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Where we stayed

The former Black Cow pub, on the

village green in Dalbury Lees, has

been turned into a dining pub with

12 rooms, now in its second year. Its

pub is an oak-clad den of wooden

booths, tables and wood-burners;

there are milk-churn bar stools and

a fine stack of gins. Don’t expect

sofas and board games, though –

this is a pub for dining not lounging.

Our downtime was spent loafing in

our lovely room, where there were

pillowy beds and an armchair, and

French doors opening onto the

garden. Cream walls, white bedding

and oak furniture are lent character

by copper pendant lights, a herd of

cattle portraits and cowhide stalls.

There’s no escaping the bovine

theme, but at least it extends to fresh

milk in your mini fridge.

T

ovisitthePeakDistrictinspringistoseeabreathtakingswatheofcraggy

countrysidereturntolife–greengrassrevivingfasterthansheepcan

grazeitsfreshshoots,daffodilsbrighteningthelanes,andtinyblossoms

dotting bare branches. There’s seasonal human activity, too: Shrovetide

football in Ashbourne through the streets is a centuries-old tradition, and

in May, the annual spectacle of well dressing brings amazing mosaics made

of natural materials to 80 towns and villages in the region. Ashbourne is Derbyshire’s

southerngatewaytothePeaks–anattractivemarkettownwithineasydistanceof

walks in Dovedale and Thorpe. We stayed a short drive outside Ashbourne, in Dalbury

Lees at The Cow, a recently renovated pub with rooms.

WALKING IN DOVEDALE AND CAFE-HOPPING

IN ASHBOURNE MAKES SOUTH DERBYSHIRE

IDEAL SPRING BREAK MATERIAL

Words: KATE PETTIFER

Weekend away