Life at Stoney End

Off to the USA today

2011-06-18T13:22:00.002+01:00

I am all organised and am just going to pack the car for my first leg of my trip. Not a very exciting

journey down to Manchester Airport!

Weekend breaks in Stoney End Cottage

2011-06-11T13:44:00.002+01:00

Fancy a weekend in Stoney End Cottage? We have some availability during June and July and some special offers on the Stoney End web site at www.stoneyend.co.uk

I am off to the US next weekend to see our daughter and leaving Mike to hold the fort!

I have never visited America and I am really excited about the trip. The flight is a little long but I have charged up the I Pad with films and books to keep me occupied. So after the 18th this blog will be from Washington DC for a few days.........

Makes it all worth while.

2011-06-04T12:40:00.002+01:00

We had guests last night who make running Stoney End worthwhile. This is an extract from their questionnaire

' This is the nicest B&B we have every stayed in'

Thank you! Your comments made our day.

Getting Warmer!

2011-06-02T09:31:00.002+01:00

It is a lovely morning up here in Wensleydale. The winds of the last few days have gone and the day has a much gentler feel. Not to self........must try and get out for a walk today!!

Trip Advisor Award

2011-05-27T18:58:00.002+01:00

Well today we received an e mail from Trip Advisor giving us a 5 rating for Stoney End for 2011!!

We are delighted with this award and would like to send a big thank you all the people who took the trouble to review their stay with us in such a positive light. Our guest experience is really important to us and even after running Stoney End for 21 years we still strive to get it right!

Thank you to all our reviewers!!

Walking from Stoney End

2011-05-25T10:44:00.002+01:00

I have just got back from a walk which the family will recognise as 'round the block' it is not too strenuous and takes about 40 minutes walking at a steady pace and taking in the views which are just spectacular. Just now the fields are full of growing lambs with their mums and the meadows left for hay are just bursting with wild flowers and full of colour. The footpath follows the river for a while and it is lovely to see the ducks with their ducklings dabbling about in what is today a fairly full fast flowing river. Back to the reality of bookkeeping now.........

Spring Bank Holiday

2011-05-24T07:44:00.002+01:00

Is everyone ready for another Bank Holiday! It is the last one until August we have B&B vacancies here at Stoney End, visit and enjoy a few days in the Dales. Visit www.stoneyend.co.uk for all details of availability over the weekend and the following week.

Getting back to normal!!

2011-05-23T20:44:00.002+01:00

Hi Everybody

It is a long time since I wrote anything here..........

Life has been very hectic, Stoney End keeps us busy as always and we have done loads of work over the last months, a new bathroom for Ellerkin (photos to follow) and even a small gym coming soon.

We have also seen Sarah and Mark married and waved them off to a new life in America.

I have had some fairly major surgery but am now well on the way to being fully recovered and we are looking forward to a busy season in Stoney End and Stoney End Cottage.

The end of an era.........

2010-08-20T19:43:00.003+01:00

Hi All

Today was the end of an era and Sarah and I changed over cottages together for the last time. Actually this is not strictly true because we do have the odd booking in September and October for Little Farthings and Springwood and of course Stoney End Cottage and the B&B continue as usual. It will be a big change and we are really looking forward to doing a little less. The first two weeks in November ( after the wedding and our holiday ) we are making some improvements at Stoney End; Ellerkins bathroom is getting a new shower so it will have a bath and a shower and we are doing quite a lot of tiling with lovely sparkling glass tiles in Ellerkins bathroom and Wensleydales ensuite. Really looking forward to that!

2010-07-11T19:13:00.002+01:00

Hi All

Check out this special offer for a couple of weekends coming up soon, when they are gone they are gone!!

Special Offer Enjoy a two night weekend break in Stoney End Cottage commencing Friday 23rd July or Friday 13th August and get the third night FREE!! Call us to book on.

Wedding Bells........

2010-06-30T07:12:00.004+01:00

Hi All.......

What a month June has been, the busiest we have ever been at this time of year at Stoney End and a really exciting time over the last week personally. Many of our visitors will have met our daughter Sarah who was engaged to Mark last week during their visit to Glastonbury. He must have earned years worth of browny points for the proposal, Sarah happily accepted and we will be enjoying a wedding later this year. Children grow up so fast! See the photos and watch the video no tears......

Mixed Feelings.........

