My husband and I live in a beautiful detached house in a conservation area with a large garden. We are just a minute's walk away from Rudyard Lake in the Staffordshire Moorlands, with views out to the Peak District National Park, and a five minute drive from the vibrant market town of Leek, with lots of independent shops and events.
There are fantastic walks right on our doorstep and Rudyard Lake is great for paddle-boarding, kayaking and other water sports. Romero is a great dog and needs a couple of walks a day.
Please note, the nearest food shops/supermarkets are a mile or so walk away in the nearby town of Leek. You can walk there along the old railway track, or there is a bus every few hours.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Animal Care
House & pet sitting
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Staffordshire Moorlands is a natural gem at the edge of the Peak District. Leek, our local town, has a rich textile heritage and is graced with many fine buildings, a great local Arts centre, festivals, and regular music events. We both work in fashion and have a good collection of art-related books and our house is a combination of folk art and art deco.
Help
Romero is a very friendly bearded collie - lots of people say he's their favourite dog in the world. He's eight years old and ideally needs a walk in the morning and one in the afternoon. They don't need to be super long walks, although he's very happy to go for miles, but ideally he'd be out for at least an hour a day and ideally more. The rest of the time he's usually sleeping, although he loves to bark at the postman, the milk lady and the bin men. Our house is on the market, so obviously please keep the house clean as well!
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
French: Fluent
Accommodation
Four bedroom detached house with three double rooms, guest room with en suite. Better for someone with own transport, but there is a bus from Rudyard into Leek approximately every two hours. Milk delivery can be arranged twice a week.
What else ...
Great walks and not far from historic houses like Chatsworth.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.
I dog sat for Carry for 6 days. The area she lives is incredibly beautiful and her dog is a sweetheart!
He is just about the easiest dog you could wish to walk. By the river and into the woods and the surrounding countryside is breathtaking. Romero knows his way around all the walks!
Carry is an extremely interesting person and also a very… read more generous spirit.
I really enjoyed my time here. A beautiful part of the world, very relaxing and the world’s easiest dog to walk.
Simon was a fantastic workawayer, and such a pleasure to have around. Romero was obviously well walked and well looked after while I was away, and he clearly loved being with Simon – I think he would happily have gone home with him, and there's no higher recommendation than that!
My experience in Rudyard with Romero was nothing but magical.
Romero is a beautiful soul, knows what he needs, and will not hesitate to show you what he wants :) Do not let his size trick you into believing that he would be particularly demanding to handle outside; he has great patience and kindness as a dog and is very well-behaved. During our… read more walks in the woods and around the lake, I did my best to give him the time and space to enjoy the sunny weather or play fetch and catch together on a sandy bay. He always led me to understand whether he was happy to play and take an extended walk, or preferred to keep it shorter and return home since he might not be feeling as energetic as the day before. He is gentle with other people and other dogs too; whenever we ran into others on the path, it was never an issue. As for his routine, he gets meals and goes out twice a day. (Oh, and he ADORES taking a bath in the riverbed!)
Mark will give you proper instructions regarding his diet and snacks, as well as games he likes to play. Since the moment I arrived in the town, I was filled in about Romero's habits and favorites, possible paths to take him to, litter collection, and what to pay attention to at home to accommodate everybody's needs and maintain a respectful environment. He has a wonderful personality and will make sure to receive you with utmost hospitality. Thanks to him, I was able to get to know the surroundings and discover some really authentic local spots. Once he took us all on a hike, where we reached breathtaking views; I enjoyed it so much I still have the image imprinted in my mind.
Carry is a delight to spend time with; within the limited time due to her packed calendar, we managed to share a couple of meals and chat pleasantly. I admired how passionately connected she is to her work and how deep her knowledge goes - since she does really care about it.
At home, I had my own bedroom and was a single workawayer, which allowed me to spend spare time on pc and read many books in peace. Whenever our schedules accommodated, we cooked and had meals together at home. As Carry underlines in the host profile, the nearest town is Leek, and that's where you'll find services even for your most essential needs. I did enjoy the green walkway that runs between Rudyard and Leek; it takes about an hour or less. Taking the local bus is an option too, which could be limiting due to frequency and timetable for some; however, I was happy to embrace the slow pace and reduced availability, which was somewhat liberating (those who are from big cities know I'm hinting at here).
