HOPE VALLEY: Dining out at The Chequers Inn, Froggatt Edge

Weather forecasters have a big responsibility towards motorists travelling to rural areas and businesses there who rely on passing trade.

We were on the verge of cancelling our visit to The Chequers Inn, having read dire forecasts of heavy snow that day.

But gluttons for punishment and good food that we are, we decided to risk it and opted for the scenic drive from Chesterfield across the tops to Froggatt Edge.

Two miles out of Chesterfield came the first glimpse of a wintry dusting on the fields and on the highest point of our journey the snow on the road had turned to slush. By the time we dropped down to Calver and drove onto Froggatt, there was no sign of the February freeze.

Sunday lunch is usually a busy time for the award-winning pub in the Peak District’s walking and climbing haven, but not this time. We arrived at 2pm to find just two other couples.

We opted to stick to traditional Sunday roasts (£14) but were disappointed to find beef was not on the menu.

Pork and lamb being the only choices for roasts that day, we plumped for one of each. The pork was the better of the two, moist and succulent, while the lamb was tasty if a little chewy in places. Red cabbage cooked with apple, a medley of carrots and parsnips and seasonal greens complemented the generous portions of meat. However, the roast potatoes lacked crispness, bathed in a sea of ubiquitous gravy.

Puddings at £5.75 each were the piece de resistance at this 16th century inn, which was a finalist in Derbyshire’s gastro pub of the year 2012.

My partner opted for cinnamon and aniseed creme brûlée accompanied by raspberry sorbet, which was light and zingy. I chose traditional sticky toffee pudding, accompanied by vanilla ice cream. The large slab of sponge was lighter than it looked and ticked all the boxes.

We should have burned off all that food by tackling the secret woodland walk which leads from the back of the pub to Froggatt Edge. Still, it gives us an excuse to return to The Chequers Inn to explore its menu further and the beautiful countryside surrounding this charming hostelry.

Rating: Three stars

The Chequers Inn

Froggatt Edge

Hope Valley

tel. 01433 630231