We loved our stay in Swanage. Rowena Cottage was perfect. The restaurants, save one, were excellent. The scenery was outstanding. And the weather was as good as it gets. But on Friday morning at 9:00 we packed up Pierre Peugeot and set out for Derbyshire, a four-and-a-half hour drive pretty much due north. The drive, mostly on British motorways including the infamous M1 and a short stretch on England’s only toll road, the M6 near Birmingham, was uneventful although stressful (because the traffic in England is always heavy on the motorways).
We arrived in Ashbourne, the closest market town to our next cottage in England’s Peak District, at about 1:30. It’s a very pretty town. We quickly found our way to Sainsbury’s, a supermarket chain, to stock up for the week. We bought a week’s allotment of wine, some makings for sandwiches for picnics, water, bread, Rose’s lime juice (an essential), and other odds and ends.
Then we drove the additional 8 or 9 miles to the small village of Blore and to Dovedale Lodge, our home for the next seven nights. We arrived around 3:00. It’s a lovely cottage with all the amenities including washer, dryer, dishwasher, microwave, fridge, etc. We rented this one from Rural Retreats, the same broker that we used for Rowena Cottage. We unloaded the car and set up shop. The WiFi works just fine.
The weather was perfect once again for the drive, and the temperatures reached the low 80’s, unheard of for England in May. We took a very short walk to and around Blore’s St. Bartholomew’s Church and Graveyard. I changed into shorts and we enjoyed cocktails in front of the cottage on the peaceful lawn. Dovedale Lodge is in a remote area, but there are two other homes nearby. We waved to one of our neighbors as they drove off into town.
For dinner was had steak-burgers with potatoes and a salad and a nice bottle of Chilean pinot noir. Then early to bed. No plans yet for tomorrow but there are rain showers predicted for late morning. In fact, it looks like a pretty cloudy week. No worries, we will soldier on.
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Funny it was your moving day, and it was ours as well. Moved to the free Marriott and met the kids nad grandkids, all arrived safely.
Love this new cottage, looks like one on House Hunters International that we recently SWA. And a marvelous day for moving in England!!! Enjoy the new place!!