Peak District 7 November - 18 November

Monday 7 November

Up early this morning to pack up and get ready for our trip North.

Judy, Rick, Jamie, Toby and Lara roll up from the airport at about 9.30 to the great joy of Tally and Cookie.

We set off shortly after 10.30 stopping briefly at the gate to pop Twinkle back in her field and bid her a fond goodbye then we are on the road to Addlestone towards our first stop to call in on our sit booked for Christmas.

We make good time and arrive after about an hour to meet Chris and his 2 burmese, Bill and Bob.  Chris shows us around and we have a cup of tea and a chat for an hour before setting off again, this time for the 3 hour drive to the Crich on the edge of the Peak District.

Easy drive up the M1, a brief stop for toilets and chips and we arrive in Crich right on schedule at 3.45.
Pat and Jack are waiting and after introductions and a chat Pat is off to the airport and we haul in all our gear to be lugged up the stairs.  Pat has left us a lasagne so dinner is quick and easy and we can settle in a get to know our new buddy for the week.
Quite excited to learn that Pat bought the house through Escape to the Country, so will be eagerly waiting to watch the episode.

Tuesday 8 November
Wake to a cold but sunny morning and take Jack for an explore around town.  Later on we drive to nearby Alfreton to get groceries and also pick up some much needed gloves and some new jeans for Aidan.  Returned home for lunch then took Jack out for a walk up the Tors and through the local wood. Took Jack with us to the local pub the Black Swan for a drink before dinner then home in the dark, cold night for schnitzel.  Snow forecast for tonight.


Wednesday 9 November

Sadly we awaken to rain rather than snow. By mid morning it has cleared and we decide to go and explore Matlock Bath and Matlock.  Matlock Bath is like a classic British seaside town, only nowhere near the seaside.  And like most seaside towns, the dozen fish &chip shops and amusement arcades along its promenade have shut down for the winter. There is however a chocolate shop which is open so we warm up after our walk with one of their 'famous' hot chocolates before moving up the road to the nearby town of Matlock.

Have a browse around Matlock and pick up some of Iceland's luxury mince pies, voted Britain's best and do a bit of op-shopping before the cold drives us back to the car and a drive to Morrison's in Belper for our lemon chicken dinner.

After a late lunch, Aidan and I take Jack down to the Cromford canal at Amberside for a walk.


Thursday 10 November

Another rainy start to the day but by 10am it has cleared to intermittent sunshine. The plumber arrives to install the new shower and after working through some schoolwork, Aaron drops the kids and I at the canal and we set off on the 5 mile walk to Cromford Mills.  The sunshine comes and goes but the autumn colours are stunning along the waterway.

Jack gets suitably muddy and has a great time. At the Mill is a cheese shop, so we stop in for some samples while we are waiting for Aaron to arrive to pick us up, and leave with some very tasty stilton. The rain begins just before Aaron arrives and sets in for 1/2 and hour.

Return home for another late lunch and some school work for the afternoon.

11 November

Another sunny morning so we make the most of the rare sunshine to set off for the Monsal trail.
Stop along the way at Ashford on the Water to see the Sheepwash bridge where the sheep were swum across the river to wash their fleeces before shearing.

Then on to Monsal Head to walk  miles or so along part of the Monsal trail, along the viaduct and through the tunnel then through some stunning though muddy farmland before returning to the car.

Afterwards we drove back to Bakewell for a snack and of course some bakewell parts and a look around town.

Back home with our happy muddy dog.

Saturday 12 November

Rainy day. Aaron had a rugby match in Belper so we let him go alone into the rainy day.  Kids and I stayed home and did work then went for a walk in the afternoon when the rain stopped.

Sunday 13 November

Bolsover Castle

Monday 14 November

Raining early but cleared to a dry but overcast day. Midmorning we took Jack out for a walk across the fields and down to the canal.  Walked along it to just beyond the train station at Whatstandwell then back up the hill to Crich and some time getting on with school work in the afternoon.

Tuesday 15^th November

Last day here with Jack. Aaron took the kids out mid morning to Chesterfield to get a new lead for the sat nav while I packed up, washed and cleaned ready to leave.  Once they returned we took Jack out for a run up on the tors and around the local playground before saying goodbye and setting off towards our 3 night holiday let at Ridgehead farm near Buxton.   https://www.homeaway.co.uk/p8124311?
Ridgehead Farm, Barrow Moor, Longnor, Buxton, Derbys, SK17 0QY.

Quite foggy up on the moor as we were getting close and we overshot but found the farm gate on our return.

Clive was there to welcome us and we settled in happily to a cosy, warm and roomy cottage.

Wednesday 16^th November

Super cold outside this morning but at 8am the sun was still coming up beyond the moor and casting a lovely orange light.  Half and hour later the sun had gone completely but the chilly room remained.

The kids went outside to check out the barn and got to help Jo turn the horses out to the field for the day, then watched as she worked one out in the school for ½ an hour.   Sometime later the rain came in and once it had passed we got sorted and set off in the car towards Leek for a Waitrose coffee then onwards to Ashbourne for Aaron’s under 15’s rugby. Once we found the ground he dropped us in the town and we spent the afternoon browsing the op shops and ended up in the library while we waited for him to finish. 

We then drove back to Sainsbury’s at Leek for dinner supplies and home in the dark back to the cottage.

Thursday 17^th November

Rainy morning but cleared after lunch so we went for a drive through Flash, highest village in Britain and on to Buxton where we did some shopping. 

 Friday 18th November

Snow morning!

Not long after getting up this morning, it started to snow. Had quite a good fall but by the time we left, the sun was coming out.

Packed ourselves up and set off for our new house sit near Leicester. After stopping in Leicester for a coffee and some lunch, we arrived to meet Jan and Dave at about 1.30pm.

As they have chicken, ducks and turkeys as well as a cattery and kennels, there was a quite a lot to be shown during the afternoon.  At 5.30 we drove into Hinckley with Jan to see the Christmas light switch on and the fireworks display.