Peak District, 2016 – Day 13, Cycle around Carsington water…

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Carsington Water...

Carsington Water…

Today we cycled around Carsington Water, taking a break for lunch at the Miners Arms, the only pub directly on the circuit around the reservoir.

We covered around 10 miles on the bikes and it’s a considerably easier cycle than walk!

Rather chilly BBQ in the evening followed by Wales Portugal.

Peak District, 2016 – Day 12, Stanton Moor…

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Stanton Moor and a circular walk was one of the recommendations from our visit to the Barley Mow the previous evening. The weather was bright but as it has been for the duration of our trip, quite chilly.

Nine Ladies stone circle...

Nine Ladies stone circle…

Stanton Moor is a small highland area of the Peak District and lies between Matlock and Bakewell. The moor has four Bronze Age stone circles, of which the best known is Nine Ladies.

Spread across the rest of the moor are a number of Cairns.

Stanton Moor walk...

Stanton Moor walk…

The circular walk we followed was also documented in our Ordnance Survey “Peak District Walks” book and despite this book being some thirty years old, it appears the stone circles and monuments haven’t moved during the intervening period!

Peak District, 2016 – Day 11, Kirk Ireton…

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Much of the day was spent attached to the computer catching up with various administrative tasks. Late afternoon we walked for some time around the campsite here at the Carsington Water Caravan Club location. There really is an extensive selection of woodland paths and walks – very popular with dog owners.

Barley Mow, Kirk Ireton...

Barley Mow, Kirk Ireton…

We ate early evening and after dinner walked to the Barley Mow in Kirk Ireton. The Barley Mow is another one of those wonderful, “time stood still” kind of watering holes (a bit like the Bell at Aldworth and the Fleece at Bretforton).

Nice selection...

Nice selection…

The Landlady is in her late 80s and the Landlord could be even older and one wonders just how long Tony and Mary Short can continue to run a pub and Bed & Breakfast. Still Tony and one of the locals were very friendly and helpful in recommending places to visit in the Peak District. There are many reviews of the Barley Mow on the internet and if you are ever in the area, it’s definitiely worth stopping off for a pint (no food though, possibly filled rolls at lunchtime) and chatting to the locals. The open fire burns all year round.

Peak District, 2016 – Day 10, Day of rest…

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Our choice for Sunday lunch was a roast in the Red Lion at Hognaston.

 

Red Lion lunch...

Red Lion lunch…

Situated about an hours hike from the caravan site over some pretty muddy and overgrown fields and paths, Sunday roast was the choice between Beef or Lamb – myself selecting the beef whilst Mo tucked into Lamb.

Walk to Hognaston...

Walk to Hognaston…

 

It was a great choice for lunch and a nice hike too so we booked a table for next weekend when Sue, our daughter, will be visiting us.

Peak District, 2016 – Day 9, Carsington Water circular trail…

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Carsington Water...

Carsington Water…

We were a little later than usual to exit our bed this morning after the hectic move yesterday but by early afternoon, we had our picnic ready and set off to walk around Carsington Water.

Carsington Water walk...

Carsington Water walk…

The journey took most of the afternoon and we dodged a few showers on the way round. The circular walk (which is also suitable for bikes) is very well sign-posted and the paths are compacted hard-core.

Early evening and the heavens have opened up again creating the perfect opportunity to post a couple of blogs. I’m going to stop asking the question “Does it always rain in Little England” because I think I’ve finally worked out the answer.

Just need to decide where we shall eat tonight. Mo is on the case and she’s chosen the Knockerdown Inn.

An update later…

Peak District, 2016 – Day 8, Onward to the Peak District…

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The travel time to the Peak District was just over 2 hours and 10 minutes according to the satnav and we had to cover some 80 odd miles. The route would take us directly west to Evesham and then north through Alcester before picking up the M42 all the way round to the M6 Toll.

We would stay on the M6 Toll for a couple of junctions, leaving the exit for Lichfield. Upon arriving at the Toll booth and prior to paying, we hit the “Assistance” button and told customer services we had a Caravan Club membership card. On holding the said card up to the camera, the fee was discounted to that of a regular motor car.

Carsington Water Caravan Club site...

Carsington Water Caravan Club site…

From Lichfield, we headed north to Ashbourne and then picked up the A517 Ashbourne to Belper route, finally following the directions to the Carsington Water Caravan Club Site posted on the club website.

The journey had taken 2.5 hours and we arrived just after 11:00am only to find the earliest check-in time was noon. One of the most competitive aspects of arriving at a Caravan Club site is the scramble to select a pitch. The normal protocol is to drive around the site and choose a pitch – and one can drive around several times to achieve this. It has been noted on occasions that guests have actually circuited a full three times before choosing that “perfect” pitch. But, remember, each circuit allows another van or two to enter the site behind you so that “almost perfect” pitch might not be there on circuit number 2 and 3.

