Quality in tourism annual inspection/assessment today so nerves were slightly frayed however I need not have worried as the assessor was very nice and put me at my ease. Looks as though we have retained our Gold Award but await written confirmation of this - so feeling very positive. Our new windows do look good and the quality assessor liked the feel of our new mattress and also our colourful bedlinen. She also said the cottage felt very homely.


continuing on the theme of local food, I finally got myself along to the Bedale Community Bakery. This is a new venture at Bedale Station - one of the stops on the wonderful Wensleydale Railway - just a ten minute drive from Masham. The breads on offer were fabulous - a large poppy seed round loaf, a dark brown sourdough loaf, a nutty walnut bread and a moist beer bread made with beer from a micro-brewery in Northallerton. There were also focaccia "pizza" slices with a sumptuous topping of caramelised onion, as well as flapjack, scones and dark chocolate brownies on offer as well as white and wholemeal loaves and lovely soft individual bread rolls. Rosemary and Lucy, who work at the bakery, which is open Tuesday to Saturday 9.30 to 3.30pm, told me that business was good and there were planning to introduce bread-making courses. Can't wait...