News & Special Offers

Jun 15, 2008

    Availability

We still have some availability at Throstlenest throughout the summer. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.

Please note that we are now offering a 10% late booking discount on holidays in Swallow and Wren cottages (Friday to Friday) up to and including a start date of 25th July.

    Diary dates

23rd August 08 - The Wensleydale Agricultural Show (www.wensleydaleshow.org.uk). A great day out for all the family in Leyburn.

30th & 31st August 08 - Operation 'Dalesman'. Experience the sights, sounds and humour of wartime Britain in the beautiful setting of Wensleydale. Steam trains, military and civilian re-enactments, military vehicle displays, collector's fair and much more.(www.wensleydalerailway.com)

    Throstlenest news

The farmer has moved the sheep and lambs to the top field to take advantage of the lush grass there. It has grown remarkably fast this month - the sheep are half hidden in it. The lambs are strong and sturdy now - they almost knock their mothers off their feet when suckling.

The birds are all very busy at the moment feeding their young. We have pied wagtails nesting in a crevice in Pheasant cottage, and wrens in the stone wall. There are lots of goldfinches this year, and some very spendid thrushes strutting about. The house martins are swooping in and out of the eaves. Our resident mallards (one female and her two attentive males) are back after a few days absence. She built a nest in our garden and laid 14 eggs, but sadly did not sit on them. The eggs were finally discovered by the rooks, who had a fine feast.

The rabbits are having a good year - lots of them at Throstlenest, digging plenty of holes. This makes life difficult when the grass is being cut, but they are very cute and entertaining, enjoyed by both ourselves and our customers, so we resist the idea of getting rid of them (ferrets have been suggested!).

We have been having a busy and enjoyable time lately taking advantage of the Swaledale Festival (www.swaledale-festival.org.uk). This is a wonderful two week event, and if you have missed it this year, bear it in mind for the future. On Sunday we joined an informative guided lead mining walk around Langthwaite in Arkengarthdale, followed by a concert by the Keith Stephen Hot Club Trio playing the music of Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt at the CB Inn. Our next event was in the beautiful church of St. Andrews at Grinton where the combination of the stunning building and the fantastic music of Samay provided an unforgettable evening. They play Indian music with jazz and Spanish twists, and were joined by the guitarist Carl Herring. We saw them two years ago at Bainbridge, and were very glad that they were back at the festival again.

The other thing that takes up some of our time at the moment is helping out at The Picture House in Leyburn (www.picturehouseleyburn.org). This was formerly known as the Elite Cinema, and is now run by volunteers from the community. It needs all the help it can get if it is to continue as a cinema/arts centre serving the area (more volunteer projectionists needed!). It really is a 'use it or lose it' situation, but definitely worth saving. How many cinemas do you know where you can safely reserve your chosen seats with your coats and then enjoy a drink in the pleasant cafe/bar until the film starts?