3 New Houses Diary

Better get at least one post in for 2010!

2010-09-21T22:15:00.002+01:00

We've had such a lot of lovely visitors since May this year that there hardly seems to have been time to turn round. Even though the weather has been a bit challenging, everyone seems to have had a good time. Autumn breaks are filling up too, so get yours booked as soon as you can! October breaks from £130 (two nights at the weekend), November and December from £105. Enough logs for the weekend included, so you'll be toasty.

Happy New Year

2009-12-30T10:53:00.003Z

Happy New Year to all our readers and guests past, present and future. Christmas at New Houses was wonderfully snowy and it's snowing again ready for New Year!

Birdwatching

2009-05-31T14:14:00.002+01:00

We have a very small population of "garden" birds up here, which I think must be because of the large surrounding area of treeless grazing land - this brings us larks and curlews as compensation of course. Regulars at the birdtable in this fine weather are reduced to the stalwart bluetit pair - where are the chaffinches? I think I heard one lower down the hill this morning, so am hoping it's not a sign of finch disease... For real birdsong we have to go a quarter of a mile to Dark Lane which runs from Cressbrook Church down to Litton Mill, where the woods are full of blackcaps, willow warblers, wrens, blackbirds, and many others I can't identify.

Get your boots on for the Peak District Walking Festival

2009-02-05T16:40:00.005Z

Any time is good for a walk up here (even wading through a Breughel landscape of snow and freezing fog today) but we celebrate in Spring with the Peak District Walking Festival 2009 (25th April - 4th May). A great range of guided walks is available, many within easy striking distance of New Houses. Many are free of charge, but most require advance booking, so check them out at www.visitpeakdistrict.com/pdwf and take advantage of our special offer break 25th - 30th April:
5 or 6 nights for £180
3 or 4 nights for £150

Half term holiday short break

2009-01-15T20:34:00.003Z

Since this is only the second winter since we started we're very pleasantly surprised at the number of people taking short breaks in January and February and although we worry every time that the weather is going to be just too awful, it never is - everyone has a great time and says how comfortable and warm the cottage is to come back to after a brisk winter walk! We just couldn't say no to a repeat booking for the first weekend of the school half term, which means we can offer the remaining 4 nights Tuesday 17th - Friday 20th at the special offer price of £130. Or 5 nights 17th - 21st for £155. Do call if you're interested in either of these or any other number of days in that week.

Perhaps we'll have some more snow! (in the picture, taken from Litton Edge, New Houses is the small clump of trees between the dark pine trees on the right and the line of trees on the crest of the hill)

New Year's Eve

2008-12-31T19:32:00.002Z

The last day of the old year and we are lost in freezing fog, the trees covered in hoar frost and every plant and blade of grass outlined in sparkling white. Tomorrow we hope for frost and brilliant sunshine above seas of fog lingering in the valley, but today was a day for brisk walks and returning to sit round the fire. The champagne is chilling outside the back door, Happy New Year to everyone and hope we'll be welcoming you to New Houses in 2009!

Winter breaks

2008-11-12T20:21:00.005Z

Still a few pre-Christmas opportunities to take advantage of our winter midweek specials, 4 nights for the price of 3, £114. Get away from the shopping crowds on the hills or indulge in orgies of Christmassyness at Chatsworth, Castleton etc. The cottage remains an oasis of peaceful comfort and warmth after the rigours of either of the above...

October special midweek deals

2008-10-11T12:41:00.008+01:00

Leaves turning colour and evenings drawing in make for ideal restorative breaks combining atmospheric autumnal walks and fireside relaxing. We have a couple of midweek bargains left at £125 for 3 nights or £110 for 2. Check the availability calendar to see if you can fit one in. While you're here, you could catch the "Beyond Limits" sculpture exhibition in the garden at Chatsworth (there's a link to the Chatsworth website on our Things to Do page).

Weather or not

2008-09-10T17:50:00.003+01:00

Because of our very flexible (some say impractical) booking policy we have an extra long week available at the end of September - 8 nights from 27th Sept to 4th Oct, which we're offering for the 7 night rate of £250. Or any 4 nights in that week for the price of 3: £150. Just in time for the Indian Summer, we hope. 3 New Houses however has its own long range weather forecast, as follows:- It will be windy most of the time and the weather will keep changing. If you can see the hills beyond Buxton then it isn't raining, and probably won't be for quite some time, unless there are really huge black clouds looming over them. If you can't see the hills then it is probably raining or about to rain. If you can't see the top of the field then it's raining or we're in a cloud. Whatever the weather looks like from inside, it will be much better when you're out (but if not, inside it's very cosy and relaxing, listening to the wind and rain and basking in the warmth of the stove).

Get ready for The Duchess...

2008-08-16T21:04:00.004+01:00

Our special offer short break between 1st-5th September will get you in the mood for the film everyone's talking about. "The Duchess" is out on 5th September - get the inside story in advance at the special exhibition at Kedleston Hall* or absorb the atmosphere at Chatsworth, the real life home of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire.

All 5 nights £200, any 4 nights £180, any 3 nights £150, any 2, £120.

*the exhibition is open daily except Thursday and Friday.