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.
Showing posts with label holiday cottage near Alton Towers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holiday cottage near Alton Towers. Show all posts
Mrs Duck says it's spring at the holiday cottage
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.
Sounds of spring in the Churnet Valley
Walking back from the depths of the valley this morning I heard the unmistakable sound of the woodpecker. I understand that the male woodpecker bashes his head like a pneumatic drill against tree trunks to impress female woodpeckers. Bizarre ritual when you think about it, but lovely to hear echo through a misty valley and a sure sign that spring is on the way. When I reached the top of the hill the sun was shining and the frost was melting and all was right with the world.
Holiday cottage near Alton Towers 2012 availability
Similarly, we have taken bookings (some of them repeat bookings from this year) from families looking for a change of scene at our pet friendly spot on the doorstep of Alton Towers and Trentham Gardens etc.
Five bookings made so far for 2012 and it is still November, so we are happy about that. 10% of the whole year sorted!
Please check our 2012 availability page if you are looking for a particular week for your self-catering holiday near Alton Towers.
Holiday Cottage New Terrace for 2011
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| Holiday Cottage terrace |
The holiday cottage terrace is a lovely south facing spot. On sunny change over days I really enjoy having lunch there, just for a change. In the hot spring sunshine I sat on the bench with my coffee and thought it was more like North Africa than North Staffordshire. Now the new garden beds are flowering (need new picture to show you) there is a more English rose look. And just over those trees, across the Churnet Valley, nestles an enormous theme park, Alton Towers. You wouldn't even know it was there unless you were one of our many guests who'd booked a stay after googling Self catering near Alton Towers or similar.
We have had families staying over the summer and the parents relax on the terrace while the children are larking about on the area we call the playing field.
One of the reasons we put the terrace in is to make the most of the winter sun. I love to take every sunny opportunity to perch in the sun for 10 minutes with a mug of tea, simply to take stock of my day.
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.
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.
We have two pigs!
My goodness our two piglets are lovely! We have a male and female of 7 weeks old in an enclosure in the field we call (optimistically) The Orchard. The enclosure took some preparation! We scythed a square route through the nettles and docks, because it was too tough for the strimmer, and erected an electric fence straight from Colditz. Can't risk these lovelies breaking out and heading for the nearest veg patch!
The girls that are self catering guests in the holiday cottage came back from their day at Alton Towers and have been sitting on the fence admiring the piglets. Ahhh!
These piglets are small and quite vulnerable at the moment, but soon they will be enormous. I am a firm believer in happy pork and will do everything we can to make sure these two have a happy life in The Orchard.
The girls that are self catering guests in the holiday cottage came back from their day at Alton Towers and have been sitting on the fence admiring the piglets. Ahhh!
These piglets are small and quite vulnerable at the moment, but soon they will be enormous. I am a firm believer in happy pork and will do everything we can to make sure these two have a happy life in The Orchard.
photography trip - why not enter your photos?
We will be busy taking lots of countryside photos, and maybe this year we'll even get round to submitting some for the Country file competition. Not that we have skills in this area, but you never know, keep clicking and we might get lucky.
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.
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!
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| example of other cottages near Alton Towers that we can recommend |
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!
Self catering experts
Our guests this year have been lovely.
So far we haven't had the die-hard Alton Towers fans that spend three solid days over at our neighbouring attraction. Some families have dropped the children at Alton Towers and then nipped around some of our nearby National Trust properties.
We are hearing great things about Consall Hall Gardens this year. We had a guest with limited mobility and she enjoyed a fabulous guided tour there on a buggy; guided by the owner.
Trentham Gardens is again proving to be a major highlight and guests are keen that I recommend it to others - so I am! Last week's guests wanted to get a flavour of the area and were discussing Dovedale and in passing asked if Dovedale and the Stepping Stones has nearby retail . . . well, not really! Just the National Trust shop and the ice-cream van. So I directed them to Trentham Gardens and everyone came back happy.
There is something for everyone! It is nearly the concert at Alton Towers so I expect the focus to shift back to good old ST10 4DB.
So far we haven't had the die-hard Alton Towers fans that spend three solid days over at our neighbouring attraction. Some families have dropped the children at Alton Towers and then nipped around some of our nearby National Trust properties.
We are hearing great things about Consall Hall Gardens this year. We had a guest with limited mobility and she enjoyed a fabulous guided tour there on a buggy; guided by the owner.
Trentham Gardens is again proving to be a major highlight and guests are keen that I recommend it to others - so I am! Last week's guests wanted to get a flavour of the area and were discussing Dovedale and in passing asked if Dovedale and the Stepping Stones has nearby retail . . . well, not really! Just the National Trust shop and the ice-cream van. So I directed them to Trentham Gardens and everyone came back happy.
