Your home from home in the Peak District
Jill W
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Posts by Jill W
Visiting Eyam Plague Village
03 weeks ago
Here is my next Things to do blog post about things to do in the High Peak area of the Peak District. Strictly speaking Eyam is not officially in the High Peak but it is only about a 25 minute drive from the cottage so I thought I would include it!
Organising a visit to Eyam Plague Village & Eyam Hall
(pronounced eeym)
Location
Eyam, Hope Valley, Peak District S32 5QW
Eyam Village
On the tourist trail but I still think it is worth visiting if only to marvel at the unique and selfless part the villagers played in the Great Plague of 1665.
Eyam is a pretty village north east of Buxton in the heart of the Peak District National Park. The village became famous as the ‘plague village’ when the villagers voluntarily quarantined themselves after the bubonic plague was introduced there in a flea-infested bundle of cloth delivered from London to the village tailor. Inside the parish church there is a small exhibition about the Plague.
The village has lots of old historical buildings, many of which have plaques outside giving details of their history and the part their inhabitants played during the plague outbreak. The village also has several shops and tea rooms, a pub and a striking Youth Hostel set on the hillside overlooking the village.
Above the village you will find Eyam Moor, a lovely place for walking, with great views across the Derwent valley.
Eyam Hall
The hall can be found just off the main street. It is a beautifully unspoilt example of a Jacobean manor house with a traditional English walled garden that miraculously was untouched by 18th century landscapers and so retains its 17th century charm. Now following recent restoration work visitors can wander round the knot garden, the avenue of espaliered apple trees, the nuttery, the kitchen garden, the bowling green and the lawn.
The Hall is only open to the public on a few days a year so check details before you travel.
The hall farm buildings have been converted into a working craft centre with a shop and a licensed restaurant, open throughout the year Tuesday to Sunday.
More Information
Eyam Plague Village website – www.eyamplaguevillage.co.uk
Buxton Tourist Information Centre – Tel: 01298 25106
Eyam Hall – www.eyamhall.co.uk
e-mail – info@eyamhall.co.uk
Tel: 01433 631 976
Getting There
By Car
Eyam lies on the B6521 off the A623 just west of Stoney Middleton that runs between Baslow and Peak Forest.
For Sat Nav use – S32 5QW
By Public Transport
Bus route 65 Meadowhall Sheffield to Buxton
Bus route 66 Chesterfield to Buxton
www.derbysbus.info/times/index.htm
If you have been to Eyam and can share some more information or have any questions please post at the bottom of the page.
Many thanks for stopping by to read my blog.
My Peak District Resolutions
04 months ago
by Jill W
in Peak District
New Years resolutions have never really been my thing. I think that if something needs changing in your life then you should just get on and change it there and then rather than waiting for the 1st of January.
Anyway I have had a chat on Twitter this week with @terrybnd from @PeakDistrictTV about how he loves what he does which is essentially sharing his passion for film making and wild places with anyone who is interested.
That got me thinking about the Peak District and how much we love it there and how little time we actually get to enjoy it.
We visit the cottage quite a few times in the year but inevitably spend our time doing maintenance jobs round the house and tidying up in the garden.
So my mid January Peak District resolution is to get out and enjoy the time we have in the Peak District more this year. With the fantastic location of the cottage, we are stupid not to really.
There is so much I would like to do but here are the first few things that I would like to cross off my Peak District resolution list:
- Doing a great circular walk around Edale & Castleton
- Going swimming in Hathersage open air swimming pool followed by lunch at the Outside shop cafe including one of their delicious cakes!
- Visiting one of the local sheepdog trials
- Spending a few hours at Go Ape in Buxton on their tree top adventure
- Watching the sun set from the top of Eccles Pike
- Cycling along the Tissington and High Peak Trails
- Going clay shooting at the Boar shooting ground near Glossop
- Spending an evening at the old fashioned Rex Cinema in Marple
- Visiting the David Mellor design centre – no idea what it will be like but the building has always intrigued me
- Doing a circular walk around Hartington and call in at The Old Cheese Shop and Youth Hostel for tea and cake.
- Spending an afternoon enjoying a bit of motor sport at Buxton Raceway – having spent my teenage years going to Speedway I still have a soft spot for a dirt track and engines!
- Driving over to Haddon Hall to enjoy the gardens and more delicious tea and cake (can you see a theme emerging)
- Enjoy a night of drama, comedy or music at Buxton Opera House – timing our visits to coincide with what we want to see will be the hardest part
- Taking a picnic down to Bugsworth basin in the summer and watching the boats and people coming and going.
Woah – that was a much longer off the cuff list than I anticipated!
Not wanting to get too gloomy, but 2011 was an unusual year for us in that a relatively large number of people in our immediate group of family and close friends were diagnosed with life limiting illnesses or died and that does make you stop and take stock.
We hear so many great stories from guests who have enjoyed doing lots of lovey things out and about in the Peak District and, having spent so many years up to our knees in old plaster and insulation renovating the house and never really having had chance to live in the house, I think now we should be enjoying our time at the cottage.
To start the ball rolling we have booked a long weekend in the cottage at the beginning of March, and we are going to be joined by some very good friends which means we will make the time to get out on the hills and sample a few more local tea shops too!
