On Friday morning we said goodbye to our friends and with one cottage due in one cleaner up.  A quick trip down to Bakewell to get provisions for the weekend.  A pleasant day weather wise with a pleasant weekend forecast. Guests arrived just after 3pm leaving me time to do some housework before dinner.  In the evening in Bakewell the wheelbarrow race took place, not that we saw it.  Saturday saw six cottages out with five back in and three cleaners up.  Whilst cleaning was taken place Andrew came up and took one of the cows back with a calf it had just given birth to in one of our fields. Unfortunately it was a bull calf.  A few things for Chris to attend to before he cut he grass.  Cottages arrived between 3 & 5 pm, two of which had been before.  I had advised arrivals of the Bakewell Carnival which closed roads in Bakewell between 3 & 4.30 pm.  We always notice how little traffic passes our peak district cottages when the carnival is on with a rush as the roads reopen!  It was warm enough to have our meal al fresco.

Another day another walk from our peak district cottages.  On Thursday I had planned a walk at the Goyt Valley which is on the other side of Buxton as our friends had not walked there.  The forecast was for an improving day and when we first arrived at the Errwood Reservoir car park there was a heavy downpour which confined us to the car for a while. Once we set off we made for the ruins of Errwood Hall as our first stop.  From here we picked up the path below Foxlow Edge that gradually rose up to meet the minor road to Pym’s Chair.  Along the way we passed the shrine to one of the former governesses at the Hall although my friend and I didn’t bother with the little detour. At the road we had a short climb to Pym’s Chair from where there are some wonderful views across the Cheshire Plain to the welsh hills.  We could make out Jodrell Bank and following a descending plane we were able to locate Manchester Airport.  We picked up the path along the ridge taking in Cats Tor and ending at Shining Tor.  This path was still ascending but we found a spot out of the breeze to have lunch with views towards the White and Dark peaks.  The dogs were delighted as they had four people to scrounge some food off!  At Shining Tor we could see the Cat & Fiddle pub and Shuttlingsloe, the Matterhorn of Cheshire, which after Shining Tor is the third highest hill in Cheshire.  From here there was a gradual descent back to the reservoir just as the sun finally came out.  At least the walk had been dry.  From the car park we called in at Buxton for a cup of tea and take advantage of  the M&S meal deals.  In the evening we had a Chinese takeaway.  Bakewell was busy when the lads went down to get the food.  In the lead up to Carnival Day on Saturday there are a lot of events scheduled.  On Thursday night it was the raft race and dog racing.  One year we must go and have a look.

Here are the photos from our Monsal Trail walk not far from our peak district cottages.

Our first walk in weeks, albeit a short one.  With the tunnels recently opened on the Monsal Trail we thought we would investigate them on Wednesday.  We set off from our peak district cottages with our friends and the dogs and parked in the small car park along Upperdale.  From here we walked along the road to Cressbrook Mill then picked up the path along the river, walking through Water-Cum-Jolly.  Stopped to admire a swan and her cygnets who came over and posed for us!  Onto the hamlet of Litton and each time we walk through the mill complex I remember when it was for sale as a development opportunity many years ago. Up the path to join the Monsal Trail and very soon we were at the entrance to the Litton tunnel.  This was well lit (lights are on from dawn to dusk) and the tarmac path was wide enough for walkers and cyclists. When we emerged from there it wasn’t long before we went through the Cressbrook tunnel.  As soon as we came out of this one we were met with some views back down to Water-Cum-Jolly.  The trail was quite busy and was getting busier as we approached Monsal Head.  Admired the view from the viaduct before taking the path up to cafe at Monsal Head.  Stopped for a refreshment break after which we walked backed to the cars.  Our friends drove onto Buxton and we came back home.  In the evening we went with our friends down to Bakewell and had a look at the well dressings.  As usual the Bath Gardens (where two of the dressings were) were looking splendid.  Then up to the church to see the remaining two before heading onto Fellicinis for a meal.  As there are two lots of photos I will post the well dressing ones here with a separate blog for the trail ones as there are quite a few.  A feast of photos recently!

