Romantic cottages for two in the Peak District
Romantic cottages for two in the Peak District
“The Peak District Environmental Quality Mark (EQM) is a pioneering award for businesses that contribute to the conservation and enhancement of the Peak District National Park”…and “only businesses that can demonstrate high standards of environmental management…can qualify for the award”!
So, as you can imagine, we were very delighted to hear that we have been successful. It certainly was a very rigorous procedure, and the most recent group of us were the first to pilot the new online application form. With all the links and ready access to relevant information online it apparently was more demanding than the old paper application but it is easy to claim that!
With the process being new we were officially testing the new version and there were some interesting snags thrown up which all appeared to be quickly resolved. Now the next step is the EQM Awards evening with dinner at Haddon Hall! Rather typically this comes the evening of the day (Thursday 16th) next week that the Friends of the DRCS are hosting a charity lunch for 120 in the new village hall at Over Haddon! We’ll be glad of what I am sure will be a lovely evening.
An eventful few days in the bird world, with one bit of bad bird news…
Our three little blue tit chicks tried to leave their nest ( i.e. hole in the wall) yesterday. But after all the parents’ loving attention and sheer hard work continuously feeding them two of the three didn’t make it, but fell to the ground, unable to fly and I am not telling tales but you may be able to guess what happened.
We were so upset, but then had to remind ourselves that that is the way of nature, and it was live worms and grubs had been fed to the baby birds, and so on… But we still felt pretty awful. However, the third baby, obviously the strongest, managed to fly to the nearby red oak and of course now is unrecognisable from all the other blue tit chicks chirruping away in all directions.
This evening at about six the bird chatter coming from our plum tree next to the house was quite amazing as all the little fledglings – blue tits and goldfinches, all reminded their parents that they might have left the nest, but they still needed feeding, and fast! From this angle the baby goldfinch in the photo which is not as clear as most of John’s, looks smaller than her very fluffed up and still quite skittery baby. Where the goldfinches were all nesting we have no idea, but obviously almost under our noses somewhere.
And finally, to a totally lovely and happy bit of human news: we are delighted to have another honeymoon couple staying, this time in Tom’s Barn. In fact they are ‘old’ friends (if pretty young!) so it is especially lovely for us and we are enjoying their flowers that they have left outside for us all to enjoy. Their happiness is infectious, and the huge slice of quite delicious wedding cake they brought up with them made a delightful if naughty treat at supper time.
I had been intending to do a post about food (!) but just had to share our bird news and show you these pictures.
Completely spurning our all-mod-cons-wooden-nesting-box-with-camera, the parents selected instead a hole in the stone wall of the shed opposite the house. It’s obviously quite a spacious hole and very cosy but the only camera is John’s taking photos from
outside rather than in the heart of their little home. 
A few days ago we heard lots of little cheeps coming from the wall, and now John has managed to capture these three extremely demanding and ravenous babies, being fed on constant demand by both parents who must be exhausted with the non-stop flying backwards and forward with tasty morsels to stuff down the babies’ beaks to keep them even slightly satisfied.
They should be leaving the nest quite soon – we’ll have to make sure Boots is not around to make smart work of any crash landings
Our nephew, Tim Cragg, whom we have mentioned before, has just emailed to remind us that tonight at 9 o’clock on BBC 2 we have a chance to see a documentary (I presume) about Wentworth Woodhouse, Britain’s biggest stately home, once described as ‘the mansion of mystery and malice’.
I thought it might be worth mentioning here. We shall certainly watch it, although whether the mysteries will be solved Tim does not say (some years ago a previous owner burnt all the family papers, obviously to hide some secret he did not want revealed, but what??!).
Tim is the cameraman, Dan Cruikshank the presenter…
As the summer season approaches, and more prosaically, probably because half term and the next Bank Holiday weekend is coming up, there seems to be a lot of information about what’s on, so I will try to distill some of it, with links so you can find out more.