There is something for everyone! It is nearly the concert at Alton Towers so I expect the focus to shift back to good old ST10 4DB.
New arrivals to holiday cottage fields
Barks Holiday Cottage, 01538 703436
Accommodation near Alton Towers for concerts
Alton Towers is holding two concerts this season.
JLS, McFly, The Saturdays, Eliza Doolittle - all booked to come and play on 19th June
The Black Eyed Peas - 6th July. That's a Wednesday I think.
Just to let you know about accommodation near Alton Towers for these concerts.
19th June Concert:
Barks Holiday Cottage offers a minimum 3 days self catering for 5 or 7 people wanting to plan a trip to see McFly, JLS play Alton Towers.
6th July Concert:
Barks Holiday Cottage is booked already for 6th July, so I will check with other accommodation providers nearby and update what's available.
JLS, McFly, The Saturdays, Eliza Doolittle - all booked to come and play on 19th June
The Black Eyed Peas - 6th July. That's a Wednesday I think.
Just to let you know about accommodation near Alton Towers for these concerts.
19th June Concert:
Barks Holiday Cottage offers a minimum 3 days self catering for 5 or 7 people wanting to plan a trip to see McFly, JLS play Alton Towers.
6th July Concert:
Barks Holiday Cottage is booked already for 6th July, so I will check with other accommodation providers nearby and update what's available.
Sunday walk
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
New terrace for the holiday cottage
It's very exciting - a new terrace is being built outside the holiday cottage french windows. It is south facing, and will be a great spot for soaking up the rays. The terrace faces in the direction of Alton Towers - although you can't actually see Alton Towers because most of this giant theme park nestles into the beautiful woodlands of the Churnet Valley.
I will post before and after shots, but I can't load a photo of the holiday cottage terrace just at the moment, because it is literally 'under construction' and looks such a mess that it would be impossible to believe that all will be lovely in two weeks time. It will be unveiled to mark the start of our peak season - when Alton Towers opens. Any time now!
And in case you hadn't noticed - the McFly and JLS Alton Towers concert is now open for booking!!
I will post before and after shots, but I can't load a photo of the holiday cottage terrace just at the moment, because it is literally 'under construction' and looks such a mess that it would be impossible to believe that all will be lovely in two weeks time. It will be unveiled to mark the start of our peak season - when Alton Towers opens. Any time now!
And in case you hadn't noticed - the McFly and JLS Alton Towers concert is now open for booking!!
Spring at the Holiday Cottage
I have to confess that I have egg on my face. Well technically I suppose I actually don't have egg on my face because I made such a fundamental cock up that it isn't possible. Sorry if anyone thinks this is offensive language but you'll see where I'm going with this in a second.
Those that follow 'Barks Holiday Cottage nr Alton Towers' on Facebook might remember that some time ago I asked for suggestions for names for our new hens, the offspring of Stewart and Ashes. I can't say that we were overwhelmed by suggestions from our Facebook fans (you miserable lot!) so after much thought I named the two chicks myself. I sought names to do with fire (after Ashes and their aunt Cinders) but also I need to consider their markings because otherwise I don't have a clue which hen is which.
Chicks reach 'point of lay' after so many weeks and I was expecting some egg laying action from these youngsters anytime after November, but probably more like now. One of the ways to tell if a hen is about to lay eggs is to check the fullness of its crown. Recently these plump birds have been filling out in the crown department and as the other hens begin to lay in earnest I thought it was time these ladies joined in.
Yesterday my elderly neighbour and her grand-daughter joined us for lunch prior to our visit to nearby Blackbrook Zoo (only 99p entry right now so those looking for last minute self-catering ideas please take note that it's all go around here even when Alton Towers is closed). My neighbour catches sight of our hens lazily looking for pickings beneath the bird table outside our french windows and casually asks me when we took ownership of a different cockerel. No such thing had happened I reply assuredly, we were retaining Stewart despite his unhealthy intimacy with his sisters. And no, those young birds are Phoenix and Flash, last year's chicks and no, they are most definitely hen birds. How do you know? I just know!
You can see where this is going by now, I bet. That same afternoon I heard a strange croaky sort of cock-a-doodle-do and sent my son to the window to investigate. How much proof does a person need to make her change a firmly held perception? This was not the voice of Stewart; I had accepted that immediately, but when I am told that Phoenix is crowing I needed to check. Suddenly the fullness of the crown and size of the birds couldn't be justified away as an aspect of this breed. The recent spat between Phoenix and Flash couldn't be explained away as establishing a sisterly pecking order. These adolescent birds have reached a level of maturity this week, but I hadn't really seen what was taking place in front of me because I had convinced myself way back that they were hen birds.
