roemin around

Sunny morning on pitch at Chatsworth CC site Another bright but chilly morning after yesterday evenings rain and its time to go home. We visited the Chatsworth farm shop again (so that's Christmas goodies nearly sorted) and wandered round the garden centre that we passed on the edge of the estate. Picked up a few reduced pansies, herbs and daffodil bulbs and had a coffee and mince pie (2 already and not even December!) in the garden centre cafe. It was a pleasant drive back down the A6 with the sunshine on the autumn foliage. We stopped at Matlock Bath to have a look at the historic Richard Arkwright mill, now a museaum and shopping complex. A bit more of Christmas sorted before arriving home around 5:00 pm.

some of the stalls at Xmas market No snow, but it rained heavily for most of the night and then cleared to a brilliant sunny day just in time for us to go to the Christmas market. There was a good selection of interesting stalls with many of the foodie ones offering samples and lots of visitors bussed in to take advantage. The house main was decorated in a Chronicles of Narnia theme with the main features reserved for the  Witch and Lion. It was very well done but too crowded for comfortable viewing. The hog roast in the stable yard was half price by the time we left so we grabbed two to eat in the van. We stayed overnight on the Chatsworth CC site, arriving just before the rain set-in for the night again. Found our pitch was occupied by 3 pheasants but they did not stay for dinner ;-). 

the main street at dusk This was just a short winter break in the Peak district to visit the annual Christmas market and decorations at Chatsworth House. First night was at nearby Castleton caravan club site. We stopped en route at Chatsworth farm shop for the ingredients for a mixed grill, then walked in to the village just after sunset to see the Christmas lights on the main street. There was not a lot to see without going to the caverns but the main street was quite pretty. We had a mulled wine, Caribbean coffee and mince pie before walking back for dinner. By now the ground was glistening with frost and snow was forecast overnight.

A nice English holiday and an extended birthday break for me, with warm and mostly sunny weather for the 10 days. Visited some new places and went back to some familiar around North Devon. Here is a link to a selection of our photos  Picasa web album.

It rained for a few hours in the night but it had stopped by the time we left the Blue Anchor campsite. Rosemary had read about a food festival at Burnham on Sea, so that is where we went for a couple of hours. We left mid afternoon with the object of finding another overnight stay but the weather remained dull and overcast well into the midlands. So we came all the way home instead and we arrived back home at about 6:30pm.    

Heading towards home and seeing some more of North Devon and Somerset on the way. Drove up to Lynton to park then took the cable car down to Lynmouth. Browsed the shops, took some photos, had a pastie and took the cable car back up again. Then I made the mistake of going to Hunters Inn down a road marked "Unsuitable for caravans" to get to the Heddon Valley and the inn. It was unsuitable for practically anything. The NT warden cheered me up by saying 'you should never have come down there - there's no passing places! The proper road out of the valley back towards Combe Martin was much better with excellent views along the coast.   Joined the A39 again and stopped off at Watersmeet where we walked down the steep path to the river and had tea on the lawn at the NT Edwardian cafe. Finally negotiated Countesbury Hill and Porclock Hill, stopping briefly for Exmoor pony pictures and found a site near Minehead for the night just before sunset. An interesting day!       ...

Took the bus pass into Ilfracombe for a couple of hours in order to get some cash and have a fresh crab sandwich. Sea food is still landed at the harbour every day. A grey murky day does not do much to help lift an ageing seaside town. The controversial Damian Hurst sculpture of Verify at the harbour entrance seems strangely out of place here. On the plus side, still no rain and its warm and sunny at times. We had a DIY cream tea, from the excellent site shop, in the evening sun back at Damage Barton.