Doing the homework for our new Tom’s and Douglas’s Barn video

Our current video runs out of steam so to speak, in November. Filming in November is not the greatest time of year so we are planning to have the next one shot during the summer, possibly even in June if good weather forecasts and available ‘windows of opportunity’ in a busy video maker’s schedule allow. One has to accept that June could be as grey and miserable as November can be sunny and warm, but never mind… At least there should be leaves on the trees.

Today our task was to begin a reconnoitre of places in the immediate vicinity that are important to our guests and to us and ought to appear, however fleetingly, in the video. The idea is we take photos which we send to Simon our video man to help him plan where and what he might film on the day. We also hoped that some of John’s best could end up in our Gallery.

We decided on Carsington Water first, then Tissington, and what a pleasant time we had in spite of the skies being grey and heavy and the light hopeless for a decent photograph. We walked and explored and did some research on the side about all the things one can now do at Carsington as well as riding, walking and cycling and bird watching.

At the Water Sports Centre one can take lessons in sailing, canoeing, kayaking and wind surfing, or, with proof of  competence, hire the equipment and go out yourself. Power boating and fly fishing is also available (fly fishing only in certain areas and always from a boat, not the side). At the Sailing Club, if you have your own boat you can sail for from 60p a day, or so we understood.

After all this research and hard work we retired to the Mainsail Restaurant upstairs where we had an enormous bacon and sausage bap each as we looked over the sailing boats in the water, each bap the size of a small loaf but with a lightish,  fluffy dough which meant they went down rather embarrassingly quickly!

Finally we discovered that there is now an RSPB shop in the courtyard where one can buy nesting boxes with small cameras already installed. We have been wishing we could see what is going on in our nesting box in the garden where a pair of blue tits is raising a family behind frustratingly closed doors. But that is another story, another blog post sometime soon…

The B5056 has reopened, and other highlights!

What joy!

The B5056, our main route from Parwich to Ashbourne (it joins the A515 at Fenny Bentley a couple of miles north of Ashbourne) is now open again, after what seems like an age of us all having to straggle through Alsop on a road never meant for – and barely able to cope with – as much traffic as it has recently.

‘They’ really have done an amazing job, as far as the eye can see, and one can only hope and assume that the problems of landslip etc really have been overcome. It is wider, smoother and an absolute joy to drive along; I never imagined one would rave at the excitement of actually have two lanes instead of a single track, but, what joy!

Now the next excitement in the village (well, exciting for the vast majority of local people although there is a vocal minority who aren’t so pleased) will be the opening of the village hall. It is due to be finished very soon, slightly behind schedule after months of snow and ice hampered work over the winter, then lots of rain earlier in the spring. From the front (a bit like our barns) it doesn’t look anything special but from the back of the building, and even more strikingly, once inside, it is amazing – full of light and surprising angles, with the best possible use made of the relatively limited space.

The final excitement of the moment is a very little one but important to John and me. We have discovered, with Jeremy’s help, why we couldn’t load photos onto the website: something to do with Flash technology and nothing to do with any human incompetence to our relief and slight surprise.

From Tissington to Dovedale to the George

Well, we’ve had a very relaxing couple of days forgetting all our responsibiities and doing happy holiday things with our friends Lorna and James. On Tuesday we walked over the hills to Tissington to catch the second last day of this year’s well dressings. The displays were up to their usual high standard, and had survived the six days of hot dry weather remarkably well. Back home for a well-earned cup of tea, stopping off at the White Peak butchery for some of their wonderful Tissington Bangers for our guests.

The next day off we set (by car) for Dovedale, and had a lovely walk up to Alstonefield, following the river (Dove) all the way until we got to Milldale. The river water looked clean and fresh and very welcoming although we resisted any – quite strong – childish temptation to paddle. River-wise it was beautiful, but we didn’t spot any interesting wildlife or birds: our sum tally was bluebells,wild garlic, butterflies and ducks (and various tree blossoms we didn’t recognise)!

A warm welcome and lovely lunch at the George and then we stocked up with some delicious goodies in their Farm Shop behind the pub (I wonder if everyone realises it is there?). And now Lorna and James have gone home and normal life resumes, not that it ever seems just normal. There is usually something interesting happening.

Orchids, Tissington Well Dressing and Chatsworth Horse Trials

A busy weekend in these parts, and the sun is shining, warmly. It makes a welcome change from the recent cold and the frosty nights.

