Active Stays with Chris & Pru in the Beautiful Peak District

09/05/2025

Run, Bike, Hike, Relax
Once upon a time, a very longtime ago, I represented Essex in the Ladies team at a national fell running event, once you’ve finished laughing, unpack the oxymoron that is Essex fell running. Anyway we now live in the Peak District where they really know about fell running and one of the toughest is the Warslow Fell Race which is over 10k and taking place Saturday 5th July - this time we will be marshalling not running, so cheering you on if you fancy giving it ago.
www.staffsmoorlands-ac.co.uk/Cms/Spaces/INFORMATION/Warslow+Fell+Race

As you would expect here at Active Stays we are very enthusiastic about the sporting events in the area, a few we have even taken part in - we like to think we offer a great base if you want to explore any of these events; secure bike store, enthusiastic encouragement and a sauna for post event recovery or if you are particularly athletic we can arrange an ice bath!

If you are a cycling nut, there is roughly an event every month through the summer, by definition of location most of them are pretty gruelling, however there are shorter distances and a couple of family focused events. There are some listed at the end of this post if you want to Google them.

We have taken part in a couple of the cycling events but have a little more experience of the running activities of which there are too many to list. One highlight is the Leaden Boot Challenge, this is really considered a long distance hike, although it attracts many runners and is difficult to beat for scenery and ascents over the stunning 26ish mile off road route, made particularly challenging for me as at about half way we pass very close to home, hard to go past when you know what is ahead. Full for this year, but well worth considering for 2026, it fills early so one to commit to. https://www.alstonefield.org/tourist-info/leaden-boot/

At the end of June we have the
Peak District Ultra Challenge this is a weekend of various distances all based in Bakewell with the 100km continuous for those who really want to test themselves.
https://www.timeoutdoors.com/events/peak-district-ultra-challenge/full-100km-continuous

We are particularly well served for off road but great underfoot events the Tissington half marathon weekend is in September this route is along the disused railway line and even has a slightly down hill trend, great for views and PB’s
https://www.nice-work.org.uk/e/tissington-trail-half-marathon-weekend-9222

Carsington water is also worth checking out, they hold several events throughout the year, including a multi race festival event running round the reservoir, traffic free with lovely views, although the December half is a bit brutal with freezing fog that froze my eyelashes the year I tackled it, but the cold really does keep you moving.

The area so much to offer the weekend worrier, and we’re here to offer support and comfort, why don’t you find yourself a challenge.

Cycling Dates
18th May 2025 – Tour of the Peak – 182 or 96 km – start/finish in Bakewell

June 2025 – Longstone Hill Climb – (probably) the most picturesque hill climb in the UK

June 2025 – Peak District Gravel Epic – 136, 100 or 58km loop starts & finishes in Buxton.

June 2025 – Bradwell Hill Billy Sportive – 78km with 2,334m of ascent

July 2025 – Peak Rough Stuff – described as “all killer, no filler” Two route options taking in the best of the Peak District’s off road.

August 2025 – The Toughest 100

September 2025 – Grindleford Goat – A lovely family friendly day out using Grindleford as the base.
Sat 27th The Peaks Cycle Tour sportive from Bakewell Show-ground 74k, 120k, 160k

06/05/2025

Manifold valley is stunning this morning. It definitely pays to get out early

02/05/2025

How Ethel met the Peaky Blinders

Okay, so by now anyone seeing our posts will know we are aiming to climb all the Ethels in the Peak District before Xmas. But the big question is why!

The Ethels are “95 hilltops over 400 meters and other significant lower prominent hills”- which basically means a selection of fabulous views spread out across the park, so why not? Some of the Ethels are pretty well known, and well trodden; Mam Tor, Kinder Scout, Shuttlingsloe etc. and some have become famous by association; Chrome Hill and Packhorse Hill are part of the dramatic and much photographed Dragons Back and featured prominently in the final scene of Peaky Blinder’s.

But for us it isn’t about the well known routes, searching out all the Ethels is a great way of finding new paths and getting to know the whole area, many of them aren’t particularly challenging to climb and it’s not about the challenge, it’s the joy the of being outdoors with nature and for us, seeing the seasons change as we work our way through them.
We are lucky enough to be able to climb the well known ones “off peak” to avoid the crowds, which is why we found ourselves heading up to the Roaches in darkness on Jan 2nd to watch the sunrise in splendid isolation. It was a sensational good to be alive morning and well worth the early start.

Etheling is what you make it, there are loads right on our doorstep and whether you want a full days hiking, or a before brunch solitary adventure, we highly recommend getting the app and heading out to find new places and new views.
www.active-stays.com

https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/ethel-ready/id1559545575

27/04/2025

Birds, Bees and Wilde Garlic
All of a sudden nature is in your face, the grass is green, the trees have leaves and the fields are full of bleating lambs. I love it when we have a proper “the sun is shinning” springtime.

