inspired by bread, stones and water

It only took us an hour to reach the watermill at Little Salkeld. I found their address on a bag of flour I bought from Booths in Kendal. Their organic self-raising stoneground flour is the secret ingredient in my scones, so I wanted to see where it was produced - and sample their coffee and scones.

We arrived a few minutes before the cafe opened, but spent long enough in the bitter wind to appreciate the wood burning stove when we were invited inside . I clasped my hands round a large pottery cup, sipping hot coffee, watching Ana and her assistants making bread and soup. The smells were heavenly.

Outside, the water was rushing round the mill wheel and the cogs in the mill were clattering away. A bloom of white flour clung to cogs and cobwebs, sacks and stairs.

Nick, the miller, told us that Long Meg and the Druid circle were only a mile away. We own a lino print of the stones but had never seen them. We have seen stone circles in Aberdeenshire and I know that each one has a unique power to impress and inspire. I was not disappointed. We will return.