Not the best ever photo but a quick snap with the camera phone just to share the beauty of our resident barn owl. I'll keep trying with the photography. It is on the hunt right now, but it is too dark for my camera.
Barn owl hunts around the holiday cottage
Not the best ever photo but a quick snap with the camera phone just to share the beauty of our resident barn owl. I'll keep trying with the photography. It is on the hunt right now, but it is too dark for my camera.Insiders Guide to Alton Towers
Keep an eye out for the Unofficial Guide to Alton Towers that has been published by another Staffordshire local. It has lots of discounts and offers. It is sold locally and on Amazon. Check on this website for some top tips when visiting Alton Towers and other famous attractions - worth adding to your favourites!
I was having a tidy up and came across a way to get reduced price Alton Towers tickets. 2 for 1 with your AA membership card. You have to sort it all out online, of course, via tha AA website but definitely worth checking. I have put the details of the offer into our Holiday Cottage welcome pack. Our self-catering guests can then get booking, using the cottage WiFi no less.
A lot of our holiday cottage guests have Merlin annual passes and stay at Barks because it combines the best of both worlds: really near Alton Towers and also a lovely tranquil countryside location. A couple of days of high adrenalin, a couple of days of completely chilling out.
Holiday Cottage Rental:
3 nights: £295
7 nights: £450
sleeps 4 or family of 5 on a self-catering basis
for accommodation reservations please call 01538 703436 or email barks@btconnect.com
For summer availability - follow the navigation above or click here
I was having a tidy up and came across a way to get reduced price Alton Towers tickets. 2 for 1 with your AA membership card. You have to sort it all out online, of course, via tha AA website but definitely worth checking. I have put the details of the offer into our Holiday Cottage welcome pack. Our self-catering guests can then get booking, using the cottage WiFi no less.
A lot of our holiday cottage guests have Merlin annual passes and stay at Barks because it combines the best of both worlds: really near Alton Towers and also a lovely tranquil countryside location. A couple of days of high adrenalin, a couple of days of completely chilling out.
Holiday Cottage Rental:
3 nights: £295
7 nights: £450
sleeps 4 or family of 5 on a self-catering basis
for accommodation reservations please call 01538 703436 or email barks@btconnect.com
For summer availability - follow the navigation above or click here
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| From Barks Holiday Cottage, ideal for Alton Towers and Peak District, sleeps 4 or family of 5 |
Walking . . . pottering . . . pondering
As a holiday cottage owner I have to mention the holiday cottage at every opportunity because in truth most of our enquiries and bookings are made via this blog. And on top of that every article needs to mention Alton Towers a million times too. Not because my readers are in any way missing the point about this being a holiday cottage just a jot away from the nation's favourite theme park . . . yes you guessed it . . . aka Alton Towers!. (Gosh that was a lot of mentions in one sentence, maybe now I'm free . . . ) It's all driven by that search engine thing and in truth I am grateful to the world's favourite search engine for bringing us so many interesting cottage guests.
If this morning I am sounding a little weary of these subjects (I'll pass this opportunity to repeat my keywords) it is because in the last couple of days I have read some lovely blogs. Blogs with no agenda, no constraints, just words emerging from the mood of the writer. Envy has overtaken me. So I thought what the heck, we are almost solidly booked this month and have a gap or two in July and August so I am going to just write, for the sake of it. And see how it has ended up so far - almost perfect keyword density!
I'll try and photograph the barn owl and blog about him/her another time. Baby birds are fledging all around and our family of bluetits have done well. Two fledgelings have hit our windows. The nuthatch learned from its ordeal but sadly the woodpecker expired from either a broken neck or shock. I left it on the wall and something else came along and has left me some fluff and the odd feather. I feel sentimental and will keep the feather for a while. The forage harvesters are busy across the Peak District and the lush swishing June fields will be a shocked light green bareness for a while. The last few weeks have been wonderful for walking, pottering and pondering - my favourite activities.
The picture is the view from the holiday cottage so you can see that this is a good destination for walking, pottering and pondering (as well as Alton Towers!).
If this morning I am sounding a little weary of these subjects (I'll pass this opportunity to repeat my keywords) it is because in the last couple of days I have read some lovely blogs. Blogs with no agenda, no constraints, just words emerging from the mood of the writer. Envy has overtaken me. So I thought what the heck, we are almost solidly booked this month and have a gap or two in July and August so I am going to just write, for the sake of it. And see how it has ended up so far - almost perfect keyword density!