To sum up, I considered myself lucky to be at the right place with the right mindset - the latter is fundamental, and that's why it has been such an unforgettable experience for me. I am grateful to Romero, first of all, for letting me take care of him and enjoy his company. Secondly, to Mark and Carry, who made me feel welcome at home and treated me with extreme generosity.
The next time I visit the UK, Rudyard will definitely be on my itinerary to pay a visit to this wonderful family. Merci pour tout! ^_^
Zulal was a fantastic workawayer. Romero got lots of exercise and really enjoyed being with her. She kept the house super clean as well. Highly recommend!
Jack and Nicole were absolutely outstanding Workawayers. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone seeking reliable, passionate, and capable help. Although this was their first Workaway experience, they approached it with such enthusiasm and professionalism it was hard to believe they were newcomers. From the moment they arrived, it was… read more clear we were leaving Romero and our home in safe and capable hands.
Their communication was excellent throughout, which made all the difference while we were away. They kept us updated with daily photos and videos of Romero, showing him enjoying walks both near and far.
When we returned, we found Romero happy, healthy, and well-groomed—evidence of the love and attention he had received. The house was even cleaner than when we left! After chatting with them, it was obvious how much care and effort they had put into Romero’s daily routine, from long walks to plenty of stick and ball games.
Jack and Nicole are not only hardworking and dependable but also genuinely likeable and sociable, which made the entire experience so much more enjoyable. They’ve embarked on a new chapter in life, having left their previous jobs for a lifestyle change, and I have no doubt they will thrive wherever their journey takes them.
We wholeheartedly recommend Jack and Nicole for any Workaway position and wish them all the best in their future adventures. Anyone who has the pleasure of hosting them will be incredibly fortunate, and we'd love to host them again for any future dogsitting needs.
We really enjoyed our stay at Carry and Mark's house in Leek, looking after their wonderful dog Romero. This was our first workaway and they made us feel very welcome and comfortable during the days we spent with them. The house was clean and cozy, with a fireplace and lots of wood to keep us warm! Lots of areas around for walking and even a lake… read more right by the house. Also only a short 5 minute drive into the town of Leek where you can get anything you need.
Carry and Mark are both very friendly and knowledgeable people, who have alot of stories and experiences to share! Mark's cooking is amazing and he taught us how to make Takoyaki's which was fun! Carry also gave us some of her homemade Jam and a Christmas card which was lovely!
Romero is super cute and playful, very friendly and a breeze to take care of. He loved showing us around the area! Taking him on daily walks was fun and refreshing, we even had some snow to play in for a few days! We would definitely come back to look after Romero again in the future. Thank you so much Carry and Mark for the opportunity!
I dog sat for Carry for 6 days. The area she lives is incredibly beautiful and her dog is a sweetheart!
He is just about the easiest dog you could wish to walk. By the river and into the woods and the surrounding countryside is breathtaking. Romero knows his way around all the walks!
Carry is an extremely interesting person and also a very… read more generous spirit.
I really enjoyed my time here. A beautiful part of the world, very relaxing and the world’s easiest dog to walk.
Simon was a fantastic workawayer, and such a pleasure to have around. Romero was obviously well walked and well looked after while I was away, and he clearly loved being with Simon – I think he would happily have gone home with him, and there's no higher recommendation than that!
My experience in Rudyard with Romero was nothing but magical.
Romero is a beautiful soul, knows what he needs, and will not hesitate to show you what he wants :) Do not let his size trick you into believing that he would be particularly demanding to handle outside; he has great patience and kindness as a dog and is very well-behaved. During our… read more walks in the woods and around the lake, I did my best to give him the time and space to enjoy the sunny weather or play fetch and catch together on a sandy bay. He always led me to understand whether he was happy to play and take an extended walk, or preferred to keep it shorter and return home since he might not be feeling as energetic as the day before. He is gentle with other people and other dogs too; whenever we ran into others on the path, it was never an issue. As for his routine, he gets meals and goes out twice a day. (Oh, and he ADORES taking a bath in the riverbed!)
