Back in the Umbrian summer, us Brooms were constantly in search of some shade. Not nearly so much of an issue in Derbyshire towards the end of October with the clocks turned back. Still, always good to get away, even with our delightful offspring in tow. Memo to self: replace "even" with "especially".

Let's do as Cliff did and take a busman's holiday (less shade, more shadows), popping into tea rooms at every available turn. Here's a few highlights:

1. Eyam Tea Rooms: visit a notorious plague village, tour the excellent local museum, buy a cute 75p black rat in the gift shop, pause for thought in the rain at Mrs Mompesson's tomb, then dry off and take a marshmallow crispie in the tea rooms
    
2. Grindleford Station Cafe: park near the station, amble by the babbling gorge, scramble down the marshy slopes, then sate your appetite with an almighty fry-up at the awesome railway caff (as recommended by eggbaconchipsandbeans)
    
3. The Three Roofs, Castleton: flash your English Heritage membership card, climb the steep steps to Peveril Castle, admire the views of the hills, hunt the Halloween ghosts, then back down into the Roofs for Yorkshire tea & parkin
    
4. Bolsover Castle, English Heritage: reflash your EH card, trot around the riding hall, admire the view of the M1, hunt the Halloween witches, pass the bizarre fountain, then relax in the modern Whyld-run cafe
    
5. Cafe @ Green Pavlion, Buxton: off to Parsley Hay, hire five bikes, set out on the disused Buxton to Ashbourne rail line, regret leaving gloves at home, snatch filled roll at Tissington, freeze on return leg of 21 mile round trip while urging on young son, then slowly thaw out in warmth of wonderfully welcoming Buxton cafe for cake and hot choc
    
6. Costa, Arkwright's Masson Mills: fail to find Peak Rail open, drive through both Matlocks, fail to comprehend the bizarro world of Masson Mills (shortbread, golf clothing and George Formby CDs), then settle in a corner table of the basement Costa with a large Americano and a puzzle book
    
7. Quarry Bank Mill, National Trust: via Chapel en le Frith to pay homage to the home of Ferodo, drive through real life Royston Vasey, then eventually find hot food comfort in the guise of belly pork and sausages at the NT restaurant before exploring the really rather interesting and not at all bobbins mill; ooh, then back for coffee cake

Not forgetting an honourable mention for the scarily large fishcakes served by the Bakewell fish 'n' chip shop.