Here are some things that children will want to know about Croft View Cottage!

WHAT’S INDOORS?

- Toys, books, games and puzzles
- Football Table
- Doll’s pram
- CD player
- DVD and video players
- Binoculars to watch garden birds
- Visitor Book especially for children to tell us what they think. Here’s what one boy from Finland thought!...

WHAT’S OUTDOORS?

- A large garden for you to run about in
- A garden swing with trapeze attachment

- See saw and paddling pool for tiny tots
- Football net
- Cricket and badminton sets
- Swing ball, quoits etc.
- Lovely patio area for barbeques in the summer

Please take care in the garden, the enclosed, lawned area is safe but small children will need help on the steps. Please do not go near any of the drops on your way there!

WHAT IS THERE IN FOOLOW?

Foolow is a tiny village, not much here but it is very pretty with its village green and duck pond where you might like to feed the ducks (they go to bed early though, about 4 o’clock!)

There is a rectangular grassed area where children may play but make sure you have an adult with you as there is water and also a road close by.

There are lots of lovely walks from the door of Croft View Cottage and plenty of cows, sheep and birdlife all around.

You can walk to Eyam which is about 1.5 miles away, read about the plague there and find out why Eyam is famous at Eyam Museum www.eyammuseum.demon.co.uk, visit the church, Eyam Hall and its craft shops, have an ice cream and maybe paint a plate as a souvenir of your visit.

OUT AND ABOUT FOR KIDS

Maybe you fancy something more exciting than another boring walk!
Don’t panic! There’s LOTS to do and see and it’s all close by!

Everyone thinks Chatsworth is the best. The Farmyard and Adventure Playground are brill -  really big slides, high walkways and a zip wire ! There is a big area for the little ones as well with diggers in the sand and even an Archimedes screw which brings water up from the stream!

The gardens are great fun too as there are loads of places to explore such as the maze, the willow tree and the coal tunnel. Enjoy your picnic in the gardens and if it’s hot join everyone else for a paddle in the cascade. Check it out at www.chatsworth.org

There are several caverns in the area; Poole's Cavern in Buxton has the longest stalactite, the "Flitch of Bacon", as well as large natural chambers and amazing crystal formations.

In Castleton you will see the only Blue John stone deposits in the world at Blue John and Treak Cliff caverns and at Speedwell cavern you are transported to the main chamber and the "bottomless pit" on a small boat!

Also at Castleton is an ancient castle called Peveril Castle which is very interesting; sometimes there are special demonstrations and talks by English Heritage about things like life as an archer or a knight.

At Matlock Bath you can ride on the cable cars to the Heights of Abraham or visit an amusement park called Gulliver’s Kingdom. Also close to Matlock Bath is the National Stone Centre where you can have fun panning for “gems”!

Older children who are over 10 years old and over 140cm in height might enjoy a visit to Go Ape at Poole’s Cavern in Buxton, it’s great if you don’t mind heights, the zip wires there are incredibly high and long! The only problem is that you will have to find a brave adult to go with you if you are under 15 years old!

Less brave members of the family could visit Poole’s Cavern, (mentioned above) whilst you do that and you could meet for something to eat at the café afterwards.

At Carsington Water you can have water sports tuition or hire out equipment as well as hire bikes and enjoy the great play area. There is good wheelchair and pushchair access to the nature trails and also a good café and shop.

There are also plenty of interesting local museums; if you venture into Sheffield there is a great interactive museum at Weston Park and lots to see at the Milleneum Galleries where there are often special events for children www.sheffieldgalleries.org.uk..

For the active types there are endless opportunities for outdoor pursuits, including climbing (we are very close to some of the best climbing in the country), caving and riding.

Look at Dave Matthews Adventures  www.dm-adventure.co.uk ; he works with family groups and offers special events in April as part of the Peak District Walking Festival such as "Parent and Child" or "Women Only" rock climbing.

Peak Pursuits www.peakpursuits.co.uk offer a wide range of activities such as abseiling, archery, canoeing, climbing, mountain biking and orienteering. "Adventure Days" and "Family Adventures" can also be organised and collection from Croft View Cottage can be arranged.

Indoor climbing and kids tuition goes on at The Edge in Sheffield as well as  The Climbing Works  which is the world's biggest dedicated indoor bouldering centre and has a dedicated kids area. There is also  the famous Foundry, which can arrange 1/2 day instruction outdoors in The Peak District for groups up to 8 as well as offering amazing indoor walls and childrens' events.

Riding lessons, pony treks and hacks of varying lengths of time can be organised locally in Edale at the newly reopened Ladybooth Equestrian Centre; visit www.ladybooth.co.uk 

Further afield are the Buxton Riding Stables (Tel. 01298 72319) or the Northfield Farm Riding & Trekking Centre at Flash village, the highest village in England ( Tel: 01298 22543 ) or visit www.northfieldfarm.co.uk which offers treks of various duration as well as 2 day trail rides for experienced riders all in beautiful countryside.

Perhaps you'd like to do something more relaxing! How about painting a plate or mug at The Painted Plate cermaic painting studio in Eyam; they do a lot of work with kids of all ages and have a special family admission price.

If you are a budding artist maybe you could ask the grown-ups to treat you to a special one- to- one art lesson with local artist, either in her studio or outdoors painting some of the beautiful landscape? www.dianekettle.co.uk

You will need to enquire about these activities before you arrive in the Peak District as they are very popular. By all means contact me and I will do my best to help or use the links in the main “Out and About” section for these and other ideas. There are lots of other ideas at www.visitpeakdistrict.com and www.peakdistrictonline.co.uk.

We hope you are tempted to visit the Peak District and stay at Croft View Cottage!

If you do, please don't forget to write or draw in our special Children's Visitor Book to let other children know what your favourite things were!

2009 ART COMPETITION

Take part in our art competition! After the success of last year's art competition we will be running it again this year.

Here is last year's 8 year old winner with her amazingly detailed and imaginative picture of the Peak District! 

There will be a prize of a £10 gift voucher for the winner and the competition will be judged, taking age into account by local artist Dianne Kettle www.dianekettle.co.uk

We hope to display the best pictures of the house/area/favourite things on our web site. Remember to ask for the “Art Pack” when you arrive!

Mrs N Carmichael,Swallow Cottage, Foolow, Derbyshire S32 5QA - 01433 630711 - njcarmichael@hotmail.co.uk