The Monsal Trail: There is exciting news abut the new stretch of the the Monsal Trail from Bakewell to Millers Dale which was due to be officially opened today by the Duke of Devonshire. Previously one hadn’t been able to go through the tunnels which have now been repaired. All our local trails are great for walkers, cyclists and people on horseback – and wheelchairs and mobility scooters; they are well maintained, reasonably level and completely free from cars; the Monsal Trail goes through spectacularly beautiful country and is well worth a trip – preferably on a weekday, possibly, as you may not be the only people there, particularly at the weekend…
There are various access points en route, but the first link we give is for the one nearest Bakewell, Hassop Sation, where one can park at the Hassop Bookshop and cafe, enjoy pleasant food, buy books and hire bikes, including the electric variety. (We’ve tried the cafe and the bookshop, not the bikes!) However, you could also start from Monsal Head – some pleasant decisions to be made!
Chatsworth: There is lots planned at Chatsworth this summer – best to look at this link which will tell you much more than I can. Do be prepared for the fact that Chatsworth House itself is shrouded in scaffolding so you don’t at present get that dramatic first view we all love so well, of thr house glinting in the sunshine as you descend through the park. If you’re interested in art you may like to see their first exhibition in their New Gallery (it opens May 27th) rather enticingly entitled ‘Britain’s Most Eligible Batchelor’ – the 6th Duke who sadly is no longer available. The 2011 Chatsworth Country Fair is on Friday 2nd to Sunday 4th September.
Sally Mosley Walks: If you rather like the idea of a guided walk, taken in a very relaxed, pleasant way by someone who knows and loves the area, it might be worth looking at this link for her forthcoming walks and contacting Sally. She will also arrange a personal walk exactly to suit your requirements if you ask her, which at least one guest recently has appreciated enormously.
The Heights of Abraham/cable cars: This is something that rather shamefully over the years we have never done but we happily pass on some info and yet another link, feeling we really must try the cable cars ourselves – manwhile we await some first hand reports from guests! Once up at the top there seems to be a lot to do, before you come down to earth again!
For the first time since February last year (when we withdrew Tom’s Barn from availability for ten days while it was completely redecorated) and – oh yes – another sudden illness cancellation in March lst year (when we moved in for a break oursleves!) Tom’s Barn lies empty!! It doesn’t feel right, and of course for the guests who had been looking forward to their week booked a year ago it is very disappointing and sad that they had to cancel.
With due warning we can pretty well guarantee that we’ll be able to relet a spell , but with only one day’s warning we weren’t so lucky. Nobody took up the offer of a week at slightly under half price although we have had a number of frustrated responses from people who would have loved to had not such a thing intervened…so now we are offering a midweek break this Monday 23rd to Friday 27th at £225 (it simply isn’t worth our while letting it for less).
If we are lucky enough to re-let the spell, we will credit the guests-that-cancelled with it, towards their next holiday here. We are able to do that as they have already paid us for it, and they fortunately had taken out insurance. We certainly don’t want to benefit by their misfortune so it would be lovely to be able to let them benefit in a little way themselves. However, at this stage it doesn’t look very promising.
Tom’s Barn was booked solid until the end of October and now – all of a sudden – we have a whole week free, half price, TOMORROW Friday 20th to Fri 27th May 2011!
As long as you have no pressing engagements and can get together your walking boots and some comfy clothes you won’t need to worry about anything much else; you’ll find all you need foodwise in Tom’s Barn to keep you going at least the first night and morning, then you could stock up in the village shop or make a trip to Tissington for some unbeatable meat, then Ashbourne or one of the Farmers’ Markets or the Chatsworth Farm shop to buy some more delicious treats and you could have the holiday of your lifetime… (and they say the weather is warming up, too).
We feel very sad for the poor couple who have had to cancel. They had been looking forward to their break for nearly a year now, but their dog is so suddenly ill that they can’t travel with him, or leave him behind. If we are lucky enough to find someone sufficiently organised to jump at this great opportunity we will be delighted, and we’ll put the £295 towards their next booking here, when their dog is better.
Before I get too carried away, some ‘terms and conditions’ if anyone is able to jump in:
Just a few snippets to update you on Parwich news. Everywhere is looking very lush and green after the rain, and a large tree has fallen across our back lane, Monsdale Lane it is called officially but our children always used to jokingly call it our back drive when they were younger.
