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Cycling in Churnet Valley with Churnet Valley Cycle Hire

Days out

13 Nov

Who fancies cycling in Churnet Valley today? I ask as I dish out the pancakes and strawberries.

Me!!! The reply was unanimous.

It was a Sunday morning and our first full weekend at home following a summer road trip to Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. As I looked out of the window, the sun was just beginning to make an appearance and the sky appeared a deep shade of blue. It looked like it was going to be a glorious day, so we quickly packed the van and headed out to try our hand at Cycling in Churnet Valley Staffordshire.

Churnet Valley in Staffordshire is an area rich in history, spectacular scenery and wildlife.  The Churnet Valley trail is a railway path following the river Churnet through woodland and meadow along the old railway line.

Farm on the Hill and Churnet Valley Cycle Hire

As I still have to purchase a bike, we headed to Churnet Valley Cycle hire where we met Ben, who provided me with a bike, a bike seat for the little man and two helmets. With all members of the family now equipped with either a bike or a bike seat, we set off in the beautiful sunshine armed with the directions for the local cycling trail.

There are various trails around Churnet Valley. The area surrounding Farm on the Hill has a number of cycle routes for all abilities including a cycle trail along the old railway line, through the woods around Dimmingsdale and quiet country lanes. We headed off to find the railway line in search of a picnic spot and an ice-cream.

I am so proud of our eldest who was just getting to grips with riding her bike. It was a great basic trail, and fairly flat in parts to give her the opportunity to practice. With sheer determination, (a few falls) and a few blisters on her thumbs – she did it!

So proud of this little one today. She has only recently learned how to ride her bike and we have been for a mammoth bike ride today. I lost count of the times she fell off and got back on. A little superstar. It’s been such a lovely day cycling through Churnet Valley, Staffordshire. I hired a bike as I don’t actually own one (I now absolutely need one 😂) I have forgotten how much I enjoy a bike ride in the sunshine. . . . . . . . #churnetvalleyrailway #staffordshire #littlefierceones #myfamilyadventures #countrykidsfun #Curiouslittleexplorers #raisingragamuffins #UKexplore #lifeoflittles #instatravel #lovelifeoutside #moretoexploreoutdoors #beyondthewanderlust #funseekingkids #lifewithinfourcorners #pottyadventures #watchthemlearn #littleandbrave #justpassingthrough #mummyshot #naturelearners #littlefamiliesofig #thesincerestoryteller #infinity_children #familyfunuk #adventurelikebeatrixpotter #traveldeeper #bikeride

A post shared by MrsS (@otisandus.blog) on Aug 28, 2017 at 10:48am PDT

Cycle Hire

Farm on the hill offers cycle hire and cycle repair.

Cycle Hire Prices (Nov 17)

Adult Bikes: £10.00/half day £13/full day
Childrens Bikes: All Day/£7.50 Child Seat (up to 22kg) – £5.00

Camping at Farm on The Hill

Whilst we were visiting, Ben showed us around their eco campsite on the farm. It is a small, peaceful and hidden eco-campsite set in around 12 acres of woodland and meadow on the Staffordshire/Derbyshire border. The campsite is arranged to ensure it keeps its secluded and exclusive feel and there are pitches to suit all needs, with areas to accommodate multiple tents, and areas to accommodate just one tent (or camper van) to provide a secluded getaway.

The pitches share a raised compost long drop toilet on the edge of the site with amazing views of the Churnet Valley. There is also a solar shower and wood-fired sauna.

Because it remains a small site the owners go above and beyond to make your stay memorable and enjoyable. There are BBQs available on site and a large stone fire circle with stone seating for group campsites. Cycle hire is available and fresh seasonal fruit and veg on sale grown organically on the farm. There is also a tea room serving tea/coffee and cakes and scones in an open fronted barn at the main farm house that is open at Weekends during Summer (or weekdays/evening by prior arrangement).

 

For more information you can head over to Farm on the Hill online

pin for later

cycling in churnet valley

If you are looking for tips for mountain biking with kids – here are 7 tips for family mountain biking adventures written by Plutonium Sox   – do you have any to add?

I love to hear what you think of my blog, do leave a comment. You can find us over on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.

Flying With A Baby

Country Kids

22 Comments

Previous Post: « 15 Reasons why you will fall in love when you visit Isles of Scilly 
Next Post: Our favourite Christmas days out in Staffordshire and Cheshire »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Judy b says

    November 14, 2017 at 11:18 am

    Love this, might be tempted!
    We forget that we have beautiful places , right on our doorstep!