I have had the first wild garlic forage of the season and every meal is now smothered in wild garlic pesto The tractor mower is back in service keeping the path to the gin shed passable and the pollinators are making the most of all the areas we haven’t managed to mow or w**d.

Spring is a fabulous time to be here especially with binoculars in hand up on the moors, so this post we’re going birding and it’s dedicated to Chris and Kim, Chris can spot ‘em and name ‘em and Kim captures them on digital film - so photo’s curtesy of Kim and the stunning sunset deer shot is down to Darren.
We’ll start on Reapsmoor, 3 or 4 miles North of Butterton, here you can spot Reed Buntings. Stonechats, a wide verity of Pipits, and Curlew and Snipe a plenty, including Steve the Snipe who waits on one leg on fence posts hoping kindly birders will give him some food.
If raptor’s are your thing you need to be up here early morning or evening when you might be treated to a beautiful barn owl (my personal favourite), a Hen Harrier and the rare Short Eared Owls all swooping low to feed. To spot the even rarer Ring Ouzel you need to make a trip over to Stanage Edge, this is by no means guaranteed but we have been lucky enough to see one.

For the final part of our birding adventure it’s off to RSPB Coombs Valley, it’s a beautiful, although quite strenuous, hike round the reserve which is famed for the Pied and Spotted Flycatchers also Red Starts, the reclusive Woodcock and several types of Warbler. The reserve is well worth a visit however Chris can point out most of these birds down in the Manifold Valley where you may also be treated to a wonderful ariel display curtesy of the swifts swooping around Thors Cave and a nesting Peregrine Falcon. And of course Swallow Barn is named for a reason and The Charm is named in honour of all our Goldfinches. Happy Birding.

www.active-stays.com

19/04/2025

Oakmoor Farm Alpacas
Today we are talking a walk straight from Active Stays up onto the moor to Oakmoor Farm to visit the Alpacas and let Vala our Vizsla have a run with her besties.

From behind Dalemore Cottage you can walk alongside a branch of Hoo Brook up onto Grindon Moor. On route you pass the tumbledown remains of The Twist, it’s rather sad watching this old house slowly disintegrate, it is in such a beautiful, if rather boggy spot. I guess the challenge of restoring this farm house to a condition fit for contemporary living is just too great. We carry on up the hill turn left at the road and arrive at Oak Moor Farm.

Oak Moor Farm is in a stunning spot on top of the moor and well worth the trek up the hill, they have a secure dog exercise area you can book for safe off lead zooming time, much loved by Vala, but the main attraction for us humans are the gorgeous alpacas. They are gentle inquisitive animals, who love a cuddle and are prized for their restorative qualities if you head out for a peaceful walk with them. Whilst we are here we can grab a coffee and shop for goods knitted from the alpacas silky fleeces a lovely reminder of your alpaca experience. You can even have a go at foot golf! A slightly bonkers but great fun mix of football and golf.
When we eventually tear ourselves away it is a gentle stroll along the road heading for the much photographed Jennie’s tree, and back down the hillside arriving right by Swallow Barn, maybe it’s time for a sauna or we could head to the Gina Shed . . .

www.oakmoorfarm.com
www.active-stays.com

11/04/2025

The Gin Shed is Open
The sun has been shining relentlessly for the past couple of weeks and the daffodils are in full bloom. So this week we are staying put and talking a stroll around Active Stays HQ.

A short but up hill 4 minute stroll from Dalemore Cottage will bring you to Greenhead Cottage which is also home to the small but perfectly formed Swallow Barn, and yes we do have swallows in the summer.

On site here there is a well equipped gym and sauna, Coach Chris is on hand if you want a bit of personal training or a yoga session with Pru. But the exciting news is that if you walk on a bit further and head up home field you will arrive at the our garden retreat - The Gin & Fizz Shed.

The winter residents have been evicted, the cushions plumped, the glasses polished and the doors are open just in time for Easter - with a fire pit and fleecy rugs for the chilly evenings and a sofa inside where you can snuggle up with a book the Gin Shed is the perfect spot to take in the views of Butterton village and rest up after a long day enjoying everything the Peak District has to offer.
Did someone say cheers!

www.active-stays.com

28/03/2025

Hartington Village
This week we are taking a trip to our neighbouring village of Hartington. Just over a 10 minute drive from Butterton, Hartington is a popular visitor spot. The scenery in and around this charming old limestone village is stunning, providing a beautiful setting that wraps around the village which has two pubs, several independent shops, including the deli style village stores and the famous cheese shop with an extensive range of locally produced cheese, all arranged artistically around the square, and the much photographed duck pond.
There are some lovely walks from here, long or short depending on your mood, we particularly enjoy walking North from the duck pond out along Dig Street to Pilsbury, this is an easy walk along a barely used gated road alongside the River Dove, before it arrives in the extremely popular Dove Dale. After about 2.5 miles of drinking in the views of the valley, just before the turn up the hill, you won’t miss this! You can continue on a footpath/bridle way to Pilsbury castle, don’t get too excited, there aren’t any battlements but you can see the quite distinctive earthworks of the Norman Motte and Bailey.

