Autumn days

This lovely lady was sunning her bones on the holiday cottage terrace this morning and looked such a happy picture that I nipped off to get my camera. Standing around photographing her was clearly very suspicious behaviour that required her to get up and investigate. A polite woof alerted her people, so then we had a jolly chat about the important topic of unmissable walkies destinations in the Churnet Valley  - the list is long!

Holiday cottage in the pink

The terrace garden goes through different colour phases throughout the season. It is  in a pink phase right now, with a strong splash of bright magenta from one rose and a contrasting white from another.

I am glad we took the hebe down and opened up the view down the valley. A hyacinth is now in its place, adding more pink to the mix. You would almost think we'd planned it!

Holiday Cottage insights

There's never a dull moment running a holiday cottage! This week we've had to replace the rug in the sitting room. So we've invested in a bigger and better one. Probably a factor of making that purchase decision when there was snow all around!

I think we'll leave this week's guests in peace and put the new rug down tomorrow.

New rug for Barks holiday cottage

Snowy round here - proper Peak District

Feb 2018 - we were checking the road conditions

We've had a lot of snowy days this winter. The Churnet Valley has been looking spectacular, particularly from the vantage point of our hill top.

This morning I wasn't sure about getting off our hill as it is 16% descent in all directions! We have a 4x4 but it is rubbish at this sort surface - just a heavy old car that slides towards the ditch given half a chance. Anyway, we made it after a bit of effort throwing grit around. My son was only and hour or so late for school. Oh well.

2018 bookings have opened

High Season 2017 is now over, it has been very busy! Some very organised people have already booked their repeat visit to Barks Holiday Cottage for 2018. They booked before they left, which is the sort of endorsement that speaks volumes.

We have just published our prices for next year. Please check our availability page for rates for 2018 and get in touch if you would like to check any facts about the cottage or surrounding area

Barks Holiday Cottage - 2018 bookings have started.

Pickle the blogger dog

We live and work in the heart of the Churnet Valley. Such a wonderful area, full of natural landscapes and heritage features. Over the last few years £3m has been invested in enhancing and restoring the area, mostly due to Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and a partnership group winning a Heritage Lottery Fund grant. One of the projects is brilliant for visitors, as well as being fascinating for locals - the Churnet Valley Guide. I would encourage guests to take a peek.

Anyway, shh, don't tell anyone, but... Pickle, our 10 year old terrier,  has set up an account and has written her first blog post. Personally, I think she has skills. See what you think. Here's her piece: Too Much Mud

Pickle the blogger dog! Read her blog on http://churnet-valley.guide

Summer holidays 2016

We have just had an enthusiastic enquiry from a lovely lady wanting a date in August and it is so sad to have to turn someone down when we have no availability that week. Aagh, we have the weeks either side ...

This is the situation as of today.  Please check the availability page or contact us on barks@btconnect.com for the latest for school summer holidays 2016.

Alton Towers beckons, the Peak District is near and the Churnet Valley is on the doorstep...

Staffordshire Way in Churnet Valley

Our holiday cottage is in the Churnet Valley - an area of natural beauty that is starting to become better known. Recently I was commissioned to re-write the guide to the Staffordshire Way. So I decided to start with the sections near to home. It has been a lovely piece of work that will continue as budgets allow during the year.

Today, my son was playing cricket in the north of the county so I set off at the beginning of the Staffordshire Way at Mow Cop. Armed with my map, a hat and scarf and a bottle of water my two dogs and I left the little folly castle and headed up the Gritstone Way / Staffordshire Way. Well we thought we did...

I am actually very proficient with a map but was lured the wrong direction without consulting it by the style of track and the various way markers. Half an hour later, I was back to the point where I went wrong and off we went again. Another 15 minutes later I was back studying the map at that same point and finally got going along the right track.

It really is a disgrace that such an important walking route is badly and in some cases misleadingly marked. So far my commissions have focussed on the best bit of the Staffordshire Way around us in the Churnet Valley but I shall have to make a strong case to the 'powers that be' that the beginning of the walk needs to be sorted out. I'll make that call tomorrow...

Meanwhile, it is lovely weather for walking and our cottage is well placed for walkers as well as being handy for Alton Towers. Please do check availability and enjoy a walking break from Barks self-catering holiday cottage - pets welcome.

Call 01538 703436 or email barks@btconnect.com
Check availability

Last minute Spring holiday cottage, Peak District and Churnet Valley

We have a change over at the holiday cottage tomorrow and then the rest of April currently is available.

Barks Holiday Cottage is perfect for walking in the Churnet Valley and the Peak District and is pet friendly.

The spa at Alton Towers is excellent and only a few minutes away. The local towns of Cheadle, Ashbourne and Leek have much to offer - each is different. Antiques, heritage, dining and snacking, shopping...

Please enquire: barks@btconnect.com or call 01538 703436
Check latest availability and book online

2015 holiday cottage near Alton Towers

We took another holiday cottage booking today for summer 2015 for a family planning their family self catering holiday near Alton Towers in the Staffordshire Peak District.

Summer holiday cottage availability as at 6th Feb 2015

For all 2015 self-catering accommodation enquiries please email barks@btconnect.com or call 01538 703436. We take online bookings if you prefer to just grab your preferred week.

