the wettest day this month. It was also a humid day.  Andrew is hoping for 3 inches of rain this month, we have already had two, his cows are already munching the grass that was destined for the second silage in August and the milk cows are being given extra food at the end of miking to make up for the lack of grass. 

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The Secret Gardens of Winster

Sunday started breezy and overcast but dry.  Enough to encourage me to put some washing out to dry but soon it was back in again when the rain came.  Down to Bakewell for the paper and recycling.  The forecast was for a gradual improvement so with the gardens at Winster not open until 1.30 we spent a few hours doing a bit more preparation for the imminent building work (due to start Tuesday).  While Chris did some bits inside – we no longer have a working boiler so hope we don’t have a cold spell over the next few months – I moved some pots and pieces even though it was drizzling.  Chris helped me move the heavier bits and patio furniture.  After lunch we set off for Winster which we can see from our peak district cottages.  We parked at the top of the village and walked down East Bank stopping of at the open gardens on the way.  Somehow, again, I had forgotten my camera so I will insert some pics that Chris took.  A lot of Winster is built into the hillside so most gardens are terraced so there were some very interesting use of space. At the bottom we walked along the main street passing a holiday cottage, now a private home, that we had stayed in at Christmas 2001.  After the gardens off the main street we headed up West Bank before cutting across to one doing nice puds with a glass of Bucks Fizz.  The final garden at the top of the village was worth the effort, a number of levels with lots of steps but wonderful views over the village and countryside beyond.  And guess what!  I could see Bolehill!  At least now when I look across to Winster I can visualise the houses at the top of the village.  By the time we left it had warmed up nicely.  The only downside of the Winster afternoon was that a lot of the gardens didn’t allow dogs, unlike Monyash.  Some of the other villages in the area have open gardens, but most have passed this year so I plan to see a lot more gardens next year, even if it bores the dogs!