The picture is the view from the holiday cottage so you can see that this is a good destination for walking, pottering and pondering (as well as Alton Towers!).
Last minute breaks to Peak District or Alton Towers
2012 last minute summer availability: Reservations 01538 703436 or email barks@btconnect.com
Barks Holiday Cottage has a few gaps between bookings in July 2012 that we are offering as last minute mini cottage breaks. We are ideally placed for exploring the Peak District. This area is known as the Churnet Valley in the Staffordshire Peak District. Famous landmarks like the Stepping Stones at Dovedale are only a few miles away. Barks Holiday Cottage is ideally located for Alton Towers at just 2.6 miles from the entrance.
Our normal summer self catering rates are £495 for a week or £295 for 3 nights. The holiday cottage sleeps 5 and accepts dogs. There is superb walking in the surrounding Churnet Valley and Peak District.
Barks Holiday Cottage has a few gaps between bookings in July 2012 that we are offering as last minute mini cottage breaks. We are ideally placed for exploring the Peak District. This area is known as the Churnet Valley in the Staffordshire Peak District. Famous landmarks like the Stepping Stones at Dovedale are only a few miles away. Barks Holiday Cottage is ideally located for Alton Towers at just 2.6 miles from the entrance.
Our normal summer self catering rates are £495 for a week or £295 for 3 nights. The holiday cottage sleeps 5 and accepts dogs. There is superb walking in the surrounding Churnet Valley and Peak District.
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| last minute availability accommodation near Alton Towers and Peak District - as at 1st July 2012. |
Holiday cottage guests set off walking to Alton Towers
Barks Holiday Cottage, self catering accommodation is 2.6 miles near Alton Towers and sleeps 4/5.
Walking to Alton Towers might not seem notable if you're unfamiliar with the area around here. It is worth knowing that there are only a handful of places you could possibly stay that are easy walking distance - all in Farley. People searching for accommodation near Alton Towers are under a false impression of convenience if they opt for Alton. As I say, the entrance to Alton Towers is in Farley, midway between Oakamoor and Alton. And we are just outside Oakamoor. Travelling to Alton Towers by public transport, wherever you are staying, should be regarded as the start of a full day of adventure.
Our holiday cottage guests have just set off. I offered them a lift (it would have taken two cars) and gave them the local taxi number, but no, they fancy a walk and public transport. Good for them, I definitely approve. I drew them a map so that they could walk through the fields and woods, but they showed me the children's buggy, fully loaded for the day. Ah!
There are three children and three adults and a buggy straggling down the hill to Oakamoor to catch the 32A bus up the hill the other side to Alton Towers. I asked if they had checked the bus times and our guests thought maybe the bus came every 10 minutes towards Alton Towers, rather than every 2 hours which is the reality. They are are now goal oriented, the 12.10pm is their mission. Welcome to the countryside!
They also have the idea that taxis queue up outside the exit of Alton Towers like they do at city train stations. I can't recall this scene at Alton Towers, but hopefully they do. I insisted they take our telephone number because we will fetch them, no problem. Essential I suspect.
Meanwhile some readers of Ethical Traveller have contacted us for Alton Towers accommodation. I must remind them to bring stout shoes. Ethical travellers will relish the challenge that awaits them.
Walking to Alton Towers might not seem notable if you're unfamiliar with the area around here. It is worth knowing that there are only a handful of places you could possibly stay that are easy walking distance - all in Farley. People searching for accommodation near Alton Towers are under a false impression of convenience if they opt for Alton. As I say, the entrance to Alton Towers is in Farley, midway between Oakamoor and Alton. And we are just outside Oakamoor. Travelling to Alton Towers by public transport, wherever you are staying, should be regarded as the start of a full day of adventure.
Our holiday cottage guests have just set off. I offered them a lift (it would have taken two cars) and gave them the local taxi number, but no, they fancy a walk and public transport. Good for them, I definitely approve. I drew them a map so that they could walk through the fields and woods, but they showed me the children's buggy, fully loaded for the day. Ah!
There are three children and three adults and a buggy straggling down the hill to Oakamoor to catch the 32A bus up the hill the other side to Alton Towers. I asked if they had checked the bus times and our guests thought maybe the bus came every 10 minutes towards Alton Towers, rather than every 2 hours which is the reality. They are are now goal oriented, the 12.10pm is their mission. Welcome to the countryside!
They also have the idea that taxis queue up outside the exit of Alton Towers like they do at city train stations. I can't recall this scene at Alton Towers, but hopefully they do. I insisted they take our telephone number because we will fetch them, no problem. Essential I suspect.
