Romantic cottages for two in the Peak District
Romantic cottages for two in the Peak District
We are delighted to discover that we now have eight reviews on TripAdvisor. Thank you, all eight couples! All being well eventually we will have some more.
It took a long time to get going. For some time obscure reason TripAdvisor had us as situated just outside Stockton-on-Tees. This was thoroughly confusing to all concerned and meant that for several months we looked – and were – totally lost and lonely. It was hard work persuading the editors that this mattered but eventually we landed up in the right place – Parwich in the Peak District, and slowly slowly the reviews have come in.
Some of the pseudonyms we can guess at but others are a delightful mystery but in a way that is the whole point of these reviews. You need to feel free to write freely if that doesn’t sound too obvious.
We haven’t yet been aware of anyone finding about Tom’s and Douglas’s Barns through TripAdvisor but we do know that many people planning or undecided about a holiday will always check things out there first.
It isn’t just about rave reviews either (although that is lovely) but a question of seeing if a place is the kind that you are looking for however highly others may rate it. It would be as well to have found out beforehand that we aren’t great in these parts for lap dancing parlours, underground trains or stretch limos.
The cold weather continues, the snow covers the surrounding hills and valleys and Parwich sparkles in the bright sunlight (at least it has been all day). We haven’t had any fresh snow today; people have been getting into Ashbourne via the Alsop road which we are told is perfectly OK if you take it slowly.
For guests who may be feeling anxious:
In ten years we have never ever had any of our guests unable to reach Parwich and us. However, there always may be a first time…? What is most likely is that you will get to Parwich perfectly well, but the final 200 yards up the little slope and round the corner to Orchard Farm may prove the last straw. Don’t let your courage fail!
If this final stretch threatens to defeat you, park your car safely at the bottom of the slope, give us a ring if you have a signal, or walk up the road if not. We (the royal we as one of us is on crutches) will come down to meet you with a wheelbarrow etc to cart your possessions up. The crutch bearer will meanwhile be preparing a restorative mulled wine or hot coffee (or both).Finally: a promise:
If on the day you are due to arrive, Parwich – and therefore Orchard Farm – is completely cut off and generally declared inaccessible from the outside world, we will offer you an equivalent break at another available date at no extra cost to you.
If on the other hand you make a personal decision for whatever reason not to risk it, although the village itself is generally deemed accessible, that will be a matter between you and your Holiday Cancellation Insurance provider.
We can provide suitable accommodation despite the cold weather
One or two more comments from our guests who were here over Christmas and the New Year and enjoyed almost more snow than we did in the Alps!
“A wonderful end to the year and beginning of a new one. I think we started planning our next trip the minute we walked in the door!
Many thanks!!” Jan 2010
“Thank you for providing the ingredients for the best Christmas ever! We loved the cottage, the long walks in the snow and the peace and quiet. Bliss! Top notch accommodation – will tell friends.” Dec 2009
Good food is a real priority for most our guests who like us seem to delight in finding excellent local farm shops and producers, restaurants and pubs.
We are extremely well provided for locally. We try hard to keep up to date but people’s tastes vary, standards wax and wain, owners come and go, and our pockets and waistlines prevent as much research as would perhaps be ideal. So we rely also on our guests and friends to keep us up to date.
Most of our guests leave useful comments in the visitors’ books but we feel an ongoing more accessible ‘discussion’ here on the blog might be more helpful in the long run.
To start the ball rolling (we appreciate it may take time) we would start off with an almost random list:
Local farm shops and producers:
Local pubs
Local restaurants
We look forward to some fresh input – shoot our first suggestions down or add to them. Thank you.
It has snowed, heavily, all day in Parwich, to the delight of anyone on holiday or under the age when road-conditions-neurosis hits in. The whole village is white and wonderful and the Parwich young were sledging until past nightfall on the hill opposite. See Wintery Fun in the Gallery for some local photos.
Meanwhile, those of us with ankles in plaster (bright blue since a visit to the Fracture Clinic at the new Derby Royal Hospital – it used to be the plain City Hospital) have not tried sledging or anything remotely more adventurous than hopping, quite vigorously, on crutches and steering a wheelchair around the house.
A trip yesterday to a village New Year’s party in the church involved four strong men manhandling the wheelchair into the church over two deepish steps (I’d never even registered there were steps before, so my disability/accessibility awareness is improving rapidly as is my admiration for the strong men of Parwich).
On a more serious note, for any guests anxious about getting up to Orchard Farm if the snow continues, we have long had a contingency plan. Until now we have never actually had to resort to it but if you are concerned, do ring for instructions.
Having just launched the new Blog & Gallery John and I promptly went away for ten days which was hardly efficient but was just the way it turned out.
All being well things will start ticking over again. Meanwhile, a short bringing-up-to-date…
We had a wonderful family get-together in the French Alps (Les Gets in the Haute Savoie) not far from Geneva and within sight on a good day of Mont Blanc. The excuse – if we needed one – was to introduce our grandson Tom to snow. He is five now, and living in Sydney NSW had never seen snow. He had longed to throw a snowball so got plenty of opportunity for that, and skiing too.
Much snow, much skiing, much fun, one leg in plaster (mine)! But we did not let that hinder things too much and in the chalet it hardly mattered apart from my having to hop around on crutches and be pushed by long-suffering son Nick or nephew Tim, down snowy roads into the village. Not so easy now we are at home with stairs and steps to negotiate at every turn but it is amazing how one learns to adapt and thanks to John, Sara, Derek and Tom there are many kind attendants. I have much more insight now into how it must be for the disabled and feel very blessed that my disability is only temporary.
And just what is a blog, we’ve been asked? And why do you need something when you’ve already got a website?
Well, we probably don’t really but we are very excited all the same at the idea of having the two different species running side by side, complementing each other.
As we see it our Tom’s Barn website provides the more conventional, factual element, with information provided by us, which we hope will give guests and others a real insight into our holiday cottages and what to expect.
On the other hand, the Blog & Gallery will be the more dynamic section of the same site. Here you will find latest news from us and input from guests and friends, constantly changing as the things evolve. There will also be masses (eventually) of photos from John and others.
We hope that guests will also share tips and suggestions for the benefit of others guests – and us – about good walks, lovely restaurants and wonderful pubs; we have already had two guests keen to share successful recipes for the slow cooker ‘crockpot’. Watch this page!
And how does one new to the blogging scene know what to do…? The next lecture in this series will appear after Christmas… Bloggers forget that it is all rather overwhelming to he uninitiated; we’re only a couple of steps ahead of that ourselves but years of enjoying the Parwich Blog has helped initiate us, slightly. It has certainly taught us what fun they are.
There are two (midweek gaps) in January.
See here for the latest update on availability for Tom’s Barn.
There are still several gaps in January for a post – Christmas, restorative break! See here for the current situation in Douglas’s Barn.
I have had the pleasure of managing Tom and Douglas Barns for 10 Years and felt it was time to enjoy a bit more of my retirement. The barns will continue to be holiday cottages and will be maintained to the standard that all previous guests have enjoyed. The only change is that Sykes Cottages […]
The weather is a bit mixed but we are still getting sunny days. A perfect time of year to come and stay for a few days and have a walk in the lovely countryside, take a bike ride, visit one of the many attractions that all stay open or just relax in Tom or Douglas […]
The weather has been so wet but our barns offer a cosy retreat in beautiful countryside. Why not pack a bag for a few days and have a break . We have extended our spring prices until mid June and reduced our summer prices. It would be lovely to see you for a few days […]
