eggbaconchipsandbeans

The Old Smithy, B5055, Monyash, Derbyshire

This is The Old Smithy at Monyash. Heart of the Peak District. Not far from Lathkill Dale. It's a tiny place but it does a magnificent ebcb. And muddy boots are welcome.

This is proper food. I'm often not that bothered about ingredients and all that - it's not necessarily the important bit of a fry-up. But this is high-quality stuff. You get the feeling this pig was hiking around the dale only 5 minutes ago. And the chips and everything else are delicious.

Half of the place is this magnificent old room, covered in musical instruments and odd paraphenalia. It feels like powerful node in the Peak District walking/folk music/real ale matrix. Splendid place.

But they're not resting on their laurels. There's a nice new extension around the back, a little extra room for when they get busy. This is where we sat.

A fry-up in the winter and ice-cream in the summer. That's the British countryside experience.

Platial place

Salt Box Cafe, Hatton, A511, Derbyshire

The Salt Box is a great transport cafe. Which proudly boasts of real chips. Real, delicious chips. And thick, pink bacon. And incredibly hot tea.

There's nothing quaint or retro about it. It's a bit like someone's conservatory, but it's a fantasticly efficient place for serving large quantities of delicious fried food.

Love those booths and menus.

I bought this brilliant little booklet there, produced by a locally based trucker. Now all I need is another sabbatical and I can visit them all.

Grindleford Station Cafe, Grindleford, Derbyshire

A fantastic place in the middle of great Peak District walking country, the former Grindleford Station has become a haven for hikers and bikers - the twin bastions of the Peak District economy. With a common interest in large plates of fried food and specially designed waterproof clothing.

Great little chips, small, so there's greater proportion of surface area and therefore more friedness. Big, thick bacon and a pale egg. Sauce comes from huge communal/industrial dispensers.

They also sell magazines and maps. And everywhere is covered with handwritten signs dealing with some issue or another. Toilets, kids, coach parties, where to take your pots when you're done. The kind of non-friendly friendliness that works around here. Friendliness that depends upon a clear understanding of the rules.