Meanwhile some readers of Ethical Traveller have contacted us for Alton Towers accommodation. I must remind them to bring stout shoes. Ethical travellers will relish the challenge that awaits them.
Alton Towers 80s concert
There were loads of other parents who were, like me, proving to their kids that we had real, fun lives before we grew up and became responsible.
So now here we are running our holiday cottage near Alton Towers and the Peak District, as well as doing the day job. Great when festivals in the sun arrive on your doorstep. Happy days.
Barks Holiday Cottage, 01538 703436
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Accommodation for the concerts at Alton Towers - or a walking weekend?
The concerts at Alton Towers are proving very popular with visitors. We could have taken bookings for the 2010 Pink Concert several times over. The cottage and the Annex were both booked by an extended family. The 80's concert was another matter. We had no enquiries. Not one. Zip. I went to the concert and rather enjoyed it!
More concerts are planned for 2011, kicking off with McFly, JLS, Eliza Doolittle
and The Saturdays. Then in July The Black Eyed Peas are booked to play.
The holiday cottage is self-catering and handily near Alton Towers. Being in the next village, the holiday cottage is just 2.6 miles away from Alton Towers and takes just a few minutes.
I hope for 2011 concerts the parking nightmare is sorted out. Surely they can't make the same mistake twice.
Barks Holiday Cottage sleeps 4 or 5 in the main cottage and another couple in the Annex. Book for 3 nights or more.
Check our availability online or drop us an email barks@btconnect.com or ring 01538 703436.
More concerts are planned for 2011, kicking off with McFly, JLS, Eliza Doolittle
and The Saturdays. Then in July The Black Eyed Peas are booked to play.The holiday cottage is self-catering and handily near Alton Towers. Being in the next village, the holiday cottage is just 2.6 miles away from Alton Towers and takes just a few minutes.
I hope for 2011 concerts the parking nightmare is sorted out. Surely they can't make the same mistake twice.
Barks Holiday Cottage sleeps 4 or 5 in the main cottage and another couple in the Annex. Book for 3 nights or more.
Check our availability online or drop us an email barks@btconnect.com or ring 01538 703436.
Bluebells in the woods between here and Alton Towers
Holiday cottage enquiries - 01538 703436
Alton Towers in the next village only 2.6 miles away.
Great walking country here in the Churnet Valley and Peak District - as you can see the bluebells are heavenly just now.
Self catering accommodation for 5 people. Please visit our information pages for more details or just give us a call.
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Alton Towers in the next village only 2.6 miles away.
Great walking country here in the Churnet Valley and Peak District - as you can see the bluebells are heavenly just now.
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| From Barks: self-catering holiday cottage accommodation near Alton Towers |
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Churnet Valley next to Alton Towers
Barks Holiday Cottage, 01538 703436
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Spring views at the holiday cottage
If you are heading to Alton Towers and want to add some romance, privacy and peace and quiet, then this is the place to stay. We have midweek and weekend Spring special offer until 20 May:
Weekends: £222 for family of 4/5.
Midweek: double room £50
Call 01538 703436 to book
Barks Holiday Cottage, 01538 703436
May deals to Alton Towers
There are great deals floating around for entry to Alton Towers.
If you are prepared to wait and save up then Tesco Clubcard is useful - and brilliant for getting your hands on a reduced price Merlin Annual Pass.
If you find you can escape to Alton Towers at the last minute then I have two money saving tips to offer:
1. Join the Alton Towers Facebook Fan Page and print off your own 2 for 1 vouchers. As many as you need. While you are on Facebook please join the Barks Holiday Cottage page and keep up with our special offers and updates.
2. The couple that were here at the weekend said they got a 2 for 1 voucher at WH Smith. Check it out.
If you can grab a deal and escape to Alton Towers at the last minute then check out our May mid-season special accommodation offer, available from now until 20th May:
Weekends - £222. That's 25% off our usual price for a 3 night stay.
Add some romance to your Alton Towers visit and stay over in a lovely country cottage in the next village to your favourite theme park at ST10 4DB.
May Midweek Facebook special room rate*: - double room £50 per night.
*This offer is for Fans of our Facebook page, but you could join our Facebook page now and get this mid-season deal and maybe more like it during the season ahead. Midweek is Monday - Thursday. Payment is cash on arrival. Telephone for availability or post your dates on our Facebook wall.
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If you are prepared to wait and save up then Tesco Clubcard is useful - and brilliant for getting your hands on a reduced price Merlin Annual Pass.