    Reply
  2. Zenbabytravel says

    November 16, 2017 at 11:09 am

    Loving the pics and well done for the family cycling! We are working on balance with our 4 years old, the stabilisers off for a couple of months, hoping next spring will do some nice countryside trips. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  3. Joanna Bayford says

    November 16, 2017 at 2:15 pm

    Looks like loads of fun. I wish i had learnt to ride a bike as a child as I love the idea of going on family bike rides.

    Reply
  4. five little doves says

    November 16, 2017 at 3:52 pm

    Oh how lovely! My son and husband love cycling and I’m looking to get a bike so we can all go! This looks like a gorgeous place to ride!

    Reply
  5. Nadia says

    November 16, 2017 at 6:52 pm

    Oh, I love cycling. It’s huge in Copenhagen where I used to live. It looks beautiful there! xx

    Reply
  6. Emma says

    November 16, 2017 at 7:49 pm

    Now the boys are getting a bit older, we are starting to think about getting some bike and doing some cycling / outdoorsy holidays. It’s such a great way to get out and enjoy the country.

    Reply
  7. Leona says

    November 16, 2017 at 8:33 pm

    What a fun day out. I love cycling trips

    Reply
  8. Holly - Little Pickle's Mom says

    November 17, 2017 at 8:48 am

    Oh wow, this looks lovely – definitely a campsite to put on our list to check out next year I think! We love cycling but don’t have a bike rack for the car, so knowing there’s cycle hire nearby would be perfect!

    Reply
  9. Nell (Pigeon Pair and Me) says

    November 17, 2017 at 12:41 pm

    It’s great when they learn to ride, isn’t it? The campsite sounds lovely. Just the sort of place to get away from the milling crowds here in London!

    Reply
  10. Clare says

    November 18, 2017 at 8:35 am

    What a beautiful part of the country and a great family day out!

    Reply
  11. Deb Sharratt says

    November 18, 2017 at 11:44 am

    That looks like a beautiful place for a family day out.

    Reply
  12. Coombe Mill says

    November 18, 2017 at 11:58 am

    What a beautiful place to explore as a family, it’s great you managed to squeeze in a mini break. It’s fab that you managed to get out on a family bike ride together, well done to your eldest for cycling herself the entire time. I can certainly see why you picked the Churnet Valley to explore, it’s beautiful, I’m sure you’ll be back again.

    Thanks for sharing with me on #CountryKids.

    Reply
  13. Kara says

    November 18, 2017 at 5:23 pm

    We have got Eliza off her stabilisers now so I am desperate to take them all out for a cycle ride. Want to try Sebby with a gator bar

    Reply
  14. Louise (Little Hearts, Big Love) says

    November 18, 2017 at 11:06 pm

    What a beautiful place for a bike ride. Well done to your eldest for managing such a big bike ride too. #countrykids

    Reply
  15. Sonia Cave says

    November 19, 2017 at 9:42 am

    This looks so beautiful and your pictures are lovely. Definitely a fab place for an adventure 🙂 #countrykids

    Reply
  16. Emma T says

    November 20, 2017 at 12:01 am

    I love going for bike rides with N although we do need to find a proper cycle route sometime to do. And I need to get back on my bike again #countrykids

    Reply
  17. Kids of the Wild says

    November 20, 2017 at 11:44 am

    Can’t believe I’ve never heard of Churnet Valley, it looks beautiful. We’ve not done any long family cycle rides yet but this looks a good place to start for a weekend away. #CountryKids

    Reply
  18. Taslyn Russell says

    November 20, 2017 at 8:43 pm

    This looks like such a lovely place to go for an outting I have never heard of it before this post

    Reply
  19. Stephanie says

    November 20, 2017 at 9:14 pm

    Beautiful pictures, it’s so lovely to get out on your bike together

    Reply
  20. Anosa says

    November 23, 2017 at 7:06 am

    Doing local travels has made me appreciate how much beauty we have at our very door stpes and churnet valley is one such beauty. What a gorgeous day out for a ride

    Reply
  21. Plutonium Sox says

    November 24, 2017 at 2:05 pm

    Oh wow, this looks perfect! We usually go to our local National Trust property for the girls to cycle, or to the Forest of Dean if we’re all cycling but it’s great to have another option, this isn’t too far for us either. Thanks for linking up to #familytraveltips.
    Nat.x

    Reply
  22. Carrie Flying With A Baby -Family Travel says

    November 26, 2017 at 8:29 pm

    Pancakes and berries! I’m not sure you would drag me away – but this does look so tempting. What a lovely route and you had the perfect day! Thanks for linking up to #familytraveltips

    Reply

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Vanlife Family • Travel


Ad🌟Top Tip 🌟

Fairy lights dotted around a
Ad🌟Top Tip 🌟

Fairy lights  dotted around a climbing frame
 
= A few more extra hours outside over the winter months 

Add in a flurry of snow ....

