Farm life continues to be busy at Travellers Rest. Thank you to everyone who has stayed in the Holiday Cottage throughout the past year, we hope you enjoyed your farm experience and have booked again for 2012.

If you couldn`t make it, here are a few highlights of the year.

Our Robotic milking system is firmly up and running, with all the cows trained and newly calved cows in training to use it. Guests who have taken a look are amazed at the modern technology; it’s the future for our dairy farm.

Lots of baby calves have continued to be born throughout the year. Our Highland Cattle herd had a new addition in February 2011. Treacle our Highland cow delivered her first calf, also the first Highland calf to be born at Travellers Rest, a little black bull named Bournville. He has thrived and has grown into a fine animal.

Spring finally arrived after all the snow. The children wanted to watch chicks hatch on the farm; consequently we now have two handsome cockerels, whilst the new hens provide the farm with lovely fresh eggs. Hopefully we will be able to see more chicks hatch this spring. The children have mentioned pet lambs to bottle feed, they yet have to convince Michael, watch this space.

In the spring Fergie the Black Highland Bull visited the farm for his holidays and stayed a few weeks. Don`t worry the cottage was fully booked so he stayed on the moor with Toffee, Treacle and little Bournville.

Summer time brought rosettes and prizes from showing the Highland cows. The day to day running of the farm continued, silage production (the cutting of the grass fields for winter feed) whilst maintenance of the farm yard and buildings. We made sure we had time to surf on Saltburn beach and bike ride through Dalby Forest.

For my birthday present this year, I was bought two white Highland Cow calves which we named Sugar and Spice. We hope to show these in the summer at Danby and Egton, our local agricultural shows. Come along, say hello and see how we get on.

During November the Visit Britain Inspector carried out her yearly inspection, and was very impressed with the cottage awarding it a Four Star Gold Award for the third year running which we are delighted about.

Good news, in January this year saw the arrival of two new Highland calves. Another little black bull named Humbug and Truffles a little red heifer (girl).

The past year has been busy and successful; we hope to repeat this in 2012.

Hope to see you soon,
Emma Chapman.