2010-06-12T13:07:00.002+01:00

We are having a very busy time on the B&B front, thankfully, after the difficult snow filled months earlier in the year but with more visitors there is always the chance of coming across the odd one who throws a spanner in the works no matter how hard you try to please. Generally I really enjoy having B&B guests in our home ( just as well after 20 years in the business) and we meet some lovely people but just occasionally someone comes along who makes me want to run away to a desert island. The problem is the guests who stay, sometimes for days, smile, chat, take advice about local places to visit and eat, assure you that all is well and that they want for nothing, write lovely complimentary comments in our visitors book and then go home and write awful things about their stay on online review sites....why would you do this? Fortunately for us they are few and far between and most of our visitors go home rested and happy (and many return) but for this odd few why not mention any real or perceived problems during their stay and give us the opportunity to improve their experience. We have had some such long suffering soles visit recently, one lovely couple complained (after they had gone home and not to us) that they had been too hot in their room during the recent heat wave (do you remember that) when a word would have highlighted the fan in their room available to blow cold air. Another couple who did not like the low energy lighting which they suffered for four nights without a word and then wrote a rotten review......... why when a word would have put the problem right and brightened up their lives. I hope writing these reviews makes them feel better; we think it is cruel, it makes us very unhappy and gives us sleepless nights! I hope that anyone who reads these negative comments also reads this and is reassured that any real criticisms (we are not perfect and even in the best households etc....) are corrected instantly. Our aim is to provide a relaxing and enjoyable stay for happy visitors!

If you have a problem tell us, if you have enjoyed your stay tell Trip Advisor!

2010-05-31T13:06:00.002+01:00

Busy Busy...... (2)

Hi All
I have neglected this blog for a while, I have been rushing about painting, paper hanging and photographing (in between all the usual washing, ironing etc) for the web site. All done now and I am delighted with the results.
New big bed and colour scheme in Stoney End Cottage which looks great particularly on a lovely day like today! We have a mid week break available in June on the 21st and a weekend in July on the 23rd. Check out the web site and treat yourself to a little rest relaxing in Wensleydale!
The Spring Bank holiday has been a little disappointing weather wise but our guests seem to have had a good time and we are looking forward to a busy June......

Spring at Last!

2010-04-21T12:44:00.004+01:00

Our dafs are at last blooming and are looking better than last year......perhaps because we have had to wait for so long!
The early May bank holiday is almost here and the Dales Festival of Food and Drink is the highlight of the weekend running from 1st May for three days in Leyburn. Stay at Stoney End and visit this exciting festival. For all details of the event follow this link www.dalesfestivaloffood.org
We are looking forward to having a busy season and look forward to greeting visitors to this lovely part of Yorkshire!

Hot tub.......

2010-04-08T23:20:00.002+01:00

Yoredale our ground floor room is empty tonight and it being Thursday our daughter Sarah is home, we have just been testing the new tub and it is really great. I suspect that we will not get the opportunity to indulge once guests know i is here. It is very tempting to keep it a BIG secret!!!

Easter Here.......

2010-04-02T19:05:00.003+01:00

We are having an odd Easter business wise but not like the weather today a wash out! The daffs are almost out and the trees are at last showing some sign of an intention to spring back into leaf (just little buds at the moment) I have found a photo of some of the Yorkshires Finest group taken at Welcome to Yorkshires conference on the 22nd March. I am on there next to Gary Verity dressed in a Vivienne Westwood creation!
We have a lovely room available over the weekend, most unusual to have vacancies over this weekend.........

A quiet few moments.....

2010-03-29T21:14:00.002+01:00

Working up to the Easter Weekend...... Yoredale now has a lovely patio area with its own hot tub and it looks great. Our first guests to try the new tub put a glowing review on Trip Advisor which is very much appreciated and very encouraging! Photos when the weather is favourable!
Last week saw the Welcome to Yorkshire Y10 Conference in Harrogate inspiring stuff.....see Welcome to Yorkshire at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, York Races, supporting a production of 'The Railway Children' at Waterloo Station and here in the Dales a New Turner Trail, Yorkshire Cricket and Golf. These are just a few of the initiatives for 2010 keeping Yorkshire up there in everyones minds for great short breaks and holidays.
By popular demand two night self catering weekend breaks are now available from Stoney End Holidays with the option to stay Sunday night for just £20 extra these weekend breaks are available throughout the year from now on. We still of course have midweek breaks at great prices. Come and spend a few days in the beautiful dales.
The weather has reared its head again today just when we thought spring had sprung we were promised snow. Just so you know there is no snow here today.................

Busy Busy......

