Touring
Common Barn Farm is the perfect base for touring the Peak District: Castleton and its Blue John Mines; Buxton and its Crescent and Opera House; Bakewell and its puddings; the stately houses of Chatsworth and Lyme Park. Cheshire’s gems include Chester, Gawsworth Hall, Tatton Park, Quarry Bank Mill, Jodrell Bank and Little Moreton Hall. Anson Engine Museum is located in nearby Poynton. Easily reached by road or rail, Manchester has The Lowry and Old Trafford to offer the tourist. Families may wish to visit Alton Towers and Chester Zoo. North Wales, Liverpool and Blackpool are all within reach for a day trip.
Walking
The parish of Rainow has an extensive footpath network (guidebook available in the tea room for £1), from the distinctive White Nancy monument overlooking Bollington, to the ridge of The Tors at over 1600′. Lamaload Reservoir can be reached across our fields. The beautiful Goyt Valley is just two miles away. Further afield, Kinder Scout, Dovedale, the Roaches, and many other areas within the Peak District offer the walker a great variety of rambles.
Fishing
Fly fishing day permits for Errwood Reservoir are available to our guests for £12. Errwood is an 85 acre streamfed reservoir, set in the Derbyshire Dales. It is an upland peaty reservoir with challenging fishing, plenty of space and deep water. Rainbows and Browns stocked monthly with fish averaging 1.5lbs.
We can also arrange for flyfishing tuition with a resident professional game angling instructor from Errwood Fly Fishing Club. He can help beginners, improvers, or anyone who has casting faults and wants to fish better.
For more details please ask in our tea room or contact Errwood Reservoir directly on 01625 525270.
Sailing
Guest membership at the Errwood Sailing Club, which offers dingy sailing in the Goyt Valley, can be arranged.
For more details please ask in our tea room or contact Errwood Reservoir directly on 01625 525270.
A range of sailing, canoeing, climbing and fishing is also offered at Carsington Water, in Ashbrone. They offer day acitivites, courses, and team building activites.
Cycling
Enjoy our quiet, yet challenging hilly, country lanes. When you tire of the hills, the Middlewood Way is nearby, and the Monsal, High Peak, Tissington and Longendale cycle trails are within half an hour’s drive.
Cycle Hire is available from Peak Tours who can deliver them to you, provide helmets & all necessary equipment, recommend local routes & provide detailed route notes. They also run cycle tours and mountain biking.
Motorcycling
Guided off-road motorcycle tours of the green lanes of the Peak District and beyond can be arranged with Overlander Trail Tours. They can take you “through some of the best countryside in Derbyshire, Staffordshire, and Cheshire, whilst covering some fabulously varied terrain”. Note that no off-road motorcycling is possible here at the farm.
Horse Riding
Horses may be ridden on our 250 acres of land for completely traffic-free enjoyment. Grazing is available on the farm for our guests’ horses. Peak Activities Limited can arrange group Pony Trekking around the HopeValley and Edale.
Trails such as the Trans Pennine Trail, Longdendale Trail and the Pennine Bridleway provide for both short and long distance horse riding and pony trekking. A number of stables offer riding by the hour, or half and full day treks into the great outdoors, a marvellous way to enjoy the beautiful countryside!
Details of nearby stables provided below:
Northfield Farm Trekking Centre
Northfield Farm, Flash, Quarnford, Nr Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 0SW
Tel: 01298 22543
Email: northfield@btinternet.com
URL: www.northfieldfarm.co.uk
Buxton Riding Centre
Fern Farm, Fern Lane, Off London Road, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 9NP
Tel: 01298 72319
Ladybooth Equestrian Centre
Ladybooth Farm, Netherbooth, Edale, Hopevalley, Derbyshire, S33 7ZH
Tel: 01433 670205
Fax: 01433 670205
Shooting
Clay pigeon shooting is available from a variety of providers as detailed below.
Yeaveley Estate, Ashborne
Yeaveley Estate is one of the oldest shooting schools in the country, specialising in English Sporting. At the heart of the ground are a variety of sporting stands including a grouse butt, and a variable height, multi trap high tower suitable for both beginners and accomplished shots.
Practice clays and lessons for both individual and group bookings are taken by appointment.
Tel: 01335 330247
URL: http://www.yeaveley-estate.co.uk/
Ringwood Hall Hotel, Chesterfield
Offers Clay Pigeon Shooting, Archery, Crossbow and Rifle Shooting. Booking Essential.
Tel: 01246 280077
URL: http://www.ringwoodhallhotel.com/outdoor.asp?id=6
Cloudside Shooting Club, Congleton
Offers clay pigeon shooting days, lessons and team building activites.
Tel: 01260 226392
URL: http://www.cloudside.co.uk/
Birdwatching
Moorland birds, such as the curlew and lapwing, breed in the area.
Climbing, Canoeing, Bush Craft, Archery, 4X4 Off Road & Many More…
Windgather Rocks are close by. The Roaches, Stanage and other nationally important climbing and bouldering areas are just a short drive away.
Mountain Aspirations
Mountain Aspirations provide rock climbing and mountaineering instruction and courses in the Peak District.
Tel: 01302 888842 / 07900 808311
URL: http://www.mountainaspirations.co.uk
Will4Adventure
Guided Walks, Rock Climbing Courses, Survival Skills Courses
Will4advenure offers an array of interesting activities in the Peak District such as guided walks, rock climbing and survival skill courses.
URL: http://www.will4adventure.com/
Derwent Pursuits
Archery, Canoeing, Climbing, Orienteering and Abseiling + much more!
Derwent pursuits provide a huge range of activities such as archery, bush craft, falconry, 4×4 off road, canoeing, abseiling and they can also organize corporate event days. If you want to try something new then visit their website or give them a call to see what they can offer.
Tel: 0800 358 1308
URL: http://www.derwent-pursuits.co.uk/