If you find you can escape to Alton Towers at the last minute then I have two money saving tips to offer:
1. Join the Alton Towers Facebook Fan Page and print off your own 2 for 1 vouchers. As many as you need. While you are on Facebook please join the Barks Holiday Cottage page and keep up with our special offers and updates.
2. The couple that were here at the weekend said they got a 2 for 1 voucher at WH Smith. Check it out.
If you can grab a deal and escape to Alton Towers at the last minute then check out our May mid-season special accommodation offer, available from now until 20th May:
Weekends - £222. That's 25% off our usual price for a 3 night stay.
Add some romance to your Alton Towers visit and stay over in a lovely country cottage in the next village to your favourite theme park at ST10 4DB.
May Midweek Facebook special room rate*: - double room £50 per night.
*This offer is for Fans of our Facebook page, but you could join our Facebook page now and get this mid-season deal and maybe more like it during the season ahead. Midweek is Monday - Thursday. Payment is cash on arrival. Telephone for availability or post your dates on our Facebook wall.
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Rural holiday cottage - the lambs are so cute now
Barks is a lovely, rural holiday cottage even though it is less than 3 miles from Alton Towers. I suppose those that know Alton Towers well will have walked the Woodland Walk and seen the great views over the Churnet Valley and therefore appreciate the loveliness of our surroundings.
Well our holiday just took on an even more rural and lovelier quality because the ewes and lambs are now in the fields. They are jumping about for no particular reason other than the sun is shining over the Staffordshire Moorlands. It is such a lovely scene, you must come.
3 nights £295
7 nights £450
email us or call 01538 703436
Join our Facebook Fan Page and receive a discount on midweek visits before 20th May - just scribble the dates you would like on the 'wall' and we'll get back to you asap.
Well our holiday just took on an even more rural and lovelier quality because the ewes and lambs are now in the fields. They are jumping about for no particular reason other than the sun is shining over the Staffordshire Moorlands. It is such a lovely scene, you must come.
3 nights £295
7 nights £450
email us or call 01538 703436
Join our Facebook Fan Page and receive a discount on midweek visits before 20th May - just scribble the dates you would like on the 'wall' and we'll get back to you asap.
Got drenched at Alton Towers
We went to Alton Towers again and got completely drenched. Not by the weather, by the log flume. The sun shone gloriously, it was 18C. Too early to herald the arrival of summer, but a reminder of the Alton Towers fun and sunshine that we are holding out for.
Good Friday Fun at Alton Towers
Barks Holiday Cottage - 01538 703436 barks@btconnect.com
We finally made it to Alton Towers with our passes. We thought we would nip in early and avoid any holiday queues but that didn't work when we hit the rush hour for the monorail, which promptly broke down. Took ages to get in. Once in, however, Alton Towers was really quiet. No further waiting required.
I was expecting Alton Towers to have a relatively quiet day and was discussing this with one of the ride handlers, another local Alton resident. Apparently it is always relatively quiet on bank holidays (even though Good Friday isn't a bank holiday). The weekend should be quiet too, so we may go to Alton Towers again. Lots of the local Alton Towers accommodation providers of self-catering and B&B have told me the same story: vacancies now, fully booked accommodation from Sunday.
BARKS HOLIDAY COTTAGE - SELF CATERING ACCOMMODATION NEAR ALTON TOWERS April availability:
self-catering from 3 nights 11th April - 18th April
short break and weekend self catering for Alton Towers visits available from 21st April
While at Alton Towers we made use of our Merlin Annual passes and said hi to the fishes in Sharkbait Reef aquarium, pottered around on some of the old favourites at Old MacDonalds Farm and gave ourselves a mini adrenalin kick on the Dragon junior rollercoaster. Really I am quite relieved that my six and a half year old can still be amused by these tame rides because I am not going to manage Thirteen, Air, Nemesis etc Next time we go I think we will just nip to Cloud Cuckoo Land. Handy to be only a couple of miles away in the next village.
We finally made it to Alton Towers with our passes. We thought we would nip in early and avoid any holiday queues but that didn't work when we hit the rush hour for the monorail, which promptly broke down. Took ages to get in. Once in, however, Alton Towers was really quiet. No further waiting required.
I was expecting Alton Towers to have a relatively quiet day and was discussing this with one of the ride handlers, another local Alton resident. Apparently it is always relatively quiet on bank holidays (even though Good Friday isn't a bank holiday). The weekend should be quiet too, so we may go to Alton Towers again. Lots of the local Alton Towers accommodation providers of self-catering and B&B have told me the same story: vacancies now, fully booked accommodation from Sunday.