2010-03-20T10:40:00.002Z

We never seem to have enough time particularly in the run up to Easter and it seems this year is busier than most. Staff training, 'staff' means me, is always a priority in these 'quieter' winter months and this year has been no different so far I have done two training sessions based on communicating via the internet and last week the new Welcome to Yorkshire Customer Care course which I found really useful. Training courses are always a great opportunity to get out and about and do a bit of networking on top of what you can pick up on the day no matter how experienced! Next week its "Successful Sales Techniques"
Next week is also Y10, the Welcome to Yorkshire conference, this year in Harrogate a 'not to be missed' date in my diary on Monday next.
Finally the highlight of the past week was for Stoney End to rise to the dizzy heights of Five Star Gold and we are delighted to receive this accolade from Visit Britain it will be a real boost for the coming season.
Back now to making beds and ironing...........

Three for two nearly at an end!

2010-03-01T16:24:00.003Z

Beautiful, dare I say, spring weather here today. Lovely clear blue skies and sunshine just perfect for a brisk walk in the Dales!
We have a three nights for the price of two offer running until the end of March so if you fancy a really good value break give us a call! We still have a warming log fire to enjoy in the evenings and of course our delicious breakfasts to wake up to!

Short Break!

2010-02-27T09:52:00.003Z

Hi
We have just returned from a few days away at Center Parcs in Sherwood which would have been great but the promised wifi in the villa was almost non existent and phone coverage on Vodafone awful. I feel as if I have spent four days problem solving. Still we will be better prepared next time and it has prompted me to highlight the shortcomings of the mobile phone coverage here in the Dales on our web site. Next time I will take a phone with an O2 sim and transfer our number to that.....problem solved. I know it is very boring carting laptops and phones on holiday but without them we would never get a break!

Half Term almost over.

2010-02-19T21:02:00.003Z

Hi Everyone
Busy week being half term and the weather has been kind to all our holiday makers. The decorating and updating in Stoney End Cottage is now complete and the photos are here! It has been very satisfying and I am really pleased with the results. Big thank you to our plumber Tom Punchard and Dale. I have also found time for a bit of training this week on Communications, hence the Facebook link on this page and our new updateds on Stoney Ends Facebook pages.....now updated directly from this Blog after a few frustrating hours last night....got there in the end! I have also spent loads of time updating our database and promise all our customers that I will be using this valuable info in the next few months to your advantage....

Ready for half term....just

2010-02-15T21:20:00.002Z

Stoney End Cottage has now had its face lift and it looks fab.
The new wet room is just great and so far has been well received. Photos to follow soon.
We have had a stressful few days dealing with a dead shower in Yoredale but this should be sorted tomorrow.
The new hot tub is here but not connected yet, can't wait for it to be all set up! Not long now.

Ellerkin re vamp done!

2010-01-28T15:19:00.003Z

Doesn't time fly when your having fun!
Ellerkin is now finished and looks great....its wonderful what can be achieved with a lick of paint and a few new accessories.
I have been chasing around this week catching up with things put to one side during decorating and I have also been to a workshop in Leeds! Leeds is always a big day out for me as it seems to be so far away and is also the BIG city when you live in Wensleydale. I went by train and felt that I had spent by day usefully.........beefing up on Marketing via social networking sites.
I also have a new phone.....I have been waiting for 2 years for Vodafone to offer the iphone and at last the wait is over. I love my new white (easier to locate in ones handbag) iphone and in time I am sure that I will be able to make calls! New photos of Ellerkin are on the web site and here......

Wensleydale in Winter Sunshine

2010-01-08T16:38:00.003Z

Hi All.....I could not resist taking these pics, the dale looks so beautiful in the January sunshine....... too good not to share the view from Stoney End!
Ellerkin almost complete photos to follow soon!! Have a great weekend. Pamela

All white in Wensleydale!

2010-01-06T11:29:00.002Z

Hi
Well the decorating is coming on in record time possibly because we are virtually housebound! Despite being loathed to mention the weather it does seem to have taken over our lives. More snow last night, snow on snow, makes everything look beautiful and whilst I am sure that the main roads are passable it is easy here in our backwater to imagine that we really are snowed in. Fortunately we have all we need and are happy for the moment to go nowhere! Photos of my painting will follow shortly when all finishing touches are in place.
Pamela

2010!

2010-01-03T13:46:00.002Z

Happy New Year to everyone............where has the last decade gone? Things are a little quieter now January has arrived. Time to start doing jobs involving paint brushes! I have done all the preparation (got out paint, brushes, ladder and dust sheets) but find that I am not really dressed for painting today so will start tomorrow. I know it will look great when finished but find starting really hard! Watch this space for updates on progress.

In the lull before New Years Eve.

