The snowflakes were falling heavy and wet a couple weeks ago, so I think Will was glad to take a break with us in a warm kitchen and a cup of coffee, to chat about his outdoor pursuits, after a…
Category: Farming
Marlene Kinver, Shepherd
Long ago, when The Dale was still offering horse-riding weekends, Marlene Kinver was drawn northwards from the West Country. She’s been here ever since. Now responsible for some 240 head of rare breed sheep (Jacob and Rylands) that are distributed…
The horsey community in the Allen Valleys
Rosemary Granger sends in a lovely description of the joys of riding a horse out on the lanes, bridleways and byways of these valleys: “At this time of year, as I struggle into waterproof trousers, warm coat, gloves, scarf and…
Peter Dodd Contracting at Langley Sawmill
It was Sunday, so the gates were shut at Langley Sawmill, but the photo from the road deep in the Langley Bends reveals the significant enterprise that Peter Dodd has developed there. We were lucky to get Peter and his…
Sinderhope Pony Trekking Centre
I called Lisa Collingwood-Philipson on 01434 685266 the other day to chat about the pony trekking centre up at Sinderhope that she’s run since about ’99. It’s no wonder the enterprise is such a success, since she’s so down-to-earth friendly!…
Apprehension in Sparty Lea!
It was on Sunday past, but we’ve only just got the goss about the police action in Sparty Lea. Carrie drove through the thick of it, on the way up the Sparty Lea bridge, but more details have come to…
Dales Agri Sales Agency
I dropped in to the Dales Agri Sales Workshop the other day to thank Charlie Halliday for donating the brilliant round and extending table to the Charity Auction — it fits perfectly into our dining room! While I was there,…
The Farmers’ Masquerade Ball
The Farmers Masquerade Ball (you don’t have to be a farmer) is tonight the 12th of October at 7pm at Allendale Village Hall. The tickets at £30 have all been dealt out (food reservations meant that ticket sales were finished…
Jake the donkey
There’s not a lot to say about Jake, who lives next door, and sometimes gets out into the field behind us, except that he’s been adopted from his previous home in the hills above Wooley, and he has the normal…
Whitfield Village Fair!
Always the second Sunday of September, Whitfield’s Fair usually clashes with The Great North Run, the world’s largest half-marathon, that twirls around the bridges of the toon. But here in the Allen Valleys, Whitfield Village Fair is such a lovely…