How often have we heard "only doing it for the children" or "not our scene" from parents of teenagers. Our recent guests had it all worked out, Mum had a lie in while Dad got up early with the two teenage sons, had breakfast, dropped the boys off at Alton Towers and then returned to join Mum at breakfast for a coffee to plan a leisurely day at Buxton where they visited an Art and Craft exhibition in the Pavillion gardens. The "drop off" "pick up" point just through Alton Towers gate is ideal for this. If you visit Alton Towers from Crowtrees you approach on a less congested route away from the main stream of traffic. There are many ways to spend leisurely days, walking, cycling, Churnet Valley railway, Chatsworth, Potteries.Our families with older children also take advantage of our adjoining rooms here at Crowtrees.
My weekly walk with friends on Thurs took us from Wetton village down into The Manifold valley where we had a picnic by the river at Wetton Mill and then made our way up to the dramatic Thor's cave high above the valley and back to Wetton, approx 4 hr walk. From Crowtrees to the start point would be a 20 minute drive. 
Our first brocolli, courgettes, cauliflower and potatoes from the garden all arrived on the table this week plus raspberries and gooseberries. Can you see our rosebay willowherb is beating the Gunera for height this year. Yes, I know it's a weed but it's so pretty!
