Author: Shirley Swaap

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A walk at Chatsworth

Sunday was forecast to be a pleasant day on the whole, at least in our area.  Three departures and one arrival and one cleaner up to turn cottage round.  With the car park in Bakewell being used for the Christmas weekend we went to Ashford to collect the paper and could see the water on the flood plains. After the cottage had been cleaned we decided we would go to the Chatsworth Christmas Fair.  We weren’t sure how busy it would be so thought we would see how far we could get.  We were surprised that we were able to get to Carlton Lees car park without encountering any queues for Chatsworth.  We thought we would park at Carlton Lees because we did not want to pay £10 for the car park.  So we walked from Carlton Lees to Chatsworth, it took about 30 minutes, but the fields were very soggy and the sound we heard the most was splash! The dogs did not enjoy all the water either.  When we got to Chatsworth we could see why one of the car parks was closed, it was under water!  The place was not as busy as we thought, despite a few coaches being around, but we later found out it had been announced that the fair was closed for the day due to the wet conditions, but we had not seen or heard this despite checking on the website before setting off.  The exhibitors had decided to go ahead anyway as they were told the house and gardens would still be open, so our trip wasn’t in vain.  I did buy a few things so it meant I had to walk back to the car with them.  Back at Carlton Lees we thought we would also have a quick amble round the garden centre before heading home to our peak district cottages to wash the dogs!  Guests had already arrived, they have been before.  After an early tea we went with Joanna and Andrew down to the village hall for the latest film night.  The film offering was Salmon Fishing in Yemen, don’t be put off by the title, it is a romcom with more com than rom! Enjoy the latest photos.

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A Christmas weekend

Friday was the calm after the storm. Bright sunny and dry!   One cottage departed and four due to arrive. One cleaner up and no problems encountered.  Had some potential guests drop in to look at the cottages with a view to making a booking for next year.  Chris spent some time clearing gutters, one of those lovely jobs that has to be done.  Three cottages arrived between 3 and 3.30 pm, one has been before.  A short sharp shower left a wonderful rainbow but couldn’t take a photo as showing guests in.  The final cottage arrived about six pm but final guests arrived about 9.30 pm as they were sharing a cottage with other guests who had arrived earlier.  Saturday started quite foggy but it had settled in the dales and it made for some good photos and other guests were out there in the front fields taking photos too.  I went down to Bakewell for the farmers market in a still foggy Bakewell.  Also taking place was the first day of the Bakewell Christmas Weekend so I went into Bakewell and wandered around the stalls and displays such as classic motorbikes. The lights on the tree were going to be switched on later in the day.  Back at our Peak District cottages two cottages departed and one cleaner up.  Two cottages arrived just after 3pm but in the meantime we stocked up on logs and Chris cleared some more gutters of leaves as more rain was forecast. Rain arrived about 3pm too but the mist never really cleared.  About 6pm we could here the fireworks in Bakewell which I would have thought would have been cancelled due to the wet weather so I missed out on that display.  Never mind. Enjoy the photos.

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Stormy weather

Kept awake by rain early morning and by time took dogs out we had already had .75 in rain at our peak district cottages.  One cottage departed. Down to Bakewell mid morning to get hair cut and luckily it cleared up so I didn’t get my hair wet afterwards.  Got some provisions for the next few days before heading home for lunch.  The afternoon went in paperwork and one of the exhibitors at Chatsworth returned for this weekends event, the other one having stayed on but popping home to restock overnight.  The forecast for Thursday was not promising with high winds and rain expected from lunchtime.  One departure in the morning and one cleaner up.  After an early lunch I headed to Matlock stopping at Peak Village first.  It was still dry when I left and headed for Sainsbury’s and still dry when I started back for home although the wind had picked up.  One of our guests followed me up the hill narrowly missing a for sale sign that suddenly took off.  In the car park there were a few small branches down and I noticed one of my hanging baskets had also been blown down so Chris went and took the remaining ones down as the wind was very strong by now.  We also allowed guests to park in the courtyard as it was more sheltered.  At 5pm the heavens just opened and by now I was wondering if I would make it to Buxton to see a performance of Calendar Girls at the Opera House.  The heavy rain and wind subsided by the time I set off but there was lots of very big puddles to negotiate.  I took one of the other Over Haddon WI members with me and we met up with others from the WI there.  After a wonderful performance the weather had calmed down for our drive back.