Beresford Dale is the other gem not too miss, this time walking South out of the village, the footpath starts behind the public toilets next to Hartington farm shop and cafe. My recommendation is to get here early, for me I’m talking sunrise, head off for a walk this time going down stream with the Dove and explore this beautiful area, there is even a swim spot for the truly hardy, when you’re done, head back to the cafe for their award winning breakfast - served until 12, so you don’t need to get up too early.

Wether you want walks, a bit of gentle shopping, tea & cake, pub dinning or even the fish and chip van on a Friday evening, Hartington is well worth a visit.

27/03/2025

Please protect our ground nesting birds by abiding by the dogs on leads from March 1st - July law.

"A shock and something I never thought would happen to me, especially in the ."

Peak District National Park Authority chief executive Phil Mulligan has recalled how he was recently bitten by a dog off a lead during a walk on the Limestone Way. The bite penetrated clothing and skin. Whilst the owner partly apologised at the time, Phil is urging all dog owners to respect legal, seasonal requirements on the close control of dogs in the countryside.

Phil said: "The law is clear: dogs must be on a short lead at all times on Open Access land from 1 March to the end of July each year. However, for the safety of the Peak District's farm animals, care of our cherished wildlife and out of respect for other visitors, the most responsible thing is to keep your dog on a lead throughout the seasons, wherever you may be in the wider countryside.

"It's perhaps easy to say that your much-loved four-legged friend will 'never do anything like that', or indeed never has, as I was told by the owner of the dog that bit me, but this extremely personal experience in our National Park has shown me that even our 'best friends' are capable of catching us off-guard, and without warning. Fortunately I was alone at the time and not with some of my young family, where the situation may have been much different."

The National Park has also reiterated the importance of keeping dogs under close control on the Peak District's many all-user trails, where walkers, wheelers, horse riders and cyclists can all be enjoying routes together.

👉 https://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/dogs

21/03/2025

Keep Butterton Beautiful
Following on from last week’s walk from Butterton to Thors Cave, Chris, Vala and I tackled some extreme off trail litter picking on the very steep slopes around the cave this week. Vala, is better than us on the steep slopes, four legs certainly help, and collected loads of plastic bottles until she started finding lost balls and then we’d lost her….

It baffles me how we can collect so much litter on a very regular basis from such a beautiful area, do some people think the view is enhanced with the addition of their crisp packets and drinks bottles and dog Pooh bags hung in trees, or maybe they are just very careless, anyway it’s all cleared away for another week and looking beautiful for all our lucky visitors.

We and our guests are so privileged to spend time in this very special area and we want to keep it that way. It is a constant struggle for rural villages to maintain facilities for residents and cope with the issues associated with seasonal visitors, for that reason we have our own keep Butterton Beautiful Fund, 1% of all our property income is donated to village projects and is invested into things that are in-line with our outdoor ethos and enhance the village for locals and visitors alike and this includes Chris’s regular litter pics in the valley.

Come and enjoy our beautiful village and valley but please keep your pockets zipped up and make sure you take everything home with you ❤️

14/03/2025

Thor’s Cave & Excellent Cake
This week we are going to explore a hilly walk to Thors Cave, look up not down! With an excellent cake stop on the way back at Wetton Mill tea shop.
Thor’s Cave is a natural cavern set in a steep limestone crag in the Manifold Valley, it’s about 2 miles from Butterton village if you take the direct off road route along Hoo Brook and up and over Ossams Hill and is well worth the trip, especially if you get there early in the morning ahead of the crowds and in time to watch the valley wake up.

The Cave is set high on the Craig up 200 rough steps, so not for the faint hearted but is worth the climb, it has a huge arched entrance that is visible from the footpath on the scenic Manifold Way the views from the cave out into the valley are spectacular, and worth the additional scramble up onto the hill top above the cave.
Evidence has been found of human occupation of Thor’s Cave during the latter Stone Age, from around 11,000 years ago. Past excavations have found stone tools, pottery, amber beads and bronze items, as well as the burial sites of at least seven people.

When you have had your fill of fresh air and Stone Age history it is back down the steps, watch your footing they are often very slippery, turn right at the bottom along the Manifold Way heading for Wetton Mill Tea room for a cupper and an excellent piece of cake whilst you watch the ducks doing what ducks do. The tea room is perfectly situated to refuel before tackling the hill back to Butterton whether you go via Hoo Brook or the road.

18/02/2025

Absolutely stunning day today hiking and jogging along Stanage Edge and taking in three Ethel’s along the way. Cold but beautiful.

30/01/2025

Another stunning winters day and we managed to make the most of it with a run walk round Derwent Edge two Ethel’s bagged.