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14 wonderful Peak District hotels for a bucolic break
Our pick of the best hotels in the Peak District for your next country escape
There are lots of lovely corners of our green and pleasant land, but few are as beloved as this part of the north-west – and we’ve picked out the best Peak District hotels for your next trip to the national park.
OUR FAVOURITE PEAK DISTRICT HOTELS, REVIEWED
Most of the Peak District is in Derbyshire, but it also extends into areas of Staffordshire, Greater Manchester, Cheshire and South and West Yorkshire.
The park is one of the most-visited places in the UK, covering 555 square miles of spectacularly scenic countryside. It’s the perfect destination for walking – including a stretch of the Pennine Way, the oldest National Trail in Britain – as well as climbing and camping.
Other highlights include visits to the hilltop Bolsover Castle and trips underground to illuminated caves.
You’ll also be able to visit Bakewell, home of the famous frangipane tart, and one of the most stunning stately homes in the country: Chatsworth House, the seat of the Duke of Devonshire and owned by the Cavendish family since 1549. And if you are paying a visit to the estate, you can stay for longer by booking a stay at one of its many properties, which include the Devonshire Arms at Pilsley and Cavendish Hotel in Baslow.
Read on for more of our favourite Peak District hotels…
The Duncombe Arms
Technically just outside of the Peak District in the Dove Valley, The Duncombe Arms is worth the detour for its comforting menu of classics and the sourdough made on-site. The hotel is on the Derbyshire-Staffordshire border.
The valley has walking trails that are just as scenic as the neighbouring national park, including an area known as ‘Dragon’s Back’, so-called for its resemblance to the spine of a mythical creature, thought by some to lurk in these very hills…
Losehill House Hotel & Spa
A country house hotel in a white Arts & Crafts building a few miles from the village of Castleton, Losehill House is surrounded by the beautiful countryside of the Hope Valley. It first opened as a refuge for ramblers in 1914 – it may still be an excellent base for exploring the Peak District on foot, but it’s equally enticing to those who’d rather relax in the spa than brave the elements.
Guests can also stay put in the two-AA Rosette restaurant, which has wonderful views of the countryside. When you do want to venture out, don’t miss the limestone ridges of Winnats Pass.
Fischer’s at Baslow Hall
If you’re in search of a luxury Peak District hotel, Fischer’s Baslow Hall, in the village of Baslow on the River Derwent, is the stay for you. Baslow is close to Bakewell and Chatsworth, and you’ll also be able to head to Curbar Edge to see the dramatic escarpments.
A shaded driveway leads to the Grade II-listed hall, built more than a century ago in the style of a local Jacobean manor, hence the gabled wings, mullioned windows and wood-panelling. Along with the comfortable bedrooms and glorious grounds, there’s a restaurant worth travelling for.
The Old Hall Inn
The Old Hall Inn is in the hamlet of Whitehough, on the Peak District’s western border. It’s made up of various buildings, which include Whitehough Hall, an Elizabethan manor house that is as grand as it sounds, which a great dining room and a minstrel’s gallery; and, across the beer garden, Paper Mill Inn, another old rural pub that has been gently modernised.
Colin Firth fans will have no choice but to undertake a pilgrimage to nearby Lyme Park, which is home to the lake where Mr Darcy swam in the BBC’s 1995 adaptation of Pride & Prejudice.
The Devonshire Arms at Pilsley
A traditional inn in the quaint village of Pilsley, the Devonshire Arms is one of many sandstone cottages and houses built in the late-18th and early 19th century to accommodate workers from the nearby Chatsworth estate. Guests can choose between bedrooms in the inn or in the neighbouring farmhouse, each equally cosy (especially thanks to the biscuits on the tea tray).
Be sure to obtain the right postcode: there are various incarnations of Devonshire Arms all over the Peak District and, since this is one of the loveliest, you don’t want to end up at the wrong one.
The Cavendish Hotel
The Cavendish in Baslow is the ideal Peak District hotel for visitors to Chatsworth, who can stay behind after a day exploring the stately home’s opulent interiors to spot herds of deer in the surrounding parkland or take tea in the village of Edensor’s charming tearoom.
Guests of this former coaching inn will also be able to wind down in the evenings watching cows graze on the fields from the hotel’s terrace. Come the next day, explore the desolate Dark Peak – these wild moorlands are at the northern reaches of the national park.