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the annual inspection

After a wonderful sunrise Monday turned a bit overcast in the afternoon.  One cottage out with one arrival and one cleaner up.  Guests arrived about 4pm,  they have been many times before so we had a good chat before they settled into the cottage.  We abandoned the dogs in the evening with Chris going to the Photographic Club and me heading off to Over Haddon for the Village Hall Committee Meeting. Tuesday was supposed to be wet but it stayed dry until late afternoon.  Discovered in the morning that the cows had gone back across the road on Monday, usually they go back later in November,  and that the sheep would be arriving shortly, usually they arrive early in December, and the next thing we knew some sheep arrived in the front field.  One cleaner up in the morning to carry on with the cleaning of the cottages vacated in the last few days and later in the afternoon one cottage arrived.  They have been before. Most of the afternoon went in my annual inspection by the Quality in Tourism Inspector.  Pleased to say everything was fine and she was impressed with the standard of cleaning too!  In the evening we went to the Bulls Head in Monyash for a meal as I never feel like cooking after I have had our inspection. 

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A walk from Hartington

Sunday started cold and frosty but sunny at our peak district cottages.  Four departures with no arrivals so a good excuse for a walk.  With the ground still saturated I opted for a walk from Hartington that involved a walk along a track then back on higher ground.  It was still frosty in the dale as we drove into Hartington but we were able to find a parking spot amongst all the other walkers.  We headed out on the track past Bank Top Farm where we once stayed and in the direction of Pilsbury which followed the course the infant River Dove.  There were a few icy patches but nothing serious but as the track opened up and we walked in the sun we were also able to get views of Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill in the distance and also Sheen Hill closer to our walk.  As it was a gated track we felt safe in letting the dogs off the leads.  There was no livestock and we only saw one other group of walkers until we got to the hamlet of Pilsbury.   From here we picked up the bridleway that went to Pilsbury Castle.  This was a motte and bailey construction and although there are only mounds of earth to see these days it had some lovely views along the upper Dove Valley as it is in an elevated position. A good spot for lunch despite the fact the dogs were more interested in some para gliders nearby.  This meant some woofing to disturb the peace.  Our return journey was in parallel with the track but was along some good paths after a short climb with a few muddy patches and some more lovely views before we picked up a minor road back into Hartington by the church.  It was still busy and there were queues in the cheese shop so I will go back on a quieter day to get some bits for Xmas.  Good news for cheese lovers – Hartington Stilton could be available in the new year again!  When we got home one of our guests asked if we would like to join them for a Chinese take away so we did and had a enjoyable time!  Enjoy the photos of our walk.

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A busy weekend

Friday started misty but it soon lifted even if it clouded up again by lunchtime.  One cottage out with three back in and one cleaner up.  After she finished I went down to Bakewell to get provisions for the weekend. First cottage arrived about 4pm, they have been before.  Chris went later in the afternoon over to Matlock to get the projector used by the Photographic Club recalibrated.   While he was a way I went through my baking store cupboard as I still haven’t baked my Christmas cake yet.  I am hoping I will have time after next week.  Second cottage arrived about 7.30 with final cottage arriving at 9pm, they have also been before.  We then sat down and watched the Michael Portillo Great Continental Rail Journey where he travelled from Budapest to Salzburg. It brought back many memories of all the holidays we had in Austria before coming here and it made me want to go back again as the last time we were there was to witness the eclipse of the sun. The heaviest of the rain passed through during Friday night so despite the initial forecast Saturday was mainly dry and bright.  No departures but two arrivals both arriving between 3 and 3.30.  Another day of odd jobs and I found some time to potter in the garden doing some tidying up.  The hanging baskets have lasted well again at our peak district cottages but we will take them down soon.  A cold evening so got the fire on for Smudge so he could keep warm!

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More arrivals

Wednesday was on the whole a dull but dry day at our peak district cottages.  No departures but two arrivals, but both are here as they are showing at the Chatsworth Christmas Fair this weekend.  Time for a trip down to Bakewell to get bits for the next few days.  In the evening I collected Joanna for this months WI meeting.  It was the AGM and I will be Treasurer for another year.  After the business we had a tea prepared by the committee (I had already made some sandwiches earlier in the afternoon) and we played some board games.  We also cut the cake to celebrate our 80th birthday!  Thursday started quite misty but by late morning the sun was shining so we were lucky as in many places it didn’t clear.  One departure in the morning and one cleaner up with one arrival later in the day.  Chris and I did a walk round the garden looking at  jobs to do and as it was so still he decided to clear the leaves from the back lawn.  In the end he cleared about six trailer loads and as a breeze started to pick up I ended up helping him.  Cottage arrived at 3pm, they have been here before.  The afternoon went in many jobs, I am still pressing the new linen, nearly finished though.  One thing I can say about Thursday is that it turned into one of those lovely autumnal days, I stopped a couple of times to look at the various colours and the setting sun cast some different hues on the landscape.  So entranced forgot to take photos!  By late afternoon we could see the mist settling in the dales again.  Chris went off in the evening with Andrew and the lads from Buxton for a drink and I had a quiet evening in.