BARKS HOLIDAY COTTAGE - SELF CATERING ACCOMMODATION NEAR ALTON TOWERS April availability:
self-catering from 3 nights 11th April - 18th April
short break and weekend self catering for Alton Towers visits available from 21st April
While at Alton Towers we made use of our Merlin Annual passes and said hi to the fishes in Sharkbait Reef aquarium, pottered around on some of the old favourites at Old MacDonalds Farm and gave ourselves a mini adrenalin kick on the Dragon junior rollercoaster. Really I am quite relieved that my six and a half year old can still be amused by these tame rides because I am not going to manage Thirteen, Air, Nemesis etc Next time we go I think we will just nip to Cloud Cuckoo Land. Handy to be only a couple of miles away in the next village.
Easter holidays near Alton Towers
What a gorgeous morning. We are about to set off on the school hike and I bet it is going to be beautiful across the fields and through the woods. Last day of term here. Then a chocolate fest no doubt.
We have last minute self-catering availability for Alton towers tonight until Monday. Then another gap between 11th - 18th. Please give us a ring on 01538 703436 if you would like to book in for some country air. I doubt the snow will still be here but it is lovely walking around here at the moment. And of course Alton Towers is only a couple of miles away in the next village.
Alton Towers first weekend open
Alton Towers opens this weekend (unless of course you are Calum Best who tweeted that he was here on Friday). Well, the big day came and it was raining, so we wimped out of going to Alton Towers and didn't make use of our Merlin pass. Then today was glorious and sunny, so much so that we didn't make it to Alton Towers because we were too busy in the garden. Oh dear . . . I hope our investment in an Alton Towers pass pays the expected entertainment dividend.
For those with more commitment to coming to Alton Towers, and looking for some family-friendly self-catering accommodation near to Alton Towers - it is just 2.8 miles to ST10 4DB aka Alton Towers Resort - please take a look at the pictures and prices etc and give us a call or email with your preferred dates. We look forward to hearing from you and offering you a warm welcome at Barks Holiday Cottage.
For those with more commitment to coming to Alton Towers, and looking for some family-friendly self-catering accommodation near to Alton Towers - it is just 2.8 miles to ST10 4DB aka Alton Towers Resort - please take a look at the pictures and prices etc and give us a call or email with your preferred dates. We look forward to hearing from you and offering you a warm welcome at Barks Holiday Cottage.
Easter weekend availability
- How about a couple of days fun at Alton Towers?
- Tempted by an indoor beach holiday at the Waterpark?
- Need some pampering at the Alton Towers spa?
- Is your spirit crying out for some peace and quiet and country air?
- Need to entertain the family with days out?
April Availability (as at 28th March)
Barks Holiday Cottage has last minute availability for short breaks over Easter
3+ nights availability between now to 5th April departure
11th April - 17th April (7 nights Sunday to Sunday or for 3+ night breaks)
Barks is fully booked between 5th - 11th April and 18th - 21st April
Barks is child and pet friendly.
Call me now on 01538 703436 or email barks@btconnect.com .
Easter Eggs
They are still happily laying eggs so we should have plenty for Easter. Might have to work on them being chocolate ones.
EASTER AVAILABILITY
We still have some availability during the Easter school holidays for self-catering breaks of 3+ days starting at £295. I need to update our Google Calendar, but in the meantime please drop us an email with your preferred dates or give us a call on 01538 703436
Speckedly Brown and the fox
The foxes have been busy, with their minds on the matter of spring. A big golden dog fox has been seen quite frequently and we have been worrying for our free range hens. He is a handsome, countryside fox, who looks you in the eye, unafraid.
Yesterday, as we set off on the hike to school, we heard a squeal from the woods and identified it as the fox. We nipped back and put the hens into their run. We let them out on our return, and they fluffed up their feathers, shook indignantly and set off purposefully up the track towards the cottages; on a mission to raid bird tables I rather suspect.
Dear Speckedly Brown, my trusty broody hen, seemed to be the one leading them away. Stuart, the cockerel, considered coming back to my call, but his duty was to stay with his girls and he followed them away. I watched them leave. I felt at the time their journey was high risk and intended to find some treats to tempt them back home but once indoors I was distracted by other matters.
Poor Speckedly Brown did not return. We hunted for her at dusk, but there was no sign. We looked for evidence of her demise, but there is not even a stray feather.
Cinders, Ashes, Fenny and Suart .... stay close please.
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