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Watch the Perseids at their best

Perseids meteors
copyright: Ed Sweeney

The 11th and 12th August will be best nights this year to watch the Perseid meteor shower. Our holiday cottages are in a great rural location with very little ambient light to spoil the show.

The meteors originate from a comet, Swift-Tuttle, which orbits the sun every 133 years. As the earth travels through the trail of the comet pieces of icy dust left by the comet burn up in our atmosphere.

Just in case you are wondering, we are unlikely to be on a collision course with the comet for another 2000+ years – phew!

The best view will be in the earlier hours before dawn after the moon has set. We can provide garden chairs, a flask and rugs to keep you warm. You just need to look northeast and be patient!

The weather at the moment doesn’t look like it is going to co-operate but we live in hope.

The best dates for next year will be 12th and 13th August if you want to get your Peak District holiday booked!

5 Quirky Facts about Chatsworth

Chatsworth has recently been voted in the top 10 UK visitor attractions by TripAdvisor users. Only 10 miles away from Hayloft and Byre holiday cottages, it is well worth a visit. Here are a few lesser known facts about Chatsworth and its estate.

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The village of Edensor was originally much closer to Chatsworth House. The Fourth Duke of Devonshire felt that the village spoiled his view so he had the entire village (apart from one house) moved! It is reported that when the Duke was presented with the proposed designs for the new village houses, he could not make up his mind so had one built of each design.

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Did you know that the Emperor Fountain is a Grade II listed building! The fountain is completely gravity fed. The water flows naturally from the moorland above Chatsworth into the Emperor Lake. Pipework then brings it down the hill to the fountain. It is capable of reaching 90m (290 feet) but is usually “turned down” a bit to save water.

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More than 100 people work in the Farm Shop and Restaurant – and, by the way, the cherry scones are THE best

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There are more than 1,200 yew trees that make up the maze in the Chatsworth Gardens. That is a lot of hedge trimming!

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Chatsworth has been undergoing a huge project of restoration and conservation in the past few years. 2,200 square metres of stonework has been cleaned, 1.25 tonnes of lime mortar has been used to re-point the facades and 42 windows have been re-gilded with 24 carat gold leaf which look amazing, especially when the gold catches the sunlight!. I have been trying to find out (unsuccessfully) how much gold leaf has been used – perhaps someone can tell me?

Elderflower Cordial

The elderflower trees are are just beginning to flower here in Derbyshire and I cannot wait to get started with some elderflower cordial.

This is the recipe that I use;

Elderflower Cordial

Ingredients
6-8 heads of elderflower
575ml of water
450g caster sugar
2 teaspoons citric acid
1 lemon – juice and zest

Method
Tap the flower heads gently on a hard surface to remove dust or insects. Put them into a large bowl

Bring the water and sugar to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat and pour over the elderflower heads. Stir in the citric acid, lemon juice and zest. Cover and leave for 24 hours to infuse.

Strain and pour into sterilised bottles and seal. Unless you are planning to keep your cordial a long time then an old squash bottle, thoroughly washed out will be fine. The cordial also freezes well.

When serving, dilute to taste. (Try mixing with really cold sparkling water for a refreshing summery drink)

Makes about 750ml

Try to choose an elderflower bush that is away from a main road – you don’t want to be drinking those absorbed exhaust emissions

You can buy citric acid in independent pharmacies, Wilkinsons, asian grocery stores, online or anywhere else selling wine making equipment.