Cromwell and Bakewell 1-7 Jul 24

We packed for a hot Summer week away as, after all, it is July. Big mistake! Poxy bloody weather. Anyway, off to stay with Derbyshire DA for their "Bakefest" meet in Bakewell and we decided to add on another couple of nights en-route in Cromwell, near Newark, as we really like the Milestone Brewery next door to the campsite. We discovered, however, that the brewery was closed on the Monday for maintenance, so that was out. We were allocated a spot ostensibly overlooking the landscaped lake on the site, but we had to park nose in to get level, we were tucked in a corner and what view we did have was obscured by the washing of the rattle, rattle thunk van on the next pitch. Still, it was peaceful enough.

Nobody puts Lotti in the corner

On Tuesday we decided to go for a walk and try and find a post box to post our voting forms for the general election. We walked about 5 miles, firstly to find the River Trent and then on to the post box in Carlton on Trent, a pleasant little village on the old great North Road. The Trent is not a pretty river and the walk spoilt by the incessant roar of lorries on the A1. I don't think we will repeat that exercise. In the evening we got into the brewery for a very pleasant evening in this great place.

Carlton on Trent

On Wednesday we arrived in Bakewell at exactly 12o'clock and we were one of the first to arrive on the Debyshire DA site, so we could choose our pitch. We planted ourselves right next to the attractive River Wye and hoped the tinkle of the river would not generate  unnecessary trips to the loo. On the recommendation of the steward, we booked a meal in the Woodyard restaurant in town. It was great.

On Thursday we mooched around Bakewell and found the brewery (another recommendation). What a great place that is and well worth a visit. In the evening we watched a poor singer shivering as she attempted to entertain the meet. 

Packhorse Bridge, Bakewell

Thornbridge Brewery

Bakewell Pudding or Bakewell  Tart?

Singing Tremolo or just shivering?

A cold winter's evening - in July!

The following day we unloaded the bikes and took to the Monsal Trail completing this lovely traffic-free cycle route end to end. Near the far end we stopped for a cream tea, but the stupid girl in the cafe told us that she only had one fruit scone left, but we could have a cheese scone with cream and jam instead! In the evening we watched some live music and had a hog roast, but the pig roll was nowhere near as good as the ones at Cambridge Rugby.

Monsal Trail

The Ice Cream man cometh

Saturday was carnival day in Bakewell and it was bloody freezing. We had lunch in the Austrian cafe and it was served just as it tipped it down with rain, so we dashed indoors. We missed most of the carnival as we retired back to the van to try and get warm and so she could nurse a worsening cold. Warm summer evening in July - my arse!

Bakewell

On Sunday it was home, dodging the sharp, heavy showers.

In all, a good weekend away despite the chilly weather. I think we would do it again as Bakewell is a pretty little place with a lot to offer..

Knowbury, Beardy Folk Festival and Izzy's Wedding, Shropshire 11-19 Jun 24

Late last year we booked the Beardy Folk Festival in Hopton Wafers, near Cleobury Mortimer, in Shropshire. We thoroughly enjoyed this festival last year and, as it is only 4 miles or so from Jenny's house in Knowbury, the planning included a short stopover with her before the event. However - our darling niece decided that Sat 15 Jun would be an excellent day to get spliced, so we had to interrupt our festival to attend her wedding and mini-festival in Knowbury.

On Mon 11 Jun we packed up after our short visit to Halfpenny Green and trundled over the Shropshire Hills to Knowbury. The hills, and narrow twisty roads, didn't do the fuel consumption much good, particularly with Mr Toad on the back. We arrived at Jenny's and immediately found ourselves set to work to construct the mini-festival. This setting up carried on for the next two days, albeit we were able to sneak out for a quick nip into Ludlow and visit the fantastic liquorice and cheese stalls.

Wedding venue being set up in the garden

Ludlow

Mini Festival 

On Thursday we managed to escape and trundled up and over Clee Hill to set up at the Beardy Festival. The weather was freezing cold. We sat outside dressed for mid-winter and were still chilled. Flaming June my bottom! 

Arctic survival in Shropshire

On Friday it was a little bit warmer, but still on the chilly side. We enjoyed some good music, albeit it wasn't quite as good as last year. Later in the evening the heavens opened with a terrific thunderstorm and we were concerned at the amount of rain and whether or not we would be able to get off in the morning to get to the wedding. Whilst others braved the limited shelter at the festival site, we sat in the van and watched the rain.

In the morning we set off for the wedding in Tenbury Wells. Luckily Mr Toad skipped over the mud and escaped quite easily, but the road down the hill was incredibly wet with very large puddles, as there had been so much rain. Luckily the sun came out for the wedding and lunch in the Bennetts End pub. From there it was back to the mini-fest in Jenny's garden where, once again, the rain decided to visit. Bloody weather! We returned to the Beardy late at night after being let down by the local taxi driver. Luckily we didn't drink as we had a suspicion that this may be the case.

Wedding Style

Izzy and Andy

Bennetts End Inn in Knowbury

Bride and Groom

Friends and Family

The family entertains

Whilst more family watch

On Sunday, typically, the weather improved a bit and we were able to finally remove a layer or two. We relaxed after a very strenuous week.

A tractor towing vans off of the site

The festival closed on Monday, albeit they extended the departure time until late afternoon to try and preserve the muddy ground. There was a tractor towing vans off of the rally field, but we managed to get off quite easily and moved back across to Knowbury once again to spend a couple more days with Jenny and my mother, who was also staying over for a few days. We assisted with the last of the clearing up on the Monday and just relaxed on the Tuesday, although the weather had taken a turn for the worse again and it was quite chilly. On Tuesday evening we trundled across the hill again in Mr Toad to collect a delicious takeaway curry from a place in Cleobury Mortimer.

Last off (nearly)

Mini festival site (Jenny's garden) nearly clear

Clee Hill

Cleobury Mortimer

On Wednesday we packed up, said goodbye to Mum and Jenny and set off, negotiating the dreadful, narrow, main street of Cleobury Mortimer (with a knob of a delivery driver parking his truck right in the middle of town) and completed an uneventful journey home.

Halfpenny Green, Staffordshire 8-10 Jun 24

Another planned trip cut short due to family commitments, but we did have time for a short stopover at Halfpenny Green Vineyard on our way to Shropshire.

We arrived on a busy Saturday afternoon and parked up at the edge of the vines on the large car park. They charge £6 per night to park on the estate, which we thought was very good value, particularly as there is a bar, restaurant and shops on site, and it is a very pretty location. We had a wander around the craft shops, had a glass of wine on the platform overlooking the vines, then took a bottle of sparkling rose back to the van to enjoy a pleasant evening sitting on the vineyard.

On Sunday we had a great full English breakfast, followed by a tour, then lunch. It was an interesting talk, a decent enough lunch, plenty of wine to taste and good company to enjoy.

Baby Rondo

On Monday we hung around for a bit waiting for calls from the GP and, once that was done, we set off along the dodgy back roads heading for Knowbury in Shropshire.

Halfpenny Green is a great place to stop. It's scenic, the wines are excellent, the people very friendly and the food superb.