Mark will give you proper instructions regarding his diet and snacks, as well as games he likes to play. Since the moment I arrived in the town, I was filled in about Romero's habits and favorites, possible paths to take him to, litter collection, and what to pay attention to at home to accommodate everybody's needs and maintain a respectful environment. He has a wonderful personality and will make sure to receive you with utmost hospitality. Thanks to him, I was able to get to know the surroundings and discover some really authentic local spots. Once he took us all on a hike, where we reached breathtaking views; I enjoyed it so much I still have the image imprinted in my mind.
Carry is a delight to spend time with; within the limited time due to her packed calendar, we managed to share a couple of meals and chat pleasantly. I admired how passionately connected she is to her work and how deep her knowledge goes - since she does really care about it.
At home, I had my own bedroom and was a single workawayer, which allowed me to spend spare time on pc and read many books in peace. Whenever our schedules accommodated, we cooked and had meals together at home. As Carry underlines in the host profile, the nearest town is Leek, and that's where you'll find services even for your most essential needs. I did enjoy the green walkway that runs between Rudyard and Leek; it takes about an hour or less. Taking the local bus is an option too, which could be limiting due to frequency and timetable for some; however, I was happy to embrace the slow pace and reduced availability, which was somewhat liberating (those who are from big cities know I'm hinting at here).
To sum up, I considered myself lucky to be at the right place with the right mindset - the latter is fundamental, and that's why it has been such an unforgettable experience for me. I am grateful to Romero, first of all, for letting me take care of him and enjoy his company. Secondly, to Mark and Carry, who made me feel welcome at home and treated me with extreme generosity.
The next time I visit the UK, Rudyard will definitely be on my itinerary to pay a visit to this wonderful family. Merci pour tout! ^_^
Zulal was a fantastic workawayer. Romero got lots of exercise and really enjoyed being with her. She kept the house super clean as well. Highly recommend!
Jack and Nicole were absolutely outstanding Workawayers. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone seeking reliable, passionate, and capable help. Although this was their first Workaway experience, they approached it with such enthusiasm and professionalism it was hard to believe they were newcomers. From the moment they arrived, it was… read more clear we were leaving Romero and our home in safe and capable hands.
Their communication was excellent throughout, which made all the difference while we were away. They kept us updated with daily photos and videos of Romero, showing him enjoying walks both near and far.
When we returned, we found Romero happy, healthy, and well-groomed—evidence of the love and attention he had received. The house was even cleaner than when we left! After chatting with them, it was obvious how much care and effort they had put into Romero’s daily routine, from long walks to plenty of stick and ball games.
Jack and Nicole are not only hardworking and dependable but also genuinely likeable and sociable, which made the entire experience so much more enjoyable. They’ve embarked on a new chapter in life, having left their previous jobs for a lifestyle change, and I have no doubt they will thrive wherever their journey takes them.
We wholeheartedly recommend Jack and Nicole for any Workaway position and wish them all the best in their future adventures. Anyone who has the pleasure of hosting them will be incredibly fortunate, and we'd love to host them again for any future dogsitting needs.
We really enjoyed our stay at Carry and Mark's house in Leek, looking after their wonderful dog Romero. This was our first workaway and they made us feel very welcome and comfortable during the days we spent with them. The house was clean and cozy, with a fireplace and lots of wood to keep us warm! Lots of areas around for walking and even a lake… read more right by the house. Also only a short 5 minute drive into the town of Leek where you can get anything you need.
Carry and Mark are both very friendly and knowledgeable people, who have alot of stories and experiences to share! Mark's cooking is amazing and he taught us how to make Takoyaki's which was fun! Carry also gave us some of her homemade Jam and a Christmas card which was lovely!
Romero is super cute and playful, very friendly and a breeze to take care of. He loved showing us around the area! Taking him on daily walks was fun and refreshing, we even had some snow to play in for a few days! We would definitely come back to look after Romero again in the future. Thank you so much Carry and Mark for the opportunity!
(Excellent)
10 Jan 2024
Left by host for Workawayer (Eduardo)
Eduardo has been a fantastic guest. He is very easy to have around, intelligent, a good conversationalist and it’s been a really good cultural interchange. We have improved our Spanish, while Eduardo has brushed up on his already excellent English. He is hardworking and diligent and has been happy to share household chores like washing up after… read more meals. It has been a pleasure having Eduardo to stay with us for the past few weeks and we wish him well with finding future workaway hosts.
(Excellent)
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Animal Care
House & pet sitting