2009-12-30T12:58:00.005Z

I am determined not to write about the weather (more snow forecast as I write) as that seems to dominate this blog, so here goes on other things! We have been closed over Christmas and instead of having our usual well behaved paying visitors we have had a house full of noisy demanding family members ranging from 7 months to 82 years! It has been great fun but really hard work keeping everyone fed, watered and entertained, it is a real relief to be back open for business. I am always bursting with enthusiasm to make improvements for guests once the festive season is over and this year we have plans to modernise the bathroom in Stoney End Cottage (planned for the end of January) and to put a hot tub in for B&B guests in Yoredale, also planned for late January can't wait to see the finished results of those two. I am also going to take the opportunity to do a bit of decorating so everything will look really good for the new season. I hope everyone has a lovely New Year and look forward to seeing you all in 2010!

What a surprise!

2009-12-18T13:06:00.003Z

Well well what a surprise we got yesterday .........loads of SNOW! We must have about 8 inches which is a lot for us and it looks beautiful this morning with blue skies and sunshine

Winter Weather............

2009-12-14T19:38:00.002Z

Hi there

Well, we are now flood free (not that it was a problem at Stoney End, you would need an ark if SE was flooded) The river is back where it belongs and the road over to Askrigg is now dry. Snow forecast next..... oh dear! Winter at Stoney End is my favourite time lovely cosy log fires after a brisk walk and a sauna to really warm up! Next year we are looking forward to having a new Hot Tub for B&B guests booking Yoredale and a lovely new bathroom in Stoney End Cottage in time for half term. The family are here for Christmas, really looking forward to having the children home for a few days!

Seasons Greetings to all.........

Pamela x

Water Water!

2009-11-20T20:20:00.003Z

What rain!! Wednesday morning we were woken by the local farmer rescuing his sheep. The river covered the valley bottom and the sheep had to swim to higher ground! The Ure is now back where it belongs but there is still a lot of water about.

We have had a busy two weeks here some activities more enjoyable than others; we went to the Deliciouslyorkshire Awards last week at Rudding Park and even though we didn't win this year we had a really great evening ( this was the enjoyable bit) the other bit? My book keeping is now up to date........ (not much fun but very satisfying)

2009-11-03T08:37:00.002Z

November ....Brrrr. After a hectic warm October November has arrived and it is WINTER! Quieter here on the business front and we have time to catch up on jobs put off during busy times. Looking forward to the Deliciouslyorkshire Awards next week. A great night out with yummy food in prospect at Rudding Park and an excuse to get out pretty frocks..........

Back to Business!

2009-10-12T12:55:00.002+01:00

We had a wonderful holiday on the Isle of Wight, two weeks of wall to wall sunshine and we are now back at Stoney End with a tan! Not bad for the UK in late September........

Here at Stoney End things are really exciting we find ourselves in the last three for two awards!

Deliciously Yorkshire Breakfasts and Local Food Heros. Being finalists for the region in the Local Food Heros involves being filmed for a TV show......... the film crew are arriving today. Don't know what to expect I will let you know how we get on.

Deliciously Yorkshire Breakfasts is an important one for us and the winner will be announced at an awards dinner at Rudding Park at the beginning of November all the hard work done for this one just have to turn up at the awards in our best outfits with our fingers crossed! Wish us luck!

Holidays on the horizon!

2009-09-07T15:32:00.002+01:00

Ho dear I seem to have neglected this blog! We have had a very busy summer and are now looking forward to taking a little holiday ourselves. I have spent most of the summer nursing a damaged tendon which thankfully is improving now..........resting was not an option (thank goodness for strong pain killers) Today is just beautiful here in the Dales, a warm and sunny September day who could wish to be anywhere else! Our late summer visitors have the promise of a really super week. I must try and post more often...........

Pamela

Glorious June!

2009-06-23T10:35:00.002+01:00

It is a perfect June day up here in Wensleydale.....long may it last!

Pity I am going to spend the day cleaning and ironing, hopefully I will get to enjoy the sunshine later in the day. We have been nominated for the 'Local Food Hero' award and need votes. So if you have enjoyed one of our breakfasts please follow this link and vote for us!

http://uktv.co.uk/food/outlet/aid/623125

Back to the ironing..........

News from Stoney End

2009-06-19T20:12:00.000+01:00

Fabulous Friday!!

Well not really we are without guests tonight and I have time to do this! I have never kept a diary and hopefully I will be able to keep this up. We have spent loads of time (and money) over the last few weeks raising our game here at Stoney End, flat screens, ipod docks, new bathrooms, new furniture and wallpaper and much to Mikes horror moving existing furniture! Still all done now and we are all set hopefully for a busy season. Much of the work has been brought about by just looking at how we could improve the guest experience but some has been instigated by our guest input........ thank you all for the ideas.