Monday was hot.  I’d forgotten was hot was like!  Not just hot but humid too.  One cottage out with one back in and one cleaner up at our peak district cottages.  Usual Monday tasks and despite the heat found some time to do some gardening.  Guests arrived about 5pm, they have been before.  It was a warm enough evening to sit out and eat dinner al fresco.  After a few rumbles in the night Tuesday dawned fresher.  One cottage departed Tuesday was one of those days that seemed to go in a flash and before we knew it it was mid afternoon and our friends from Yorkshire were here.  As they have never seen well dressings in their glory we made Youlgreave our first stop in the evening as theirs are one of the better ones.  They were up to their usual high standard but the hot weather of the previous couple of days had taken its toll on one of the wells.  So here are the pictures of Youlgreave’s dressings.  Following our stroll around the village we went to the Lathkil Hotel at Over Haddon for a meal.

Don’t the months go quickly!  (So do the days!)  Thursday was better than forecast at our peak district cottages and after a trip down to Bakewell to get some provisions for the weekend and do some banking the rest of the day flew by.  In the evening we spent a few hours having a drink with one of the couples in one of the cottages (they stay regularly).  Friday saw three cottages out and one back in and two cleaners up to keep up with cleaning.  It felt warmer on Friday although it was more overcast.  Cottage arrived just after 3pm and I had time to prepare the other two cottages for Saturday as well as other general preparations and some housework.

Tuesday was a quieter day at our peak district cottages, feeling warm in the sunshine but with a few hefty showers.  Went to Matlock in the afternoon to get some bits from Sainsburys.  The forecast for Wednesday was similar but with more showers.  I hoped the showers would stay away as we had our WI outing in the evening.  This year we had chosen Shardlow, a village just the other side of Derby for an evening walk followed by a tea hosted by the WI.  We collected Joanna and Lynne, her neighbour on the Over Haddon side and set of for Shardlow.  Luckily we had a good run there bearing in mind we drove during the ‘rush hour’. Shardlow gained its importance as an inland port on the Trent and Mersey canal, which connected with other canal networks in the midlands and as such a lot of warehouses were built and this then attracted other business to the village which quadrupled in size in 50 years in the early 19th century.  The coming of the railway changed its fortune again but it still has many fine buildings (and pubs!) remaining.  After our (shower free) guided walk led by a couple of WI ladies we had supper at the village hall.  Enjoy the photos.

Monday was another pleasant day at our peak district cottages with showers holding off until much later in the day.  One cottage out and two back in and one cleaner up.  Both cottages arrived between 3 & 4 pm, one has been before, but when the second couple arrived they realised they had been before but many years ago. As it was still nice we drove over to Tideswell to see their well dressings as we haven’t done so for a number of years.  After a walk around we drove to nearby Litton who were also having their well dressings. Each time we have been to Litton in recent years it has been in the dark so it was nice to see the village in daylight and see what a  pleasant place it is.  We also decided to have a meal at the pub and as it was still warm we were able to eat outside with the dogs.

Sunday started dull at our peak district cottages but brightened up later in the day.  Another at home day with two further cottages arriving in the afternoon.  Both arrived between 3 & 4 pm after which we decided to go and have a look at the well dressings and flower festival in Ashford.  Both were up to their usual high standard so there are a number of pictures.  Whilst in the church we bumped into a husband we know (he and his wife were regular guests here until they moved to Ashford) and we ended up going round for coffee.  From here we headed to Over Haddon whilst the weather was holding to have a look at their two wells.  This took longer than we thought as we kept bumping into people we know.  Still it was nice to see my handy work was holding up.  The final two pictures are of Over Haddon’s wells.  The dogs are braced for yet more well dressings over the next few weeks!