We are nowhere as near along with our orchard as we would like at River View Pateley. The paddock at the back of the holiday cottage is as full of ancient bailer as it was at the end of autumn, and still has a couple of stubborn twice burned logs that survived a summer's camping as well as bonfire night. Frost was our enemy over winter, and although we managed to get a couple of rogue elders felled to give the trees more light to grow, the ground was frozen for much of the se

It is a five kilometer walk to the top of the caravan parks and back from River View Pateley holiday cottage. Just enough to fill an hour at any time of the day when you have nothing better to do than enjoy the scenery, the walk is gentle,easy going and full of hidden treasures. BACK TO BLOG #WalkingnearRiverView #Seasons #Localcolour

The leaves are starting to fall and it is time to think about the orchard plans at River View Pateley. The apple pruning workshop I went to earlier in the year paid dividends on our existing tree. We were rewarded with a bucket load of apples this year. Some of them are in makeshift storage in the barn. The rest went to a very talented neighbour who busied herself making jam. She sent over a view jars the other week - Blackberry and Apple, Apple and Elderberry, and her very o

Growth in the hay meadow caught up in spades at River View Pateley despite an unusually dry start to the year. Guests at the holiday cottage oversaw a bumper crop this August, bank holiday, with so many bales that the barn was overflowing. The ground nesting chicks had flown the nest. Butterflies and the bees had taken their turn at flitting over the rich variety of grasses. Now it was time to harvest a crop to keep the animals going over winter. Sunshine on the field for fi

Bright reds and burned oranges chased each other over polished chrome. But the owners were distracted by the soft petal hues of the Rose Queen and her attendants the other Saturday. Pateley Bridge, came out to support and applaud members of the local primary school and their families in a parade to celebrate summer. A group of colourful under 11's gathered in beach wear and farming outfits. A couple rode a plastic pedal tractor and others rode a rather large canoe. "What's g

Who would have thought grey skies would be so beautiful? The end of the recent dry spell has meant a small explosion in buttercup numbers in the hay meadow. Which is good news because it means the grass is growing too. With a change of wind direction from the arctic north, we should be in for a batch of warmer, wetter weather. We'll look forward to seeing how much of the seed we put in during Autumn comes through this year. If the weather is kind, we'll see a riot of colour:

The General and I dipped into Fishpond Wood this week after dropping the children off at school. A walk in here is always a treat for both of us, with the sound of birdsong and wind in the branches. The carpet of bluebells at this time of year is an extra special treat. There has been a sustained battle between Man and Rhododendrun for a few years now. The latter seems to have given up the ghost and we are rewarded by more wildlife sightings. Increased space between the nativ

​Remember those Dartmoor ewes looking heavy and tired on our side field earlier this year? Today the first three came back with the fruits of their labour: two singles and one set of twins. Just three days old, it was the first time these lambs had ever been outside. They all wore a bright red number in honour of the occasion. Pictured above is the second ewe to give birth this year with her two hungry and energetic lambs. At the moment, they are just getting used to the plac

Thirty three gorgeous, very pregnant sheep have come to stay with us at the holiday cottage before lambing time. These ladies may be heavy, extra hungry and a wee bit tired but you can't deny they have the bloom of the expectant mother. With their due date on 8th April looming close, Steve is coming every day to feed them now. They prefer home grown hay to the afternoon teas offered to other guests, and you have to say they look good on it. Driving past the field always raise