Stanshope - hills and snow!
Last Friday my younger brother and sister and their partners took me away for the weekend for my 60th birthday, I had no idea where we were going (I like surprises!) but knew it was somewhere on an organic farm. We arrived at Stanshope which is on the border of Staffordshire and Derbyshire in the middle of wonderful countryside. Church Farm has a small cottage and The Ancestral Barn for rent, both of which are 4* and 5* rated. The farm is part of a much larger farm owned by their parents. the view below is from the entrace to the farm looking in (taken on the Saturday)
The Ancestral Barn when we arrived on the Friday- we were greeted by Susan and James who live at Church Farm next door who told us that the barn had been converted by James' parents about 12 years ago and everything has been done using reclaimed materials. Sorry but I forgot to take pictures of inside!!
This is Church Farm (the barn is on the right as above)
First thing Saturday morning, there had been quite a hard frost but the sun was shining over the horizon
I was greeted by their dog Henry - an absolute beauty who is really friendly - he was trying to get a drink from the pond!
macro of the litchen in the sunlight
macro of the ice crystals on a metal gate
We decided to visit the local church, St James, which was originally built in the 12th Century but was added to in the 15th century - this beautiful tree was next to the entrance
the view from the churchyard
inside was very well preserved and it looks well used, the kneeling pads are all differently stitched with very unusual pictures
by the time we left the church it had started snowing - this little beauty greeted us as we got back to the barn, a very chubby little chap with a white underbelly
Saturday late afternoon - what a change! thick snow everywhere and we were supposed to be going out for a meal but unfortunately...
...even with snow tyres on my brothers car we could not make it there, we set off but as we hit the first hill we lost traction and had to turn round :(
First thing Sunday morning and the snow was just as thick although the road had been cleared and gritted so at least we could go out. this was the view through the valley - it leads to the river Dove and Dovedale
Wellies on I decided to go for a short walk towards the top of the hill, actually I was led by a very happy Henry who wanted to show me around!!
a trio of trees on the side of the hill
a few of the farm sheep
this was the view from the farm
I managed to make it to the top of the hill and this is the view looking down on all the farm buildings - stunning!
this was the view from the other side
I couldn't resist this shot, the sky meets the snow through an open gate!
snowscape
the farm from the now frozen solid pond
Monday and we had to leave early - luckily the roads were reasonably clear and as we drove back towards Manchester we realised how different areas had received less snow. this beautiful scene is the Goyt Valley - between Buxton and Whaley Bridge- the Errwood dam and reservoir are in the background
it was a super place to stop and see the wonderful mist settled over the valley - there are two reservoirs here Errwood completed in 1968 and Fernilee in 1938. Before the reservoirs were built the valley was home to a thriving community with many farms, a paint works, a railway, a Victorian mansion, coal mines, a quarry, a school and even a gunpowder factory
this is the Goyt valley with the wonderful Cats Tor in the distance - after staying for a while we then went for lunch before my brother took me home.
Thanks very much for having a peek, I hope you enjoyed my short tour as much as I did - I took loads more shots but as most of them were snow I thought I had shown you enough!!
Glynis 
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Wow Glynis. What a great birthday treat. I reckon you were lucky to be snowed in. You all have a chance to get closer and were forced to stay in together. A cracking set of shots and that building covered in snow and the smoke coming out of the chimney, looks great and a great sense of "home". What a lovely place. I wouldn't mind being snowed in there with you!!! Lol
Lovely stuff. Mwah XXX
Steve
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I enjoyed it very much Glynis. Judging by the great photos I would say it's a wonderful place to get away from it all.
Excellent photos,stunning views, well done.
Monty.
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Lovely photos Glynnis..I hope you enjoyed your weekend.
Now being in Manchester ..are you going to the Lakes in May?....Hope so.
Jim
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Lovely blog Glynis, great photos.
Looks like a nice area to visit.
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Wonderful blog Glynis, these images are all stunning!
What a difference from the first ones of the cottage, but the snow has added to the beauty, especially those ones above the mist. As for Happy Henry, what a star!