Many thanks for taking the time to stop by and read my blog.
Do get in touch and let me know what would be on your Peak District resolution list.
Until next time
Kind Regards
Jill
The Trails of the Peak District
04 months ago
To listen to a podcast of this blog just go to the Blog Audio
Across the Peak District there are a number of trails made from old railway lines that now provide great walking and cycling for all abilities in a quiet traffic free environment.
Watch this video to get a real taste of the scenery and atmosphere of these old thoroughfares.
Peak Forrest Tramway Trail
(don’t be fooled by the name there is no forest!)
1.6 miles from Bugsworth Basin to Charley Lane (Just outside Chapel en-le-Frith). Although this can be elongated by incorporating the towpath of the Peek Forest canal to go to Whaley Bridge or further through Furness Vale, New Mills and Marple.
The trail in isolation makes a nice short walk but extended is a good walk or an easy cycle.
The Peak Forest Tramway was one of the earliest mineral railways in Britain to link with an inland waterways system and to use iron rails.
High Peak Trail
15 miles of trail running from Middleton Top Visitor Centre to Parsley Hay – joining up with the Tissington trail.
National Cycle Network route number: 54
Download the High Peak trail leaflet for more information.
High Peak and Tissington trails leaflet
Tissington Trail
(N.B. this is a new website with not much info!)
13 miles of trail running from Ashbourne to Parsley Hay
Download the Tissington trail leaflet for more information.
High Peak and Tissington trails leaflet
Longdendale Trail
6.5 miles of trail running from Hadfield on the edge of Glossop to the Woodhead Tunnel, in the Upper Valley. It is a very picturesque valley with five reservoirs surrounded by high moorland, but there is a hum of road noise from the A628.
Sett Valley Trail
2.5 miles of train running from Hayfield to New Mills
Because it is so short it is better for a walk rather than a cycle. However if you are coming from New Mills is is a good route to take from New Mills station out to Kinder Scout for some more serious walking or cycling.
Here is a nice account of a family walk along the trail
Monsal Trail
8.5 miles of quiet trail running between Buxton and Bakewell
Download the Monsal Trail leaflet for more information.
Peak District Monsal Trail Leaflet
Don’t forget to call in and see the nice guys at Hassop Station for all sorts of lovely things including books, gift and tasty treats – oh and bike hire.
Blog Audio
Do let me know if you have tried any of these by leaving a comment at the bottom of this page
Thanks for stopping by to read my blog
Until next time
Jill
Peak District Cottage Christmas
0To listen to a podcast of this blog post just go to the Blog Audio
Sorry but I could not resist sharing with you some stunning new photos that have just been taken in the cottage by the marvelous Meg from Mill & Peg Photography based here in the High Peak.
Meg does gorgeous portrait and wedding photography but has more recently been turning her talents to interiors and as you can see she is pretty darn good at that too!
I will be updating the website soon with lots more of Meg’s wonderful pictures showing the rest of the cottage but I just wanted to share these festive snaps with you while everyone is getting in the Christmas mood and show you our take on a Peak District cottage Christmas.
We have had feedback from guests in the past saying that the photographs on the website do not do the cottage justice. I don’t think this is going to be the case anymore!
Hopefully you will agree these pictures do make it look cosy, homely and very inviting. If you have a look at our Visitors Book you will see that this is what our guests say the cottage is really like.
Blog Audio
A Peak District Cottage Christmas
(click on a photo to open the slideshow)
Halloween Comes to the Peak District
06 months ago
Peak District Halloween Kitsch
OK so I have to admit that you don’t normally find this kind of thing included in tourist information about the Peak District. However, if you love over the top kitsch Halloween decorations (is there any other kind?), you absolutely have to make a visit to The Hanging Gate pub just outside Chapel-en-le-Frith.
Run by the larger than life Mark Thomas, the pub pulls out all the stops when it comes to decorating for these special events each year. Mark and the staff spend days putting up the decorations for each event.
It has now become a tradition at the pub gaining them notoriety in the local area and also starting to attract an annual following of customers traveling from far and wide to experience the unique atmosphere and decorations.
The photographs on the pub website don’t quite do it justice, it really has to be seen to be believed!
Oh I should also mention that the food is pretty good too. Big portions at reasonable prices. You will need to book a table though, especially at peak times.
If you are in the area in December too – they pull out all the stops for Christmas using over 1,700 lengths of garland, 3,500 baubles and 13,440 lights!
More Information
Location
The Hanging Gate – Even the name has a hint of Halloween about it!
Manchester Road, Chapel-en-le-Frith, SK23 9UH
Website – http://www.hanginggate-chapel.co.uk/index.shtml
Tel: 01298 812776
Getting There
By Car
The Hanging Gate is just to the south of Chapel-en-le-Frith on the B5470 Manchester Road that runs between Chapel-en-le-Frith and Whaley Bridge. Travelling South you will find it on the left just after the left turning to Combs. Going north look out for it on the right just after you pass the entrance for Chapel Golf club on your right.
By Public Transport
Bus route 199
http://www.derbysbus.info/times/index.htm
The Hanging Gate is about a 25 minute walk from Chapel en le Frith train station
http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/en/s/planjourney/query