Arriving at 11:00am seemed to sort out this problem and we now understand why when we arrive bang on noon, we are always at the back of a long line of caravans. We had a full hour to walk around the site and selected our top 3 pitches based upon distance from the services, how close other vans would be and most importantly, to ensure that the awning faced south / south west without too much shade.

All set up...

All set up…

This is to ensure we would enjoy the full sun for our evening BBQs. There is an issue with this last criteria – since in Little England, the sun never shines. So really the most important aspect is to make sure the van is located on higher ground – because it does rain a lot.

We are staying here in the Peak District for a couple of weeks so we have all the toys installed – including the awning and of course, the trusted Weber BBQ.

Evening BBQ...

Evening BBQ…

In the evening, we put the BBQ to good use and ate in the awning, blessed with the late evening sun and with temperatures almost reaching double figures. (Sorry, I lied. There was no sun but we kept warm in the awning with our trusted fan heater).

And of course we watched the Wales versus Belgium game.

Cotswolds, 2016 – Day 6, Rain, more rain and the National Trust…

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Today it was raining in Little England and Winter Is Here. In fact, it didn’t just rain, it p******* down. All day and maybe everyday.

That’s presumably why we have the National Trust and all its old buildings. For a small annual fee, our retirees can trudge around these relics keeping warm and dry.

Our surprise then to discover that the National Trust also owns perhaps one of the most traditional pubs in the land. The Fleece Inn at Bretforton.

The Fleece Inn, Bretforton...

The Fleece Inn, Bretforton…

 

The Fleece Inn is a half-timbered medieval farmhouse which originally sheltered a farmer and his stock.

The Inn was first licensed in 1848. Fully restored to its former glory, with witches circles and precious pewter collection, it has developed a reputation for traditional folk music, morris dancing and asparagus.

 

 

Fleece Inn Log Fire (late Jun 2016)...

Fleece Inn Log Fire (late Jun 2016)…

 

The selection of Real Ales is formidable and in the depths of Winter (well, the summer solstice was over a week ago), tis nice to see a roaring log fire.

Cotswolds, 2016 – Day 5, Travel to Broadway…

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Broadway Caravan Club Site...

Broadway Caravan Club Site…

As we continue our journey northwards towards the Peak District, we left Cirencester at just after 11:00 for the approximate one hours drive to Broadway on the north side of this AONB. We did no pre-preparation work for the departure but we have just been using the canopy awning so it’s pretty easy to take down and re-erect.

By 13:30 we had relocated and sat down to our smoked salmon sandwiches. Then the rain started. It’s now 5:30pm and it’s still raining. Does the sun ever shine in Little England?

Still, the perfect opportunity to catch up on the Ramblings.

Crown & Trumpet, Broadway...

Crown & Trumpet, Broadway…

In the evening we ate at the Crown and Trumpet. A real ale pub in Broadway with lots of character, plenty of real ale (obviously) and good food.

Costswolds, 2016 – Day 4, Three Villages walk and Eexit…

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Weather forecast was average but we were expecting a somewhat rain-free day so we decided to drive to the Cotswold Water Park and walk the “Three Villages walk”.

Cotswold Water Park...

Cotswold Water Park…

The Cotswold Water Park isn’t a fun park but an area of 40 square miles, with more than 150 lakes, set across the countryside of Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and West Oxfordshire.

This particular walk is circular and of around 9 miles starting at Somerford Keynes. The first section of the walk follows the route of the Thames path national trail towards Ashton Keynes and then north to South Cerney.

Eliot Arms, South Cerney...

Eliot Arms, South Cerney…

At South Cerney we had lunch at the Eliot Arms and then set back on the final section. Alas, after very heavy overnight rain the path became impassable under around a foot of water and with just a mile or two to complete we had to abandon and track back to South Cerney. Mo says this place should be renamed Waterworld.

At this point we used the local public transport and caught a bus to Cirencester and then back to Somerford Keynes.

In the evening, we watched Eexit, the Brexit sequel in which the England football team lost 2-1 to Iceland!

Cotswolds, 2016 – Day 2 and 3, Cirencester…

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The Cirencester Park Caravan Club site is located right next to Cirencester Park which is a large estate – the Bathurst Estate. It’s possible to walk through the park into the old town of Cirencester, about a 20 – 30 minute walk away.

Cirencester - view from the Park...

Cirencester – view from the Park…

Here’s a view from the road descending through the park towards Cirencester.