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Cote Bank Farm |
What to do around our farmBirds, bees, butterflies and wild life on the farmThere are birdfeeders outside both cottages and we have many visiting birds as a result.
Pam’s well stocked garden attracts bees and butterflies galore and the big Hebe outside the back door of the Old House is covered in bumble bees and peacock butterflies when the flowers come out.
We have provided binoculars and books on birds and wildlife in both cottages to help you enjoy them.
Regulars to the feeders and our gardens here at Cote Bank are bluetits, great tits, a few long tailed tits, blackbirds, chaffinches, yellow and pied wagtails, goldfinches, redwings, robins, redstarts, thrushes, wrens, a great spotted woodpecker, collared doves and of course those nasty magpies, occasional jays, crows and starlings.
A beautiful pheasant and his shy little hen come every spring to Pam’s garden. One lucky Old House visitor saw a cuckoo in our quarry trees!
In the farmyard busy on a tasty ash tree we have a tree creeper or two. Around the farm you can see dunnocks, a green woodpecker, a spotted flycatcher, field fares, curlews, snipe, wheatears and kestrels, a few Mallards, swifts, swallows, house martens and skylarks.
An occasional visiting tawny owl and, more often, little owls are spotted on the narrow part of our lane below the Old House.
On the wildlife side cheeky squirrels come to see what has landed on the ground below the bird feeders and, until we bought squirrel proof feeders, managed great acrobatic feats to get at the nuts and seed!
Rabbits nibble in Pam’s front garden – she has great sympathy with Mr McGregor now!
Foxes come boldly down from Cracken Edge even during the day and we have to be very careful to protect our free range hens, but sadly lose them regularly.
In the past year a badger sett has appeared on our Stubbins Piece banking and visitors creep up to catch a glimpse of them at dusk. They have even been spotted scuttling along our lane after dark.
Where to eat within 3 milesWe are fortunate to have a variety of super places to eat and drink within 3 miles of us.
The Old Hall in Whitehough for fabulous food, log fire and minstrels gallery, friendly service and guest ales.
The Cross Keys for freshly cooked meals; The Lamb Inn for a traditional inn with log fire and the Vecchia Italia in Chapel-en-le-Frith – our favourite Italian with a family friendly welcome from Giovanni and Salvi.
In Chinley itself we have a Chinese take-away also serving fish and chips and an excellent Indian restaurant with take-away service as well.
Christine’s Deli in Chinley can make you up delicious filled rolls for picnics.
WalksWe have books and maps in the cottages to help guide you as you choose where you would like to explore. We live on site so can help you too.
Pam has written instructions with a map of her favourite walk from the cottages over our hill and up onto Cracken Edge and Chinley Churn with its breathtaking views out towards Kinder Scout – just to give you a taste of what there is on offer here in this unspoilt more northerly part of the Peak National Park.
GardensPam is a keen gardener and loves to share her garden – and its plants – with our guests.
We also have an abandoned quarry just out of sight behind her garden so, for a memento with a difference and if your car suspension can stand it, take a bit of Cote Bank home with you! |
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