A guest in the Barn had recommended it and as the kids were bored (as usual) we thought it might make for a nice afternoon jaunt.

What a treat it was!

The monkeys were fascinating, the staff were really great, it was easy to get to and because we went late in the day, it wasn’t busy either.

We’ll definitely be recommending Monkey Forest as a destination for future Barn guests, especially for those with children.

We’re often asked by guests, who did the amazing joinery work in The Barn.

We are extremely lucky to have a team of builders and joiners who are without doubt, the most trustworthy and talented bunch you could ever wish for!

All of the doors, windows, floors and even the kitchen were done by Ashbourne joinery company, I. A. Oakes.

Ian Oakes has since been back to do loads of work for us in our house and we can’t recommend him and the team highly enough – they really are top notch.

If you live in or around Ashbourne or indeed within Derbyshire or Staffordshire, he’s well worth a call on 01538 723258.

Picturesque and with a good pub, Alstonefield is definitely worth a visit.

It’s well worth a visit, if only to use as a base to park your car and head out on one of the numerous walks around the Longnor area or to grab some delicious fish and chips from the shop on the corner of the Market Square.

If you take the quick route from the Barn to Buxton, you’ll pass through Longnor which is just 5 minutes away – it’s well worh stopping for a look around!

Lucy has done a page of information about Hulme End but if you’ld like to add your views, pictures or memories/history of Hulme End, then do get in touch through the comments below or via our contact page.

We’ll be adding more villages to the list as time goes on, but if you’re reading this and you live in a village in the Peak District, or you think you can do a better job than us, please send your village review to us.

If we like it, we’ll publish it here and give you credit for it, including a link to a (relevant) website of your choice.

Guests in the barn are often asking us to recommend  places to take their young children out for a meal.

This can be quite a challenge as many pubs don’t open until 6 or 7pm which is when the little ones are getting tired and fractious.

Others only serve sophisticated adult food, with half portions for the children – as much as we would like to expand the children’s tastes, I am not sure their palates are quite ready for gammon and mustard sauce with a coddled egg on the side!

We can, however, thoroughly recommend Pizza Express in Buxton for the ideal children’s meal when you are staying at our Peak District holiday cottage.

They are open all day, which means that you can go straight there after sightseeing in the market town of Buxton.

The children’s menu is varied, serves appropriately sized dishes and is extremely good value.

Moreover, the staff bring pencils and activity sheets for the little ones to keep them entertained between courses.

Depending on who is cooking, the chefs will often put on a bit of a show for the children if they see them watching! – nothing too amazing, but the children do enjoy watching the pizza dough being swirled in the air!

And if you haven’t got children with you, Pizza Express is also the perfect stop off before or even after taking in a show at the Buxton Opera House, which is conveniently about 3 minutes walk from the restaurant.

If you’re a train buff and you fancy a lovely long weekend break in the Peak District, Friday 5th February is your last chance before summer.

Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th February 2010 see the Winter Steam Gala 2010 at Churnet Valley Railway, a mere 15 minute drive away from the Barn.

The Gala will feature Class 8 Pacific No. 71000 The Duke of Gloucester and Class 3F 30075 USA tank loco and The Duke will be joined by newly restored and yet to visit another railway ex BR Class 4 MT No 80072 visiting from Llangollen Railway.

If you can stay until Monday, you can even pay to drive The Duke!

Call us on 01298 687006 to book your stay now.

After what seems like an age, the children have finally gone back to school and the thaw is setting in.

These dripping icicles hanging from the Barn prove that the meltdown has started and the met office has forecast that temperatures should rise through the weekend.

This is good news…

The marvellous hens and chicken coop we bought from Moorlands Poultry Supplies at Bottomhouse last spring have been keeping us in eggs all winter so far.

The hens are obviously a bit fed up with the snow as they never venture outside the coop, but we keep them topped up with warm water and layers pellets and they reward us with 4 eggs a day!

Keeping chickens is so easy, I can fully understand why it’s becoming so popular nationwide.

You need so little kit and hardly any room to keep a few chickens – everyone should have a go.

Quick plug: Moorlands Poultry are now doing eco-friendly chicken coops and arks, made entirely from 100% recycled plastics so be sure to check out their website!