Thorpe Farm

…because who doesn’t like ice cream?

We rocked up to Thorpe Farm Bunkhouses, just outside Hathersage in the Peak District, with car loads of kids and parents for our more-than-annual walking and climbing weekend. The farm dogs yapped excitedly at us and the kids yapped back. We’d booked out the old Shippon (meaning cow shed) bunkhouse, although there are 3 more available with equally bucolic names: The Byre, Pondside and The Old Stables.). The children piled out of the cars and swarmed over the bunkhouse, thrilled to learn that they’d be sleeping on the hayloft sleeping platform among the exposed beams and rafters. With 32 bunks spread across two floors, there was plenty of beds and bathrooms for all of us and a large communal dining room and kitchen gave us acres of space in the evenings.

The next day we hiked up to Stanage Edge, spending a glorious morning climbing on the famous rocks. The afternoon took us back to the farm where the owners make their own ice cream on site. With plenty of ‘Oooh’ and ‘Aaah’ over the lambs, calves and piglets we indulged ourselves because who doesn’t like ice cream?

After supper, a rare treat. The owners were very happy for us to have a bonfire in the adjoining field. Children and adults huddled around, faces lit and sleepy after a full day in the outdoors.