Number 678 Guest House Rossendale - the blog continues here in East Lancashire

Now it is really time to get things moving in the garden.  The milder weather is here and with everything grows!!!  When we see the daffodils and tulips we know "the only way is up!"

Why, oh why, when I'm terrified of heights did I agree to go climbing at Go Ape?  http://goape.co.uk/days-out/rivington  The practise run was a doddle, my feet were but 6" off the ground, easy peasy.  However, I climbed up the first "real" tree and froze!!  OMG, how on earth was I meant to get down?  Encouraged by my grandson who thought it quite funny that grandma was tree hugging I put my life in the fate of the gods and went for it................ lol, I'm still here to tell the tale.  It took us over three hours to get round the course and there were one or two occasions that I thought myself quite mad.  But there were more occasions when we laughed so much we nearly rolled over. We climbed, swung, crawled, pulled and ziplined ourselves round and I hadn't felt so good in ages!  Go Ape Rivington is just 40 minutes away and so well worth the trip.

So invigorated was I that the following day I conquered my fear of fairground rides and spent the whole day at Pleasureland Blackpool.  The mad mouse was truly mad, how did we not get thrown off at every corner??  I have always hated fairground rides, I'm really not an adrenalin junkie but there comes a time when grandma just has to succumb to grandson's pressure.  Fortunately, The Big One wasn't running so I was saved the embarrassment of that one!  Apart from having my head buried into the back of Cameron all the way round The Avalanche I did extremely well and my pride was kept intact.  Blackpool Pleasureland is just less than hour away and the peace and tranquility of Number 678 is the perfect place to wind down from a busy, hectic and adrenalin filled day.  Look forward to seeing you soon!

Easter fun

Number 678 Guest House - the blog continues

How beautiful life has been here in Rossendale this past few weeks.  Yes, we've had our share of the snow but only enough to make Rossendale even more beautiful! 

Our promise to serve only fresh, local produce when possible went to new extremes with our breakfast visitors this morning.............................

They stayed a couple of hours enjoying their fresh breakfast!

 

Easter was eventful in Rossendale.... over the Easter weekend we had the Rossendale Artisan market on our newly created town square.  The market attracted a few thousand visitors into town of which two of them were us :)   We took advantage of the sunny crisp weather and walked over the back hill and down into town.  It was a lovely walk which took us approx 30 minutes.  The welcoming food tent had a varied selection of foody delights from Italy, Greece, China and of course Rossendale.  Local producers had their wares on sale: clothes, soap, wooden toys/ornaments, jewellry, cakes, bread, kitchen wares etc. etc. such an array.  Our walk back via Newchurch was broken by a well earned rest (!) and a little gargle.

 

Our world famous coconutters once again led the Easter Saturday parade attracting visitors both nationally and worldwide.

 

Easter Monday saw the annual clog cobbin competition held at The Roebuck, Burnley Road East Scoutbottom.  Contestants chuck their "clog" over their head backwards with the furthest chuck winning the title.  Traditionally borne from the local shoe industry fun and frivolity continues all day around this fun loving event.

 

Who needs Easter bunnies with the colourful characters of Rossendale!!

You gotta luv it!

 

 

 

Number 678 Guest House - the blog continues

More snow again yesterday and although it came down very heavy in a short space of time it melted just as quickly!  Love it!

Once again we have been on our adventures taking in some local walks.  On Sunday we decided to take the Bronte circular walk around Trawden.  http://www.visitlancashire.com/dbimgs/Brontes_in_Pendle[1].pdf
Follow this link if you fancy having a go.  We particularly like this walk as it takes you through proper farmland, off the roads and well trodden trails.  Alright, in parts it was a little damp :)  and yes, you shared your walk with the sheep but if, like me, Wuthering Heights, was just one of the most memorable books ever, then the walk is a must.  Walking the walk in January one has to expect the wind, sometimes extremely brisk, but Heathcliffe with his passionate temper stalking the hills as the mist comes down following on your heels is just so worth it.  Then, hang on, oh yes, it is Tom following closely on my heels.  Not quite THE Heathcliffe but hey ho, this is reality!