Thank you for uploading and sharing, I've enjoyed every minute of it.
Viv
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Hey Glynis,...what a great place! enjoyed the tour around with you....and as Steve said...what a great place to be snowed in. Your pictures have a great sense of place...gave me a good idea of what it's like there...Well Done !
Thanks for your kind comments Glynis...All The Best......Ian
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enjoyed that looks a great place.hope you enjoyed yourself
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That was great Glynis. Beautiful scenery and I loved the dog. Thanks for sharing your Birthday treat with us.
Christine
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From start to finish wonderful! Some beautiful scenes of a great part of the country, thanks for sharing.
http://www.myfinepix.co.nz/blog/148038/469556 Madeiran flower festival.
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A real pleasure. Thanks for sharing
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I love these shots I wish we had a bit of snow, thank you for sharing
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Hope you had an enjoyable time, as i certainly did great blog with some stunning winter landscapes.
Donald.
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Beautiful, thank you for sharing
Richie_bl
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Some wonderful images. Shame you didn't get out for your meal - did they do a delivery service
Looks like the scenery more than made up for it, though
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Blimey!!! Here's me heaving my weary body up 200oft to get a bit of snow and you get it almost on your doorstep, and what about that inversion in the valley!! Super, you lucky devil
Greeat blog and it sounds like you've had a great time. I remember we used to stay at a farm in Shropshire when I was a youngster (no sarcastic commnets please..) and we were there when a similar rthing happened and we were snoweed in for 3 days. I remember it like it was yesterday, we had the most fantastic time, perhaps that where my love of the white stuff comes from!
Super stuff Glynis,
Ian
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Smashing blog Glynis,glad you enjoyed your weekend even though it snowed
"Any Comments From Me Are My Opinion, And Are Not Slurs On The Individual"
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wonderful set of photo's..love they way the snow changed the whole look of the farm and the land. So different to the hot dry climate here...
Sue Tozer
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Hi Glynis what a stunning photoblog you have posted and I have thoughly enjoyed it as it must have been a wonderful weekend and the snow scenes has set it of brilliantly. Glynis a brilliant blog and many thanks for sharing best wishes BoB.xx
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A really delightful blog, Glynis. Terrific images and an interesting narrative. Thanks for posting.
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Cracking blog Glynis! I've been praying for snow this year, but had none. (it did snow on the hills when I couldn't get time off work though!! lol)
Liked
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Reall enjoyed the snowy scenes - top blog
I have a new Blog called ‘Felixsnow – a snowy winters walk :)’ I hope you like it as I love feedback and comments from all around the world!!!
Have added some more pics from a sunny walk at Levington – please check them out
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Thanks everyone for your lovely comments, as lovely as the scenery was, I think the snow really added to it so I was very happy to be snowed in for a while xxxx
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Great blog. Some excellent shots here, like it. Thanks for your comments on my efforts.
Ray
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Hi. Loved looking through your blog. I like the way your photos change from nice to winter. What beautiful views. Thank you for showing them :) Elizabeth. (Have not heard from you awhile, have you time to look at my Muttart blog, would love to hear what you think. Elizabeth
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Wow, stunning photos Glynis. Those last few with the mist are outstanding.
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Thanks Fred for tweeting this blog - very much appreciated xxxx
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What a wonderful set of photo's, I really like the look of the Goyt Valley. I guess you've probably got one or two chrismas card pics in there.
Thanks, Mike.
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What a lovely birthday surprise, I really enjoyed your blog, beautiful scenes thanks for sharing.
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Great landscape .beautiful.Thanks for sharing.
This time will pass.
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Very nice blog! I looked at the pictures and I really enjoyed! Me saddens just one thing - I did not congratulate you on your birthday ... I did not know this, Glynnis, and I apologize for that!
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fantastic blog really liked it and a very late happy birthday looks like you had a great time
thats much better than the one i took
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A lovely blog & what a wonderfull surprise for you. May have to visit the area myself sometime. Thanks for sharing... Paul.
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