We are giving the Horse Trials a miss this year, but plan to walk over to Tissington on Tuesday with some more very good friends, Lorna and James (Lorna was our bridesmaid) who are coming to stay.

Meanwhile, John and I walked up Parwich Hill this afternoon and came across some beautiful Parwich orchids. Sadly, for some reason we can’t upload photos onto the blog at the moment, so you’ll have to see it on our website Home Page instead by clicking on the Parwich Orchid link above.

By the way, we proudly call it the Parwich Orchid but its proper name is probably rather more mundane. John has tried to look it up and it appears to be ‘the Purple Orchid’; the Latin name to us remains a mystery – hope someone can help.

Good Food Updates

We do appreciate all your comments but, particularly in this case,  about where you’ve enjoyed (or not) eating;  they can be  very helpful for future guests planning their stay.

Here are some recent comments from our guests about some of the local pubs and eateries:

• Good food (iffy service) at the Druid, great food and service at the George in Alstonefield. Also the farm shop at the George has excellent soup and snacks for those on long walks passing through the village. (April 2010)
• The village pub and shop was very accommodating. The Bluebell Inn (Tissington) was very good, the Old Gate at Brassington – very good meal, friendly staff but a bit dark and smokey. (April 2010)
• The George (Alstonefield) well worth a visit, as is Ye Olde Gate Inn (Brassington) as both allow dogs in the pub. The George’s food was the best.
• The ‘steak and stilton pie’ from the butcher’s in Tissington was fantastic. (March 2010)
• The butchers in Tissington is as great as ever and provided us with a hearty meal each evening. We ate out once at the Druid’s Inn and while it was OK it wasn’t as good as we’d hoped and been told by friends and family. In contrast the Old Gate at Brassington seems to be doing well despite the fact it remains on the market after a couple of years! (Feb 2010)
• Lovely good value meals at the Royal Oak, Hurdlow and the Coach and Horses, Fenny Bentley and beautiful walks along Dovedale and around Tissington. We recommend White Peak butchers at Tissington and the delicious cakes upstairs at the Carsington Visitors’ Centre.  (Feb 2010)

News, news and more news

Shockingly, over a week has passed since we last updated, and a lot has happened. As far as our barns are concerned the most significant is that we are to be inspected on Friday next (5th May). As well as the actual inspection, which is usually pretty rigorous, one has to be sure to have all the paperwork from inventories policies and procedures – Fire, Risk Assessment, Access etc etc.

More cheerfully, the St. George’s Day parade and service last weekend (followed by the church fete on the village green) was a splendid and moving village occasion and made one feel very proud and privileged to be part of the Parwich community.

We had staying with us our friends Morag and Joe from Cumbria, who were most impressed with everything, envious of all the community involvement and who thoroughly enjoyed the day. Similarly our friends Mary and Piers, who stayed with us this weekend, very much entered into the spirit of things, loving the May Day concert in the church (will the organ ever sound the same again?!) and the very impressive Skills Day on Monday. What a wealth of talent (sometimes unsuspected) lies in the village…

Personally I passed a significant milestone, managing over the weekend a walk to Tissington on Sunday and to Brassington on Monday, my first real ventures on rough ground since breaking my ankle on the snows of the Alps at Christmas! Quite a personal triumph although it does mean I have no excuses left!

More Things to Do

There is so much to do locally, it can be bewildering knowing where to start. When you are actually staying here you will find access to pretty well all the information you might need already loaded onto the Sony netbook in your barn.

Before you are here perhaps the first bit of advice is to look at all the activities on our Out and About page. There is plenty of information there, with links to pretty well most activities available locally, whether walks, water sports, climbing – you can even hang glide if you really want to.

Then of course there are all the stately homes locally – Chatsworth, Haddon, Kedleston, Sudbury and not much further afield, Lyme Park and Hardwick Hall. Theatres too… our very favourite being Buxton Opera House which is an easy half hur’s drive from here.

If you are interested in cooking here are plenty of excellent farm shops, butchers and delicatessens, all selling local food; if you’d rather eat what someone else has cooked there are wonderful pubs and restaurants in the area, some even within walking distance of here. If shopping is your thing there are book shops and antique shops galore, not to mention some pretty classy dress shops…

And to end on the self-indulgence theme, there are several places locally where one can book a pampering session or two (for the men as well as the ladies if that appeals).

