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Peak District Country Life

As with many rural areas of the UK the Peak District has a wealth of rural activities to keep you busy for part of your stay here.

Well Dressing

If you visit the cottage at some point between May and September you will no doubt see some roadside signs pointing the way to a village well dressing. Well dressing is an activity predominantly associated with the Peak District.

No one really knows the origins of well dressing but it is thought to be linked to the pagan custom of making a sacrifice to the gods of water to make sure a plentiful supply of fresh water for the village.

Later it was adopted by the Christian religion as a way of thanking God for providing water.
Early well dressings were simple displays of flowers and foliage but today the “Well heads” are elaborate pictorial representations of
religious, historical or literary events made from small pieces of natural materials including flower petals and moss, secured in a bed of clay.

For more information on the history of well dressing try: WellDressing.com
The Visit Peak District Gardens and Well Dressing page on their Website

For an account of the materials used in well dressings have a look at Barlow well dressing’s account of flowers commonly used in well dressing.

For a calendar of all wells in the making, dedications and displays along with venues go to the WellDressing.com website.

Buxworth well dressing always takes place during the first week of July with the well dressing being made during the week before. St James’ Church is open and serves delicious homemede cakes for visitors coming to see the two wells, one at the church and one at the pub.
In 2006 Buxworth also started a new tradition of doing a small well dressing for Christmas that is displayed at the pub.

Sheep Dog Trials

Most people enjoy watching the skill and control displayed by handler and dogs alike at sheep dog trials. Some of you will be old enough to remember One Man & His Dog on the BBC many years ago. That was enthralling enough but to see it first hand is a wonderful spectacle and to be recommended.
This video just shows a small clip of the trials at Hayfield.

Locally there are 4 main competitions during the year but as you drive round you may well see handmade signs advertising others.

• Bamford Sheep Dog Trials – Springbank Holiday Monday
• Hope Sheep Dog Trials – 27th & 28th August 2012
• Longshaw Sheep Dog Trials – the oldest trials in England – 6th 7th & 8th September 2012 September 2010
• Hayfield Sheep Dog Trials – 15th & 16th September 2012

Country Shows

Bakewell Show – 1st & 2nd August 2012
Ashbourne Show – 18th August 2012
Hope Show – 27th August 2012
Hayfield Show – 15th & 16th September 2012

Farmers Markets

Farmers Markets are a great place to buy produce and products from local farmers and producers. The markets generally only sell goods that come from a thirty mile radius and no GM produce is sold.
The three nearest ones to the cottage are:
Whaley Bridge
A year round indoor market at the Uniting Church, Buxton Road, Whaley Bridge on the second Saturday of the month from 10am to 2pm

Buxton
A year round, indoor market. Held at the Pavilion Gardens on the 1st Thursdays in the month from 8.30am to 4pm

Castleton
Another indoor, year round market at the Village Hall. Held on the first Sunday of the month from 10am to 3pm

For dates and venues throughout the Peak District follow this link

For more details of local farmers markets and WI country markets try the Peak District Foods website.