#1000hoursoutside 

#wickeyadventure #wickeyplaytime #lockdown3


🚐Vanlife with kids 🚐

I often get messages a
🚐Vanlife with kids 🚐

I often get messages asking “where do you all sleep” and where did your toddler or baby  sleep in the camper ?

We bought our #t5 when our eldest was just 2, and we have had to adapt as our family has grown. We didn’t have the roof converted until much later so we tried a fair few sleeping options! 

I thought It might be helpful if I listed all of the sleeping options we have tried in our vwT5 because I often get questions about sleeping options with young kids.

⭐️Our new born baby slept in a sleepyhead in the camper as it was easily transportable and worked as  crib.

⭐️ We then found a deluxe travel cot that fit perfectly at the base of our rib bed and this worked from about 6 months 

⭐️We then moved on to a toddler inflatable air bed placed again at the bottom of our bed. We  found the toddler beds fit perfectly across the width of the van 

⭐️moving on we purchased a hammock that fitted over just the driver and passenger seat  and this worked great from about 3+

⭐️ Finally as our family grew... We  had our pop top roof added and the children slept well in the roof. We had a safety net fitted to the opening  of the roof and this allowed all our children to sleep in the roof safely and gave us some peace of mind - particularly as our son was young.

I’ve linked my post in my stories but do let me know if you have tried any other options that work for young children, particularly if you don’t have an elevating roof! Always here if I can help with anything or if you have any questions.

🌈


A vintage rainbow 🌈

Mucho love tonight - hope
A vintage rainbow 🌈 

Mucho love tonight - hope you are all doing okay x


💫Still one of my most favourite captures 💫

💫Still one of my most favourite captures 💫 

Just popping on to wish all of you a Happy New Year 💕

Here we are .... Still hanging out in tier 4, (but hey I have three lovely days off 🤩) we have all got this🙌🏻

For now I’m going to keep dreaming, planning, doing a bit of vanlife shopping and redesigning our campervan 😂 (so if any of you lovely vanlife peeps can share and tag me in a picture of your interiors I would be eternally grateful). 

Hey I may even get this dissertation done 🤣

If it’s okay I’ll keep sharing the little bits in between, and of course our van life tips and tricks over the new year, until we can explore once again. 

Thanks for sticking with us - happy new year to my faves, lots of love and stay safe 

The Otis and Us tribe xxx


🌲 And that’s me signing off for Christmas. 🌲 

Let’s hope 2021 brings some sunshine, plans, adventures and a glimmer of hope. 

To all my lovely friends, family and wonderful vanlife peeps, thanks so much for all the love and support this year. 

Wishing you all a Happy Christmas and New year from Otis and Us xxx

Ad / We are still loving our @wickey climbing fram
Ad / We are still loving our @wickey climbing frame, and so grateful to have this wonderful play area in our garden for the kids since the lockdown number two. 

It’s my last day of annual leave today. So we have spent the afternoon adding a few fairy lights to the MultiFlyer climbing frame - sprinkling a bit of magic and festive cheer out in the garden....

Moving on to the the camper next :) it definitely needs some fairy lights and a tree - Don’t you think? 🌲 

#wickeyadventure #wickeyplaytime #vimage


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Ad🌟Top Tip 🌟 Fairy lights dotted around a Ad🌟Top Tip 🌟

Fairy lights  dotted around a climbing frame
 
= A few more extra hours outside over the winter months 

Add in a flurry of snow ....

#1000hoursoutside 

#wickeyadventure #wickeyplaytime #lockdown3
🚐Vanlife with kids 🚐 I often get messages a 🚐Vanlife with kids 🚐

I often get messages asking “where do you all sleep” and where did your toddler or baby  sleep in the camper ?

We bought our #t5 when our eldest was just 2, and we have had to adapt as our family has grown. We didn’t have the roof converted until much later so we tried a fair few sleeping options! 

I thought It might be helpful if I listed all of the sleeping options we have tried in our vwT5 because I often get questions about sleeping options with young kids.

⭐️Our new born baby slept in a sleepyhead in the camper as it was easily transportable and worked as  crib.

