… With Valentine’s day fast approaching, and with both Tom’s and Douglas’s Barns having frequently been identified as romantic cottages for two I suppose we shouldn’t have been surprised to find Tom’s Barn selected by Kate Quill of the Times for her list of 18 “Love Nests to Rent” in an article headed “Sexy Places”. (Unfortunately we can’t give you a link to the actual article as we don’t have a subscription to online Times but if you do have it is on Page 4 Sexy Places in the Travel section on Saturday Feb 12th 2011.)

But surprised we were; in fact the first we knew of it was when someone rang to book a week, explaining she had just read about us in the Times. So that’s twice this year already – first in Country Homes and Interiors, with Tom’s and Douglas’s Barns highlighted as one of their four recommended Romantic Getaways and now the Times with their love nests in Sexy Places…

Of course we’re always delighted to have our two cottages recognised and recommended by the press; we just always feel the need to reassure everyone that we love all our guests whatever their ages, and as far as we can tell all our guests -  no matter how old or young – love our barns. They are a highly attractive destination for couples of any age.

We never ask people’s ages, but we get a wonderful spread from early twenties to mid to late 80′s, from 21st birthday treats to Golden Wedding celebrations and masses of couples in between. You’re obviously fond of each other and want some happy time together so let’s not be shy – let’s shout abroad about how romantic and sexy Tom’s and Douglas’s Barns are for everybody!

We are delighted to report that our barns are featured in the February Country Homes & Interiors magazine, out today, as one of their four selected Romantic Getaways. They must have St Valentine’s Day in mind (which rather impractically for a romantic short break this year falls on a Monday short break changeover but it does mean that four lucky couples have the opportunity to celebrate at least part of the day!).

We haven’t actually seen the magazine  yet, but they kindly sent us  a pdf of the article so we know it exists. We had actually been asked permission some time ago, but had no idea whether it would materialise, or if it did,  what it would say. (Some of you may remember a disappointing build up  to an article about John and me being grey-haired technology whizz kids that the Daily Telegraph was planning last summer…)

We are delighted and relieved to say it looks fine! We immediately had an enquiry for two bookings and it will be intriguing to see if there any more. Even the nearby Tissington Trail is described as being romantic, which, seriously, is quite possibly very true but I’d never thought of it like that before.

Apparently Country Homes & Interiors doesn’t have a website as such which for these days is unusual but they are on Facebook and they have given us the Country Homes and Interiors Facebook link. I’m ashamed to say it has been a particularly busy day for us today and we haven’t even had the time to follow it up ourselves but will do so. Whether it will show the relevant article I’d say is doubtful, but it is a lovely magazine…

This followed an interview over the telephone by Claudine Beaumont, a journalist from the Daily Telegraph. I had been understandably surprised and apprehensive when the editor of the Weekend section emailed to ask if I would be agreeable, but Claudine made it all very easy and unfrightening – in fact she was so easy to talk to it was positively enjoyable.

After all this excitement, we heard nothing. Would an article appear at all? Would we and our barns be mentioned? We really didn’t know what to expect when the paper arrived this morning. Eventually we spotted something.

In today’s Weekend Section at the very end of an article by Claudine Beaumont on page 3 entitled ‘Cashing in on the Digital Age’ you might just spot, if you look hard, a column and a half about how John and I use web technology for running Tom’s and Douglas’s Barns (our self-catering holiday cottage accommodation and note, not guest house in case you were wondering!). Not a photograph to be seen, which is probably understandable and quite a relief but also in a way quite strange after all the photographic activity!

Anyway, do have a look; it makes me seem much wiser and more knowledgable than I am or feel! We will put up the link to the article when the Saturday paper goes online.

So the best we can do, with the blessing of Fergus Collins the Countryfile Magazine editor, is to reproduce the  tip below, and give you the link to the online magazine for a general browse.

“Tom’s Barn, Parwich
I would recommend Tom’s Barn, two gorgeous barns on the edge of a beautiful Peak District village with walks from the door. We went there for our honeymoon.”
Sam Temple-Scotton
BBC Countryfile Magazine, December 2009
http://www.bbccountryfilemagazine.com

To read the article on the Peak District you have to buy the current (December) edition, which we urge you to do and keep for reference if you are interested in our lovely part of the world – and who could not be?

And meanwhile, once again, thank you to Sam, although we gather there was  initial concern from some quarters  that she had revealed what should have remained a well-kept secret!

The first mention in the national press that we were aware of was over three years ago now, when – completely out of the blue – we found ourselves with a flurry of bookings from people who claimed to have read about us in the Independent.

Tom’s Barn had been singled out as the top romantic retreat ” out of the five mentioned…

“You may not have the whole farm to yourself but it feels like it once you’re in the barn….Outside, you’ll find spectacular walking territory – and a village pub – within ambling distance.”

Douglas’s Barn, the newer of our two lovely barns, was picked out by journalist Annabelle Thorpe for her selection for The Observer ’20 Romantic Cottages for Two’ Escape Guide in the Observer Travel Section Sunday 13 Jan 2008.

Obviously, we weren’t surprised at the time but it was nice to have recognised publicly what lots of delighted couples had already discovered for themselves! There has been an enormous and ongoing reponse to this particular mention – obviously a lot of very discerning people read the Observer!

Her comment:
‘Sometimes it’s the little things that make all the difference to a trip away, and the fresh flowers, home-made cakes, spa bath and bookshelves stacked with games, novels and maps make Douglas’s Barn a really special place to stay. One of two five-star conversions of former cattle barns on a farm near the village of Parwich in the beautiful Peak District, it has a pristine Shaker-style kitchen, and a luxurious lounge with contemporary fittings – there is even a remote-control fire. There are dozens of footpaths around the farm – choose from a brief stroll into the village or some serious all-day hiking.’

Staying in a former cowshed might not sound romantic, but Tom’s Barn has been impressively transformed into a five-star retreat. Half-an-hour’s drive from Dovedale and the charming village of Tissington, this is a warm, cosy farmhouse with beams and a log burner. The galleried bedroom is lovely, and there’s a two-seater whirlpool bath for smoochy evenings.
Perfect for Culture vultures. You’re close to Chatsworth, Buxton Opera House and numerous other delights.
Essential items
Walking boots to explore, and plastic Champagne glasses for the bath.

*Please note, we do now supply our own plastic champagne glasses for you, in both barns!

We hastened to reassure all our guests present past and future who come to celebrate anniversaries, honeymoons and Golden Weddings that they hadn’t mistakenly selected a venue for what in the old days used to be a called a ‘dirty weekend’!

We also want to reassure our guests that lovers are welcome at all stages of their relationship from the starry eyed to the gracefully matured!

Two gorgeous self-catering barns on the edge of a beautiful Peak District village with walks from the door.

For some time we knew that something was afoot, because we were asked for a photograph of Tom’s and Douglas’s Barns but more than that we knew not. The suspense was intriguing…

But now the mystery is solved! Thank you, Sam (and Gary) for recommending Tom’s Barn – see the Readers’ Tips section on page 63 in of the December issue which has an excellent feature on the Peak District in winter. Lots of people don’t realise that the area is just as lovely in the winter months with just as much to do and enjoy as in the summer, just different. Do have a look at the magazine.

Sam mentions that she and Gary came here for their honeymoon, but what she doesn’t say is that they have been back another four times since then! And we do love to see them. They don’t bring a dog to Tom’s Barn but have been known to bring their cat.