I'm afraid next Sunday is back down to reality.  A weekend with our grandson with next Sunday spent with our daughter in law and sister walking Blackpool prom!

Number 678 Guest House - the blog continues

"Snow is falling, all around......."

First job of the day................. clear all the snow from the drive!
It's a winter wonderland here at Number 678.  Local schools are closed but we are open.  Rossendale is a beautiful place whatever the time of year but when covered in snow it really is something else.  Unlike surburbia our snow stays brilliant white until it is melted.

Number 678 Guest House wishes all our guests both past and present a very happy, healthy and prosperous 2013!


As we move into a new year we look back at 2012 and remember that, without our wonderful guests; those that we see on a regular basis and those that pass through on their various journeys, we would not be here without you.  So from both of us we offer a very big thank you and look forward to seeing you all again in 2013.  Of course, we look forward to meeting new guests too.  Always a warm welcome here at Number 678.


Thanks to wonderful Jaqs who once again took the reins at Number 678, we decided to take off over Christmas and flew off to La Palma. 
Leaving Number 678 in Jaqs' hands meant that many visitors to the valley were able to spend the Christmas with their families.  Starting their days with a fresh, hearty, locally sourced breakfast I'm sure set them off well.
The New Year celebrations were equally enjoyable.  We had a group of lovely guests who decided to congregate together with their children for their own personal get together to say au revoir to 2012 and welcome 2013 with plenty of bonhomie.  A good time was had by all.

So now we settle down to the new year, attempt the detox, but gave up on new year resolutions too many years ago after too many failed attempts!

Once again, we thank you for making 2012 such an enjoyable year for us.  We look forward to being of service in 2013.

Number 678 Guest House - the blog continues

Rawtenstall Artisan Christmas market was a brilliant event.  Our local artisans usually have stalls in Manchester, and so popular are they, that they had a three day event here in Rawtenstall.  Locals and visitors alike enjoyed the festive atmosphere of with a collection of Fine Food, Craft and Vintage stalls.  The market lit up our newly laid town square at one end with the fun fair lighting up the opposite end of Bank Street.  Three days of fun and frivolity and, although the artisan market has now come to end, this does not see the end of festive happenings throughout the valley throughout December.  Alder Grange Community and Technology School will be hosting a craft stall at Rawtenstall's traditional market this coming weekend.  The children from Alder Grange craft club will be selling their Christmas arts in aid of local charities.  Hand made wreaths and Christmas decorations of all shapes, sizes and prices will be offer for that unique addition to your Christmas celebrations.
Our guests are enjoying bright, clear, crisp weather here in Rossendale.  We still have a duck with a poorly leg which hops in each morning for its breakfast.  Poor thing, he does enjoy a bit of black pudding though!
We are so fortunate with the variety of wildlife that enjoy coming into the garden for their morning titbits.    The vivid colours of the bluetits never cease to amaze me.

Number 678 Guest House - the blog continues


Well, although we drove out of Rossendale today, we did stay in Lancashire.  We drove just 40 miles up to Lancaster, parked the car and walked by the River Lune and then up and over the viaduct to walk along the towpath to Hesk Bank.  Oh, it was lovely, such a beautiful walk; about 4.5-5 miles each way.  Apart from the scenery the vast array of birds were a pleasure. Two beautiful herons stood statuesque by the water as we wwalked past and then on the way back it was hilarious watching an elderly couple trying to get some pics.  Every time they got close enough the heron would take off and move further up the canal, heaven knows how long they were following it!  The highlight for me were the kingfishers.  I have only ever seen the kingfisher at the back of Number 678 on a couple of occasions so it was lovely to see four of them flying up and down the canal, and not just once!  The flew up and down as we walked both ways: beautiful.  Some strange looking swans too; some pure white with wonderfully shaped wings when folded, and others in shades of brown and white.

  Hest Bank was a lovely place to stop for an hour.  From the towpath, it is just 200 yards to the sea front, plenty of services, pretty and gentle.  So, Number 678 can really be your gateway to lovely Lancashire.