⭐️ We then found a deluxe travel cot that fit perfectly at the base of our rib bed and this worked from about 6 months 

⭐️We then moved on to a toddler inflatable air bed placed again at the bottom of our bed. We  found the toddler beds fit perfectly across the width of the van 

⭐️moving on we purchased a hammock that fitted over just the driver and passenger seat  and this worked great from about 3+

⭐️ Finally as our family grew... We  had our pop top roof added and the children slept well in the roof. We had a safety net fitted to the opening  of the roof and this allowed all our children to sleep in the roof safely and gave us some peace of mind - particularly as our son was young.

I’ve linked my post in my stories but do let me know if you have tried any other options that work for young children, particularly if you don’t have an elevating roof! Always here if I can help with anything or if you have any questions.

🌈
A vintage rainbow 🌈 Mucho love tonight - hope A vintage rainbow 🌈 

Mucho love tonight - hope you are all doing okay x
💫Still one of my most favourite captures 💫 💫Still one of my most favourite captures 💫 

Just popping on to wish all of you a Happy New Year 💕

Here we are .... Still hanging out in tier 4, (but hey I have three lovely days off 🤩) we have all got this🙌🏻

For now I’m going to keep dreaming, planning, doing a bit of vanlife shopping and redesigning our campervan 😂 (so if any of you lovely vanlife peeps can share and tag me in a picture of your interiors I would be eternally grateful). 

Hey I may even get this dissertation done 🤣

If it’s okay I’ll keep sharing the little bits in between, and of course our van life tips and tricks over the new year, until we can explore once again. 

Thanks for sticking with us - happy new year to my faves, lots of love and stay safe 

The Otis and Us tribe xxx
🌲 And that’s me signing off for Christmas. 🌲 

Let’s hope 2021 brings some sunshine, plans, adventures and a glimmer of hope. 

To all my lovely friends, family and wonderful vanlife peeps, thanks so much for all the love and support this year. 

Wishing you all a Happy Christmas and New year from Otis and Us xxx
Ad / We are still loving our @wickey climbing fram Ad / We are still loving our @wickey climbing frame, and so grateful to have this wonderful play area in our garden for the kids since the lockdown number two. 

It’s my last day of annual leave today. So we have spent the afternoon adding a few fairy lights to the MultiFlyer climbing frame - sprinkling a bit of magic and festive cheer out in the garden....

Moving on to the the camper next :) it definitely needs some fairy lights and a tree - Don’t you think? 🌲 

#wickeyadventure #wickeyplaytime #vimage
If this year has taught us anything, it’s defini If this year has taught us anything, it’s definitely to not take anything for granted. To take each day as it comes and to enjoy the simple things in life, finding  joy in those ordinary moments. 

I don’t need reminding of this but family and friends are everything. As are good old hugs. (I miss hugs!) And plans. Blooming love a plan. 😍

So ill keep on bobbing on here if that’s okay? I’ll keep planning, writing about our campervan adventures and sharing our van life love and outdoor life. Because we have to have hope and we have to keep dreaming.... 

Hope you are all doing okay, sending a virtual hug if you need one this weekend. My inbox is ALWAYS open, always.
🚐 4 years! 🚐 4 years blogging!! Wowzers tha 🚐 4 years! 🚐

4 years blogging!! Wowzers that has flown by!! 

I’ve had lots of new followers lately so thought I would pop on and say hello and tell you a little bit about us.

I’m Katy and I am behind Otis and us travel blog. I started the blog during my maternity leave - really because I love taking photos and wanted  a place that the kids can look back on and to document our van life adventures. I  am a full time specialist nurse and also currently working on an MSc. I am a whirlwind and life is definitely jam packed but I wouldn’t have it any other way :) 

We love our beautiful T5!! We have made so many memories and taken some wonderful roadtrips over the years. We haven’t managed to get out in the van much this year, but hey I’ve still been dreaming ... hopefully next year🤞🏻🤞🏻

We have three free spirited kiddies who love nothing more than a road trip,  sleeping in the poptop roof, exploring, beach life and toasting marshmallows. 

Mr Otis and Us, what can I say? The chilled one who has so much patience😆. He drives the many miles, lives on coffee and never ever says no to my crazy road trips and ideas. 

So here we are - the Otis and Us tribe, popping on to say hi. 
 
Thank you so much for following along, for all your interaction and love. It means the world. I love to hear from you all, every message and every comment. Thank you 🙏🏻 

Hope you will stay with us for 2021 , 

Stay safe 

Katy xx 🌈

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