So I guess that we have 'chicken' on the menu soon. Stewart was so called because, as our explanation goes, he is nicknamed 'Stew, because he soon will be'. But a year has gone by and he has reverted to his full name, Stewart, because nobody in our household wants to stew such a fine creature, of whom we have become so fond. Phoenix and Flash, however have a more certain fate. Phoenix, it turns out, will not rise from the flames and Flash is now thought of as 'Flash in the pan'.
Meanwhile I wish I hadn't refuted my neighbour's assertion quite so confidently. There is no getting around the fact that I now have egg on my face over such an elementary poulty-keeping cock up.
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| Ashes the hen outside the holiday cottage |
Chicks reach 'point of lay' after so many weeks and I was expecting some egg laying action from these youngsters anytime after November, but probably more like now. One of the ways to tell if a hen is about to lay eggs is to check the fullness of its crown. Recently these plump birds have been filling out in the crown department and as the other hens begin to lay in earnest I thought it was time these ladies joined in.
Yesterday my elderly neighbour and her grand-daughter joined us for lunch prior to our visit to nearby Blackbrook Zoo (only 99p entry right now so those looking for last minute self-catering ideas please take note that it's all go around here even when Alton Towers is closed). My neighbour catches sight of our hens lazily looking for pickings beneath the bird table outside our french windows and casually asks me when we took ownership of a different cockerel. No such thing had happened I reply assuredly, we were retaining Stewart despite his unhealthy intimacy with his sisters. And no, those young birds are Phoenix and Flash, last year's chicks and no, they are most definitely hen birds. How do you know? I just know!
You can see where this is going by now, I bet. That same afternoon I heard a strange croaky sort of cock-a-doodle-do and sent my son to the window to investigate. How much proof does a person need to make her change a firmly held perception? This was not the voice of Stewart; I had accepted that immediately, but when I am told that Phoenix is crowing I needed to check. Suddenly the fullness of the crown and size of the birds couldn't be justified away as an aspect of this breed. The recent spat between Phoenix and Flash couldn't be explained away as establishing a sisterly pecking order. These adolescent birds have reached a level of maturity this week, but I hadn't really seen what was taking place in front of me because I had convinced myself way back that they were hen birds.
So I guess that we have 'chicken' on the menu soon. Stewart was so called because, as our explanation goes, he is nicknamed 'Stew, because he soon will be'. But a year has gone by and he has reverted to his full name, Stewart, because nobody in our household wants to stew such a fine creature, of whom we have become so fond. Phoenix and Flash, however have a more certain fate. Phoenix, it turns out, will not rise from the flames and Flash is now thought of as 'Flash in the pan'.
Meanwhile I wish I hadn't refuted my neighbour's assertion quite so confidently. There is no getting around the fact that I now have egg on my face over such an elementary poulty-keeping cock up.
WINTER COUNTRY COTTAGE BREAKS 2011
Off season breaks are available and are perfect for a getaway. If you can't decide between a spa retreat or a country cottage break then I have great news - do both at Barks Holiday Cottage. Seriously! Treat yourself to both the easy, cost effective way:
- make full use of the Alton Towers spa which has entry to the sauna and relaxation rooms from just £10 midweek off season.
- country retreat, open fire, great views, all mod cons - weekends from £185
- enjoy walking the Peak District and Churnet Valley - great pub walks from the doorstep.
Family weekend getaways:
- waterpark breaks - midweek special deal for families with pre-school children at Barks Holiday Cottage
- cycling along the nearby car-free trails of Churnet Way, Manifold Valley, Tissington Trail
Snowy days, lovely walks, toasty open fire
Looks like we are going to get more snowy weather in the run up to Christmas. We had some guests come for the lovely walking, and it sounds like they'll be back for a break to include Alton Towers theme park when it reopens for the 2011 season. Not sure when that is right now, but last year Alton Towers did open for a while during the February half term. In the mean time our appeal to holiday-makers looking for a long weekend break is the fabulous walking in the Churnet Valley and a cosy evening in front of the open fire. Then of course there's my next favourite: the Alton Towers spa - nothing like it after a vigorous hike in our hills and valleys.
Barks Holiday Cottage, 01538 703436
Biddulph Grange Gardens
Did you see Alan Titchmarsh on telly the other night? Lovely programme exploring Victorian gardens and clever the way it was all referenced back to a great example of garden design - our local Biddulph Grange gardens (National Trust) in Staffordshire. If you didn't get to see it, you never know, it might be on BBCi.