Biggin Hall
A 17th-century manor two miles away from the village of Hartington, Biggin Hall was crafted from local limestone, with mullioned windows and slate tiles. Lovers of antiques will enjoy a stay here, since the hotel is owned by a former dealer who has added lots of treasures to the main house, including oil paintings and wall-mounted breastplates.
The traditional hotel is in the hamlet of Biggin, which has two pubs, an ancient church and plenty of walks to set off on, and you’ll be within a short drive of Buxton.
The Cow
A six-mile drive away from Derby, The Cow lives up to its name with bovine portraits lining the corridor. The boutique inn has a gastro pub, where you can pull up an unusual bar stool (formed from old tractor seats and milk churns) and enjoy British favourites such as ham hock Scotch eggs and braised ox cheek. Much of the produce comes from within 30 miles of the property, so you can expect to enjoy Derbyshire’s finest meat, veg and dairy products.
The decor was inspired by the owners’ travels and their love of homely, cosy and characterful rooms that are a far cry from corporate chain hotels.
The Farmhouse at Mackworth
In the tiny village of Mackworth on the road to Derby, the roadside Farmhouse is a brilliant base for Peak District exploration. It’s a 10-minute drive to the centre of Derby and a pitstop on the Bonnie Prince Charlie Walk, too (which follows the route of the prince’s army taken in 1745).
The inn was modernised a few years ago, with herb-graced cocktails and gastropub favourites now on the menu, including Mediterranean mezze, triple-cooked chips and delicious desserts – and thankfully the traditional ploughman’s survived.
Peak Edge Hotel
Peak Edge Hotel is just outside of the boundary of the national park, but you’ll be able to enjoy views of the valley or wide open moorland as you arrive. The inn was built in the 18th century, with additions in sandstone and slate over the years.
The bedrooms are in the newer annexe, with the atmospheric original pub (and all of its nooks and crannies) still intact. There’s an award-winning restaurant, landscaped gardens and a lake full of koi carp.
Wildhive Callow Hall, Ashbourne
At the southern reaches of the Peak District National Park, Wildhive Callow Hall is one of Derbyshire’s most wonderful places to stay. At its heart is an imposing manor, which has been carefully modernised with a glass-walled restaurant, where you can dine on delicious dishes, including excellent arancini and perfectly cooked steaks. Come morning, breakfasts are a bountiful selection of locally sourced bacon, eggs and sausages.
There are rooms in the manor, but the most peaceful suites are the treehouses, up a pathway from the main house and surrounded by woodland. The town of Ashbourne is within walking distance, and you’ll also be perfectly placed for driving to Bakewell, Chatsworth and the Dove Valley.
Three Horseshoes Country Inn & Spa, Leek
Hikers ambling through the Peak District’s many scenic trails will appreciate the spa at this inn in the market town of Leek, which is ready to soothe sore limbs. There are treatments on offer by French spa brand Phytomer, which specialises in harnessing the benefits of marine ingredients. To continue the relaxation, book one of the rooms with a private garden and hot tub.
The Three Horseshoes is in the south-western parts of the park, in Staffordshire. For those seeking a different kind of adrenalin, Alton Towers is also nearby.
Devonshire Arms at Beeley, Matlock
One of the many properties in and around the vast Chatsworth Estate, the Devonshire Arms is a pub with rooms in the village of Beeley. Somewhat confusingly, there’s another Devonshire Arms under the umbrella of the stately home and its expansive environs, at Pilsley. This 18th-century property is a traditional, cosy pub, with rooms in the main building and more recently added cottages.
There’s a lot of spectacular scenery to behold in this part of the world, but the drive up to Chatsworth House from the inn is especially memorable.
No 6 the Square, Buxton
Famous for its water, Buxton is where you’ll find No 6 the Square, a tearoom with a handful of bedrooms in a handsome stone building. There’s also a self-contained flat next-door. It’s unlikely, but in case your surroundings aren’t stately enough, Chatsworth and Haddon Hall are a short drive away.
The town has hilly streets with grand Georgian and Victorian buildings, and an impressive cultural pedigree, with an Opera House and the 18th-century Crescent, now home to a hotel and spa.
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