Posh Mum's Journeys

First and foremost Poshmum would like to assert that this is a British holiday in Derbyshire and Cheshire and not a staycation. The term ‘staycation’ is objectionable and insulting to those of us who have always been supportive of holidays on home territory. Much as I love travelling overseas, holidays in Britain are just that. Let’s eradicate this loathsome term from our vocabulary. Any email I receive advertising ‘Staycations’ is swiftly deleted. Instead let us celebrate visiting local sights, tastes and sounds. Let us feel proud that we are supporting local businesses in face of a hugely strained national economy. Do use your local favourites or lose them as they are unsustainable without our support.

Beginning with a stopover at http://www.dogandpartridgeinn.co.uk in Flouch. We enjoyed hearty pub food and decent ale at very affordable prices. Glad to escape the unseasonal storm.

Did a walk round the reservoir before driving on

Moving on to Buxton staying at https://www.ensanahotels.com/buxton/en we book into our very smart and spacious junior suite. The hotel, recently refurbished to its former glory, is magnificent. The spa facilities are amongst the best poshmum has experienced so far anywhere I’ve been and I have been around! Today we soaked in the thermal pools and chilled in the salt cave.

The pavilion area is so ideal for chilling out.

Just moved on to https://grendonbnb.co.uk which has a brilliant and well earned reputation and is ideally situated for walking into town. As recent online reviews confirm, this exceptional bed and breakfast sets the bar extremely high. The owners provide superb insights into the best local experiences, whether a personally tested walk right from the door, a restaurant or cocktail bar recommendation, even a daily weather forecast- their advice ensures your time here is memorable.

Buxton is so pleasant. We sampled at our host’s recommendation The Taj Mahal Indian restaurant on the High Street tonight. Totally delicious fare. We had walked up a good appetite by hiking in the Comb reservoir area. Fantastic views and poshmum delighted that a local inn was en route. Cask ales on offer at http://thebeehiveinn.co.uk/ and the food menu looked fab so we returned a few days later. Great fresh food and noticed a rental cottage right next door. Mental note in little black book!

Browsed the https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/leisure/buxton-museum/buxton-museum-and-art-gallery.aspx this morning. Good mixture of history and art and enjoyed the embroidery exhibition. Discovered the tales of Buxton’s escapologist Randolph Douglas (Randini). He was matey with Houdini whom he supplied with tricks to use in his own show! In the afternoon did a beautiful local walk through woodland and a disused railway line. Poshmum a little sad that the nearby Old Duke Inn was unable to reopen due to the huge financial cost of Covid-19. Let’s hope someone can buy it soon and prevent another ancient inn from becoming dust in the wind. Dinner at a brasserie downtown a little too frenetic an experience for Poshmum I’m afraid.

We did a beautiful walk from Bishops Lane Buxton to the Goyt valley and disused railway line. Stunning scenery and the crosswinds certainly blew any remaining cobwebs away. We drove a few miles to an inn we ate at several years ago near the Macclesfield forest. Still home cooked fare by a superb lady chef. https://www.stanleyarms.com/ also has accommodation and breakfast. My husband loved the signature bottom oven lamb dish

Visited https://www.tramway.co.uk/ today. There was a wonderful 1940s commemorative event on so many people dressed for the part. Complete with wartime singers and a speech by Churchill!