We had some guests staying back in May 2010 who are keen gardeners and they visited Biddulph Grange and Trentham Gardens. Not only a keen gardener but also a keen blogger . . . so very handy for me that I can send you off to her blog for lots of lovely pictures and a good review from a first time visitor there. http://vegplotting.blogspot.com/2010/11/garden-visit-biddulph-grange.html . Good to note that some people do come here for amusement other than Alton Towers, indeed as I commented on the article, to VegPlotting AT stands for Alan Titchmarsh not Alton Towers. Love it!
For my part, I visit Biddulph Grange a couple of times each year - rhododendron season and dahlia season - and always enjoy the Chinese area with the huge fish in the pond. So even if you are a dedicated Alton Towers fan, maybe Biddulph is somewhere to consider for day 3 of your stay.
We had some guests staying back in May 2010 who are keen gardeners and they visited Biddulph Grange and Trentham Gardens. Not only a keen gardener but also a keen blogger . . . so very handy for me that I can send you off to her blog for lots of lovely pictures and a good review from a first time visitor there. http://vegplotting.blogspot.com/2010/11/garden-visit-biddulph-grange.html . Good to note that some people do come here for amusement other than Alton Towers, indeed as I commented on the article, to VegPlotting AT stands for Alan Titchmarsh not Alton Towers. Love it!
For my part, I visit Biddulph Grange a couple of times each year - rhododendron season and dahlia season - and always enjoy the Chinese area with the huge fish in the pond. So even if you are a dedicated Alton Towers fan, maybe Biddulph is somewhere to consider for day 3 of your stay.
Walking disaster
This weekend we went on a lovely walk that is not our normal route - well it started out as lovely, but ended up a nightmare. I persuaded Other Half to keep his phone handy to collect me,my son and and 2 dogs when we phoned. We set off down into the valley towards Froghall to enjoy a different route. We stopped to admire the unusual track that used to be a railway line, used to ferry the lime from Cauldon Lowe to the canal basin at Froghall.
I noticed a single string of barbed wire draped rather pointlessly a few yards away from the path into the woods and said to my son "what's the point of that wire? All it's going to do is injure animals!" I had in mind foxes and deer. Then we heard a frantic yelping.
My poor dog had been busy sniffing out squirrels and, nipping back to the path to find out what was delaying us, she slashed herself on the wire. I'll spare you the details of the blood, the crying 7 year old, my having to run carrying the dog to the nearest road to meet Other Half, who had thankfully picked up our call (for once!), and all the stress at the out of hours vets surgery. She is now recovering thank goodness. Somehow she managed not to sever a major vein, which was lucky.
For those that know my dogs, it is the shy black one who is the sweetest and best behaved dog ever. She doesn't deserve this to happen, no dog does.
Why is there a single strand of barbed wire draped around in the undergrowth? Shall I go out with my wire cutters and get rid of it? Or shall I kick up a fuss with Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, whose volunteers I have seen working nearby? I am absolutely not the sort of person to do criminal damage to working fences (this is not a working fence), on the other hand I am thinking that lobbying is pointless simply because I let my dog off the lead.
I will think about this for a while and try and calm down. Meanwhile I need to take another two weeks bookings just to pay for the vets bill. Ho hum.
I noticed a single string of barbed wire draped rather pointlessly a few yards away from the path into the woods and said to my son "what's the point of that wire? All it's going to do is injure animals!" I had in mind foxes and deer. Then we heard a frantic yelping.
My poor dog had been busy sniffing out squirrels and, nipping back to the path to find out what was delaying us, she slashed herself on the wire. I'll spare you the details of the blood, the crying 7 year old, my having to run carrying the dog to the nearest road to meet Other Half, who had thankfully picked up our call (for once!), and all the stress at the out of hours vets surgery. She is now recovering thank goodness. Somehow she managed not to sever a major vein, which was lucky.
For those that know my dogs, it is the shy black one who is the sweetest and best behaved dog ever. She doesn't deserve this to happen, no dog does.
Why is there a single strand of barbed wire draped around in the undergrowth? Shall I go out with my wire cutters and get rid of it? Or shall I kick up a fuss with Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, whose volunteers I have seen working nearby? I am absolutely not the sort of person to do criminal damage to working fences (this is not a working fence), on the other hand I am thinking that lobbying is pointless simply because I let my dog off the lead.
I will think about this for a while and try and calm down. Meanwhile I need to take another two weeks bookings just to pay for the vets bill. Ho hum.
A Churnet Valley gem - Dimmingsdale
Our new arrivals are three generations of one family with Oscar. I have yet to meet them because I am enjoying an evening walk in the heart of the Churnet Valley.
I love to nip down the hill to Dimmingsdale and enjoy having this beauty spot all to myself after the weekend visitors have gone. I just thought I'd pause during my walk and share this lovely view of the lake.
Glorious!
Barks Holiday Cottage, 01538 703436
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