Schoolrooms, Low Bradfield

Cursing the ‘road closed’ sign at the Ladybower end of the Strines moors I petulantly followed the diversion, which turned out to be an absolute revelation. Sometimes fate takes your hand and leads you to special places. You’ve probably all been to Bradfield, but it’s my first time, despite driving past the end of the precipitous road a gazillion times. What a stunning spot. A Norman church! Cobbled lanes! A cricket pitch and a village green! To add to the general bucolic-ness, a rather good butchery-deli-cafe overlooking it all.

The deli is really well stocked and pretty much everything’s local, including meat, farm eggs, Sheffield honey, Toppings pork pies from Doncaster and home made pastries, plus Hendersons Relish, Lottie Shaw’s gingerbread and Pipers crisps. Upstairs, a lofty, airy cafe serving very good sandwiches – the home glazed ham and Rosebud piccalilli is a belter – and any caff that offers a Bradfield Brewery beer battered fish finger sandwich gets my vote. There’s a Big Breakfast with home made black pudding, eggs Benedict and a Butchery Burger with fat chips and home made relish, and much to my delight an excellent flat white from a shimmering Gaggia machine.

There’s a lovely south facing garden and a play area for kids; Bradfield’s a place to spend at least a couple of hours – have a coffee, visit the church, stroll round the lanes and fetch up back again for a spot of lunch. What a find!