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Normal (weather) service is resumed

By Monday morning Chris realised that having replaced the temperature probe and batteries that perhaps the problem was even greater with the weather station than we thought.  A number of phone calls and switching on and off of various switches led to the conclusion that the master board was no more.  Luckily by Tuesday the new part had arrived and by lunchtime it was back in place. We have lost about two weeks of data and some values need resetting (I don’t think we had a temperature of 40 degrees C this October).  Anyway, here are Octobers weather statistics.

Warmest day and night (but no temperature available) 23rd, coldest day 27th and night 26th with lowest temperature of -0.5 deg C.  Wettest day 11th with .61 in rain with total 3.61 in for month (2.41 in Oct 2011).

Apart from the weather station Monday and Tuesday were otherwise quieter days.  No departures on either days and no arrivals on Monday so cleaning commenced on the vacated cottages.  Found time to pay this months bills too.  It was quite murky on Monday but brighter on Tuesday.  On Tuesday there was one arrival at about 4pm.  We have had our quietest couple of days for a long time but from Wednesday for the next couple of weeks it will be a lot busier at our Peak District Cottages.

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Padley Gorge

Saturday started dull but soon brightened up at our peak district cottages.  Two departures but no arrivals and with it looking fine we thought we would go for a short walk.  Knowing fields are still wet we opted for Grindleford where we could walk along the track from the Station to Padley Chapel.  When we got there we thought it was nice enough to walk up Padley Gorge especially as the paths were not muddy. It was a nice walk up the gorge and with the sunlight breaking through the almost bare trees we got some interesting shots of gnarled trees and spooky looking tree trunks and stopped every now and again to identify the different trees.  At the top of the gorge we had planned to turn round and walk back down and grab lunch at the station cafe but as it was nice we carried on across the road and up to Longshaw House .  Along the way we got some nice views of Carl Wark and Higger Tor and it was clear enough to see Mam Tor in the distance.  We had lunch sitting outside although it clouded up a bit.  We then walked back the same way but took the opposite path down the gorge to the one we took up.  With the sun now lower we were able to get some different shots of the wonderful colours.  So in the end our short stroll turned into a walk of about 3-4 miles but it was worth it.  We rounded off the day with a scenic drive round to Hathersage where we got Chris some new boots. Sunday was another pleasant day with a frosty start.  Three cottages out and one back in with one cleaner up.  Cottage arrived about 4pm, they have been before.  A day of odd jobs for Chris and myself including wood chopping and stationery orders.  Hard to believe we have now been here nine years, I still clearly remember the day we moved in.

Here are the rest of my pictures from Saturday.  Enjoy!
padley gorge

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Oops! Missed a couple of days

Monday was a relatively quiet Monday at our peak district cottages.  Two cottages out with one back in and one cleaner up.  Time to do some extra cleaning tasks.  Monday was also another bright and sunny but cold day so on went the fire in the afternoon.  Cottage arrived just after 3pm, they have been before.  In the evening Chris went off to the Photographic Club again and I had a quiet evening in catching up on some recorded programmes that I like (but Chris doesn’t!).  Tuesday was a bit more dismal again and with no arrivals or departures and Chris not at Buxton he treated me to a day out at Junction 28.  I enjoyed my bit of retail therapy and after Junction 28 we came back home via IKEA. Chris survived the experience! Wednesday was another fine day, a little milder and a lot sunnier.  For me it was a day of catching up after Tuesday and preparing myself for the evenings WI committee meeting at Joanna’s.  For Chris it was a case of fixing a central heating valve, probably disturbed with all the work he did at the weekend.  One cottage arrived about 3pm, they have three collies.  It had already been cleaned.  Hope you like the picture, the leaves are nearly all off the trees now but we do have a number of ash trees.  I am hoping they wont be affected by this die back fungus but only time will tell.