Two-Times-Ten (plus one) Top Tips

How to enjoy a carbon-free, stress-free holiday in our two holiday cottages with everything you need to hand.

All in all, the outlook is pretty good – the list is growing all the time – there are 20+ top tips and no doubt more will spring to mind as we set our sights greenward.

You pretty well have to arrive here by car. The nearest mainline train station is 20 miles away; we have had guests travel by train and book a taxi for the final leg. You can technically do the Derby/Ashbourne/Parwich journey by bus, but – John did it once and it took him a very very very long time.

However, once here you all is well. You can live very happily here, in the Derbyshire Peak District, without getting into your car at all, all week.

1. You will find in each barn all the basic necessities – coffee, tea, dishwasher tablets, loo paper etc; we also always leave you a loaf of fresh bread, 6 new laid eggs, a pint of milk and a pack of butter.
2. The Sycamore village pub shop 01335 390 212 sells bread, milk, fruit and veg, frozen meals and pretty well all the basics.
3. Or you can do a pre-order from Waitrose www.waitrosedeliver.com  who will deliver here (DE6 1QB) free of charge if you spend over £50. If you place an order to arrive early Friday afternoon we will put it all away for you in your barn before you arrive – but please warn us in advance!
4. The White Peak Butchery in Tissington 01335 390 300 (next door village, easy 40 minute walk over the hills) is a quite excellent butcher. He sells home made pies etc as well as truly delicious bacon, sausages and meat.
5. The Gibsons 01335 310 250 deliver milk, cream, yogurt and ice cream on Mon, Wed, and Friday. Ring them to arrange it if you would like milk delivered.
6. Peak District Fine Foods 01332 883 616/07946 415 20 www.peakdistrictfinefooods.co.uk will deliver pretty well anything if ordered in advance.
7. Our next door neighbour, Val Kirkham, 01335 390 458 runs a catering service and will prepare and deliver meals for two (even serve them, if you’re willing to pay the extra!). Contact her direct for current information and prices. www.topnoshcaterers.com
8. Newspapers can be ordered through us in advance to be delivered at your door in time for a civilised breakfast.
9. The Sycamore, our local – about 5-7 minutes’ stroll from here – is a traditional village pub, very friendly and with no pretentions. It is run by Janet Gosling, with Steve; they serve generous and reasonably priced bar meals and snacks.  Tel.01335 390 212
10. We have just put a slow cooker in each barn so that with the minimum of effort and electricity you can return from that lovely walk to be greeted by the smell of whatever delicious casserole you put in to cook slowly that morning.
11. There is lots to see without moving far from the village. In each barn we have a Parwich Walks booklet which guides you round the village on a series of walks taking in the different interesting landmarks.
12. The bus stop and current timetable is opposite the village green and the church. Be warned – it takes a little planning – there are only a few a day, mostly into Ashbourne, and none on Sundays or Bank Holidays.
13. We can provide a secure place to lock up your bikes. We can even lend a pair of fairly ordinary but hopefully OK bicycles (provide your own hard hat…).
14. The High Peak and Tissington Trails are both easily accessed on foot from here.
15. The Coach House tea rooms at Tissington 01335 350501 serves very nice light lunches, tea and snacks. You could stop and buy a (light) plant or two at the Tissington Nursery, too, while you were there, and wonderful local meat, sausages and home made pies from the White Peak Butchery. (Better bring a rucksack for this trip.)
16. There is a lovely pub called The Gate in Brassington which is 1 hour’s walk over the hills (01629 540 448). One can walk there and back for a delicious lunch (but not on Monday or Tuesday) or – in the light summer evenings – supper.
17. A somewhat more energetic walk with take you to Dovedale – you could have a meal or snack at the Isaac Walton, or walk back up along the River Dove to Alstonefield where the George awaits thirsty hungry walkers. The food there improves all the time!
18. Further afield there are wonderful walks in every direction, right from the door – several with convenient pubs en route for anyone happy for a round trip of a minimum of six to eight miles.
19. There are two floodlit tennis courts 3 minutes’ walk away from here. We can lend you rackets and balls.
20. We also have free broadband wi-fi and the use of a land line so if you must keep in touch with work or family responsibilities you can do so without moving from the peace and comfort of your barn. Most people would prefer to leave all thought of the outside world behind but unfortunately one does not always have the choice of that luxury.
21. Ashbourne Taxis 01335 345 198: If you want to go further afield, without using your own car you could always cheat slightly and order a taxi. They are well used to coming here!