Home for the next week

This is Cote Garth, high in the hills to the east of Kirkby Stephen in the upper reaches of the Eden Valley in Cumbria. A long awaited week has begun but without any internet access or phone service from this converted barn 900 feet up in the hills.

It's a wonderful "cottage" that once was a barn adjacent to the farmhouse. It was converted to a holiday let in 2009, but my, it is isolated. Leaving the village of Winton you follow a narrow lane which winds its way up the hill, getting narrower and twistier as it gets higher until the tarmac ends with the last 300 yards or so along a stony farm track to the cottage.

Inside, as you can tell, it is lovely, with a wood burning stove, central heating and all the facilities, with the exception of internet, that you could need. While the wind roared through the trees outside you felt snug and warm inside.

A very pleasant and uneventful journey from Kent, following the A1and the A1(M) to Scotch Corner and then along the A66 to Brough, arriving just 5 minutes before the getting in time. And in time to watch the England v Ireland rugby match - which England just edged - to make a positive start to the week.