Happy New Year

Barks Holiday Cottage near Alton Towers

Sunny days in Peak District holiday cottage

I want to put everything on my my list of chores on hold for a sunny day like today. Holiday cottage guests are out walking their dog, enjoying our Peak District countryside. Clever last minute self catering holiday cottage weekend booking! I think they are headed to Trentham Gardens and Chatsworth House before they leave tomorrow. Unfortunately I need to sort out everything for our next holiday cottage change over - but I did just wander out in the garden and snap this bumble bee in the crocuses. He's busy, so I suppose I'd better get busy too!

Alton Towers opens on Saturday 22nd March - we have a two night weekend holiday cottage break available.

Call 01538 703436 or email Barks@btconnect.com for latest availability - or book online.

Alton Towers Fireworks Finale

Alton Towers 2013

Loved the Alton Towers fireworks spectacular again this year.  We had a superb clear night, if chilly.

Now that Alton Towers has closed for the season our bookings are for people wanting a country weekend with friends, maybe to walk their dog in the lovely Churnet Valley and nearby Peak District National Park and come back to relax in front of the open log fire.

'Ola' sang the holiday cottage guests to Pickle

We have had a lovely Spanish family staying in the holiday cottage.  They stayed for two weeks, the first of which rained daily.  I really wanted them to see the Churnet Valley in all its summer glory so thankfully the second week of their stay was glorious and one sunny day the children walked onto the ridge and flew their kites.  Three kites fluttering high in the clear blue sky was a magical sight.

My Spanish is hopeless.  I made a joke that I only know how to order two beers and it turns out that every time I've been to a Spanish bar I have been ordering 'two heads'. Oh dear!  Our guests, of course, had a much more impressive command of English. The children played with our son and another child from the village and they just get on with it.  The language of football is international and my son learned a few more vital words, like goal and strawberries.  Even Pickle seemed confident in Spanish, responding with a wag of her little tail when the children sang out, 'Ola Pickle'.

I have been sent some gorgeous pictures of their stay in the UK.  They visited Leek and Ashbourne, Trentham Gardens, Mow Cop, Peak District villages .... but they didn't bother with Alton Towers because there is so much to do and see around here.  Love it!

Mrs Duck says it's spring at the holiday cottage

Mrs Duck celebrated spring by laying her first egg of the year.  The first of many I hope.  My son sells them to the holiday cottage guests for 30p per egg - they are great for baking but I prefer our hen's eggs for my boiled egg breakfast.

Mr Duck is also affected by the arrival of spring, feeling a greater need to chase the hens off 'his' patch.  He is very aggressive with them.  Stewart, the cockerel, is no match for Mr Duck's temper.

stunning video of Staffordshire Peak District

Here's the proof of how lovely it is around here!  Expertly captured by @terrybnd (as found on Twitter).  I think Terry is better at photography than selecting music . . .Enjoy.

Gorgeous autumn walking

These early autumn mornings should be savoured. They are nourishment for the soul.
The slight crispness in the air, the dew and light mists, and a few heather plants on the moorland make an early walk very uplifting.
A quick pause on the ridge just to share it with you. Good morning everyone!

Comments from our holiday cottage guests

A huge thank you to all our self catering guests for their lovely comments on our Facebook page.

Angela and her family have just stayed in the cottage for a full week and were kind enough to drop us a line onto the  Facebook wall.  I am always pleased that people have enjoyed the area, having done more than just visit Alton Towers.

Self catering availability in this area

Now that Barks Cottage is pretty much full until the end of the summer holidays (just 2 x 2 night mini breaks left), I have been checking on my fellow accommodation providers in the area to see what they have left.  Needless to say we know many of the properties available in easy reach of Alton Towers and nestling within the Churnet Valley.

example of other cottages near Alton Towers that we can recommend

It can be a tiring business finding self-catering or B&B accommodation: as one of our guests commented on our booking form "I was just about losing the will, when I came across your cottage..."  So don't drive yourself mad, now that you've found us, let us point you in the right direction so that we can win big brownie points with our nearby cottage owning mates. :-)

Just drop me an email with your requirements (number of people, number of nights, preferred location e.g nr Alton Towers, in Peak District countryside etc) and I will send you back some details of availability.  Just promise me that next year you'll check with us if Barks is available first!

last minute June holiday cottage availability - Peak District Alton Towers

Last minute self-catering holiday cottage availability June 16,17, 18, 19 - NOW BOOKED
ideal for a short break to Alton Towers or Peak District.

We are having a terrific season.  Lots of interesting people: the usual mix of walkers and Alton Towers goers.  The new terrace is proving popular as well and the garden is springing up prettily around it.  July is nearly fully booked, August has a week or so left to book, and we already have bookings in September and October . . . but for some reason we have these 4 nights available in June.

June 16th - 19th - (4 night gap)
For 3 nights it's £295
For all 4 nights  it's £345
(If you are a group of 6 or 7 people then the annex is available at £50 per night.)


If you are interested please get in touch or jump straight to our online booking form .

Sunday walk

The horizon had a blue tinge this morning. I've tried to snap it on my phone while walking along, but it hasn't really come out that well.  Looks a bit grey, but it is quite spring like really.

Lovely Sunday walking weather, in fact. Birds are singing cheerfully out here this morning. It is very quiet otherwise. Alton Towers hasn't open its gates yet for 2011 season so it is the perfect time for a walk in this section of the beautiful Churnet Valley.

Think I'd better tell my farming neighbours that their wall needs attention!

Barks Holiday Cottage, 01538 703436