I have already metioned that Janet Gosling and Steve in the pub have had a daughter Rosie, who is all of two weeks now. An interesting meeting is due to take place next week. One of our local farmers is proposing to put up some wind turbines on Parwich Hill and everyone is invited to the village hall on the 17th to learn more about the proposal.
We have had a team of tennis players from Kenya staying briefly in the village with Rosey and Stuart Chambers before going on to play against various schools in England. John was asked to photograph them yesterday; as they practised on our soaking wet village courts the puddles and umbrellas did little to reflect the drought we have enjoyed for the past month!
Also there was Tom Chambers (Strictly Come Dancing winner of two years ago, previously of Holby City, Waterloo Road, White Christmas and much else besides) so we were able to catch up on his news. In the autumn he is to star in Top Hat which will be touring the large theatres in the provinces and we have no doubt – we are justly proudly of Tom in Parwich – will end up in the West End. He has always loved tap dancing so this should be a treat for all. You can also watch a video of an interview he had (I think with the BBC) in Norwich Tom Chambers’ video.
It is Chatsworth Horse Trials this coming weekend. The DRCS (Derwent Rural Counselling Service) the charity in Bakewell that I used to manage and which I am still very involved with as a ‘director’ and member of the fundraising team has been nominated Chatsworth’s ‘charity of choice’ for their Trials this year, which is wonderful. DRCS will have a stand, and anyone passing do please stop to say hello! Let’s hope the weather is kind this year.
While on the subject of horses, I’ll insert a lovely peaceful Sunday afternoon Parwich horsey picture John has just taken. And that pretty well brings us up to date with the Parwich news that I can think of.
Rather late in the day with my report I’m afraid – I have been quite distracted from the desk and blog by all the fun activities and excitement surrounding the royal wedding, plus we have had the pleasure of friends staying (arranged long before we knew anything about the said wedding!).
The Orchard Farm sense of romance and excitement started on Wednesday when two of our guests announced their enagement! This is always a very special occasion, this time made even more or so with Prince William and Catherine Middleton’s wedding already so much in everyone’s minds.
We celebrated the Royak Wedding two days later very happily here in Parwich, in a lovely extended family atmosphere. The wedding service and all the preamble was shown on the big screen in our new hall, with everyone sitting round at tables and little girls in wedding dresses flitting by at intervals.
The barbecue lunch was held at the British Legion which most conveniently backs onto the hall. Then Lou Matthews judged the brides and Mrs Rosemary Shields gave out souvenir mugs to all the children in the parish, the wedding cake was cut and slices of cake and sherry enjoyed by all too old to be given a mug! The sun shone and everyone milled around outside and in.
John took masses of photos, some of which he hopes to put in our photo gallery but meanwhile the best bet is to link in to the Parwich website where one can read a fuller description of the day, illustrated with John’s photos.
The Royal wedding will soon be upon us – let’s hope the wonderful weather continues for the day and that after the wedding the press displays great restraint and allows the young couple some peace and privacy.
Meanwhile, here in Parwich the day is being celebrated in style, although, Friday being changeover day it will be business as usual for us all here at Orchard Farm. We will do our best though! We will have our television on permanently and guests leaving and arriving on Friday are most welcome to arrive as early as they like/leave as late and watch the celebrations on our relatively small TV screen. Poor Janet and Georgie will be busy cleaning most of the day but no doubt they will have their respective tellies on upstairs and down in the two barns so won’t miss all the action and as always we’ll keep them and any guests well plied with coffee and cakes.
Our guests however may be more attracted by what the village can offer, and to see the wedding on a big screen. I have checked with the organisers who say they would be delighted to welcome any of our guests to join in as much as possible (although they would need to know in advance about barbecue numbers…).
I reproduce the programme below, courtesy of the village blog.
9.30am – Memorial Hall opens
11am – Royal Wedding on the big screen in the Memorial Hall
Refreshments served
12.45pm – Judging of Children’s Fancy Dress Competition
1pm – BBQ at Parwich Legion
2.30pm – Wedding Cake & Sherry
Evening Entertainment at Parwich Legion with Chris Houlihan
9pm – Fireworks on the hill
And then we all have another Bank Holiday weekend!
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 […]
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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 […]
