Why Douglas?

And Why Douglas?

Marion’s father Douglas, whom many of our ‘older’ guests will remember, used to live here. From a Lowland Scots family, he actually grew up near Lichfield, used to holiday in the Peak District and spent all his working life in Africa, where Marion grew up… Hence the Derbyshire/African mix in Douglas’s Barn and probably still in Marion!

After he retired from Africa he and Rachel, Marion’s mother, spent the next forty years in south Devon, at what the Hall family used as their home base, their lovely thatched cottage called Barnford. After Rachel died, Douglas eventually decided to move up here, with Boots the cat, to live beside – not with – us.

He quickly made a lot of friends in Parwich, and just loved his self-appointed role as guardian angel of the Tom’s Barn guests while we were at work.  Douglas died in 2004;   in 2006 we converted ‘Douglas’s Barn’ into our second holiday cottage for two.

Why Tom?

Why Tom indeed…

The previous owner of Orchard Farm was Tom, a character well liked in the village but a complete stranger to soap, hammer, paintbrush or any home improvements. He was renowned also for his pack of boss-eyed dogs which local children  apparently found rather frightening. After years of dogs and neglect the house and barns were in an unbelievably awful state although Tom had been living here happily enough, apparently.

Tom died in December 1982. We bought Orchard Farm at auction in April 1983. Most people thought we were mad, including just at first our own children then of a fairly impressionable age.  They soon rallied round but it took us months just simply getting the house and outbuildings reasonably habitable, before we were able to start on the rather more exciting and certainly very rewarding transformation process.

It was twenty years before people stopped referring to Orchard Farm as ‘Tom’s place’, hence Tom’s Barn. We now have an Australian  grandson, Tom, who at just five  assumes – from Sydney – his role to be that of absentee landlord.

He seems quite happy at present with the way we are running things for him.

Douglas’s Barn in the Observer

Douglas’s Barn is officially a romantic escape!

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.’

Tom’s Barn in the Daily Mail

Most recently there was a small but complimentary mention in July 2009 in the Daily Mail Travel section.

Tom’s Barn in the Sunday Telegraph

Tom’s Barn was highlighted last year as one of ‘The UK’s Best Cottages for Lovers’ in the Sunday Telegraph Travel Section on March 30th 2008.

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!

Tom’s Barn in BBC Countryfile Magazine

We are delighted to report that our barns are highlighted in the Reader’s Tips section of the December 2009  issue of BBC Countryfile Magazine.

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.

Visitrac Survey: Are we value for money?

Our score: We score 95.% for value for money

Average Score = 9.57
8 guests gave us 8/10
16 guests gave us 9/10
51 guests scored us 100%

Our comment: (we suspect short breaks – at 70% of the weekly rate, may appear to be not such good value but from our point of view they are labour intensive and cost the same to set up…)

What our guests think of us

Seventy five guests have filled in our online questionnaire in the past year. We promised to make all the findings available and – at long last – here are the main and all totally unexpurgated features.

If anyone would like to see the full results we will be very happy to send them a link so they can download the results, but this will be simpler to understand. People are asked to score 0-10 on cleanliness (9.92), the standard of individual rooms, the equipment, the facilities 9.75, the information/administration side of things, personal service, the overall quality. For each of these we score well over 9/10.

Are we value for money?:
Average Score = 9.57
8/10 8 11%; 9/10 16 21%; 10/10 51 68%

Our comment: (we suspect short breaks – at 70% of the weekly rate, may appear to be not such good value but from our point of view they are labour intensive and cost the same to set up…)

Ten Top Wet Tips: How to Enjoy a Rainy Day in the Peak District:

Having for the last two years been led  to expect a ‘barbecue summer’  we now have to accept that  it may actually rain, a lot, instead. However,  as one of our guests wrote recently “there are few places as lovely to be holed up against the rubbish weather”. And see below a sample of what you can do…

1. Check through the local Visit Peak District and Derbyshire events listing to see what’s on: There might well be something interesting happening under cover somewhere that you might enjoy
2. Go canoeing or windsurfing – or fishing – on Carsington: You’ll get wet anyway.
3. Go swimming in Ashbourne Leisure Centre: Ditto
4. Go for a wet walk in the rain:  Accept you’ll get wet, and revel in it. Put on your waterproof jacket and go for a walk with a warm, dry pub at the other end; return here and feeling really pleased with yourselves relax into a well-deserved hot bath (with a glass of champagne in one of those plastic flutes?).
5. Book in for some pampering: Buxton Spa, Ashbourne, Brackendale – we’ll provide all the c0ntact details if you can’t find them in your barn.
6. Browse in a warm and dry bookshop: We have some interesting bookshops in the area, including Scarthins in Cromford, Brierlow Bar on the way to Buxton, Bookthrift in Ashbourne.
7. Visit one of the caves in the High Peak:  They’re a Derbyshire Peak District must, anyway, and underground so what does it matter that it might be raining outside?
8. Settle down in front of the fire with a really good book, listen to music, watch a DVD. You’ll find a selection of books, CDs and DVDs if you’ve forgotten your own.
9. Find a nostalgic game to play – one never has time normally. How about a Scrabble challenge? Settle down in front of the fire and try to remember the rules before you start.
10. Cook yourselves a gourmet treat – a prolonged and delicious gourmet meal. You have a beautifully equipped kitchen  but this will take some forethought. The previous day go to Chatsworth Farm Shop or one of the delicatessens in Ashbourne, Smiths in Ashbourne for some special wine, possibly, the White Peak Butchery in Tissington and buy some tempting local produce. Then take your time – usually in such short supply – to make that memorable meal you would never have had the chance to enjoy were the sun shining.

Read more…

Strictly Come Dancing then, now Waterloo Road

Tom Chambers ‘Our’ Tom Chambers has now transformed into the new headmaster of that gripping – to some – school drama about the ultimate nightmare school which anybody who has ever been a teacher feels glad they’re not part of: John absolutely loves it! After the first few episodes it seems clear that there are many more crises simply waiting to happen and the new headmaster seems to be creating some of them himself.

For those new to such things, Tom used to be in Holby City as Sam Strachan; last autumn he thrilled us all in Parwich by winning the recent Strictly Come Dancing competition. Tom comes from Parwich, where his parents still live. The village followed his progress through the competition with enormous interest and pride.

For more info as we discover it see Parwich and Beyond.