Breathtaking, impressive, striking! What do these words add up to? The GCCG Summer Spectacular!
A weekend in early July 2026 saw many members heading towards Barlow Woodseats Hall, home of GCCG members Peter and Nick.
Most people arrived on the Friday afternoon to either set up their tents, caravans or settle into their en-suite accommodation. Drinks followed before a meal prepared by resident chef Lee, of Shepherds Pie, followed by drinks late into the evening.
On Saturday all members in attendance could opt into a hearty full breakfast before we gathered to be told the activities for the day. The first activity was a driving rally “hunt the object”. A list of objects included pubs, mail boxes, mills, Roman roads and churches. Each category carried a number of points.
So members took off in all directions to explore the area of Barlow Woodseats Hall and the stunning Derbyshire countryside while photographing the required objects. There was also a quiz centred around car facts.
On the members return the afternoon activities included ‘hook a duck’ and ‘blindfold driving’. ‘Hook a duck’ was great fun but there was an advantage if you were stood in a convertible car. Blind driving was where the driver was blindfolded with a navigator telling them speed and direction. This was also great fun, especially when there were some near mishaps. Also, it was amusing that some people thought they were moving and accelerating, but they were in fact stationary.
Members then returned to the bar for liquid refreshment before sitting down to a meal in the barn restaurant, cooked again by the resident chef Lee. The bar remained open late into the evening while there was the opportunity to partake in a disco or not!
Sunday arrived and brought us a 60 mile route across the spectacular Derbyshire countryside, including some wonderful single track lanes and the Ladybower reservoir, which was surprisingly full considering the hot weather.
As we were all following the same route, we did come across each other and many had lunch together. On arriving at Ladybower some members chose to walk along the reservoir and take in the views including the Derwent dam, where the celebrated 617 Squadron flew practice sorties with their bouncing bombs.
Sunday evening meant pizza was on the menu, cooked in thelarge on-site pizza oven, and these were very tasty . Later in the evening Warwick, the organiser, declared the winner of the Car Hunt and the Car Quiz.
Thanks were then made to Peter and Nick and their staff for hosting the event at Barlow Woodseats Hall – a Grade Two star listed (don’t forget the star) and available for weddings, car rallies, overnight accommodation etc. It’s a cracking venue.
Thanks also were given to Warwick and Andrew for organising the event which had run superbly the whole weekend. Everybody agreed that it had been very enjoyable. Liquid refreshment then obviously followed.
On Monday morning, people packed their tents, hooked up their caravans and said goodbye.
Here’s to the next one in 2027!
