Some of you will remember the guided group walk with a local historian on English Heritage Day last September to see some old farmhouses in our area. I've been wanting to return that way, but the weather hasn't been suitable until this week. Today we decided to take a drive there rather than go on a longer trip, as planned, because of the possibility of more snow storms.
It was not a day for walking the footpaths or lanes where there were patches of snow and ice.
There were diversions where some tracks over the heights were still icy.
We passed a complex of buildings, a former farm that is now rented out. Our daughter once rented rooms there. It's a lovely place to live in the warmer months as there are wonderful views across to the reservoir. However, one day when she was driving to work in snowy weather she skidded down a hill and ended up in a field. It could have been worse as she could have crashed into a stone wall. She eventually moved nearer to the city.
However, there are one or two working farms in the area as well as a few other isolated cottages.
It's not surprising that many of the larger farmhouses have high, solid wall to counteract the bitter winds during the cold months of the year.
This is the inside of the courtyard which we were privileged to enter when we went on our tour.
I'm looking forward to another walk in this beautiful area on a warmer day than today. There are many interesting historical features associated with these farms that we were told about on our group walk which I will write about another time.
