The search for Peak District holiday cottages

An escape to the Peak District is an escape to one of England’s most quintessential areas of wilderness. Green and heath-clad, rising to windy tors and craggy boulders, it’s a land steeped in history and myth. The most enchanting stays in the region come in the form of Peak District holiday cottages, which draw on traditional styles to offer a place with real character. In this guide, we take a look at some central features of this type of accommodation, why travellers will love them and booking tips for those on a tight budget.

The Howden Reservoir in the Peak District

What are Peak District holiday cottages like?

From rustic barns turned homes to old brick-built cottages in ancient hamlets, there’s a real range of cottages on the menu in this rustic corner of England. To ensure you get the one that suits your style of travel, consider the pointers below when you book.

Peak District holiday cottages can be luxurious

There’s no reason why you can’t enjoy a slice of the high life on that getaway to the country. Some homes here follow the model of English manors, packing in plenty of bedrooms, large kitchens and sumptuous lounges with crackling fires. The cream of the crop could also beckon with a swimming pool or a hot tub.

Self-catering Peak District rentals are the norm

It’s unusual to find a Peak District holiday cottage that doesn’t have its own kitchen. In fact, given the remoteness of many a bolthole in these parts, perched on the sides of grassy ridges or nestled deep in their very own dale, it’s really helpful to have somewhere you can cook your meals. If you’re not the sort to work the stove, consider homing in on places in towns and villages, where hearty pubs serve up filling English fare.

A trip with the dog to Derbyshire and beyond

Don’t worry if you simply can’t bring yourself to leave the pooch behind when you head off to the Peak District. Plenty of home owners in these parts also recognise how much the canine friend can add to that rural escape, which is why lots of lettings have pet policies. They vary from place to place, with some allowing more than 1 dog and others just the single companion.

A hiker watches a waterfall in the Peak District

Holidaymakers that love a cottage in the Peak District

From fun-seeking families to loved-up couples, the Peak District is a magnet for all sorts of globetrotter. There’s loads to do outside of the region’s holiday cottages, no matter who you are.

Outdoorsy types

With Manchester and Sheffield just on the doorstep of the Peak District, this national park figures as a great escape for outdoorsy types feeling hemmed in by the city. Even a short weekend break can be enough to experience the freedom that’s offered by the hills and tors. The most daring of the lot could even make for the Pennine Way, which wends up and into England’s higher peaks from the village of Edale.

Active couples

Long walks over the gritstone slopes of Eccles Pike or cycling odysseys down the leafy Tissington Trail are what await duos who want to explore together in this wonderful corner of the British Isles. You can let holiday cottages in the Peak District take care of the romance, with their come-snuggle-in-me lounges and toe-warming fireplaces.

Families with active young ones

Even the most energetic of youngsters will be challenged by the wild landscapes of the Peak District. At least that’s certainly the case in Go Ape in the wooded reaches of the Buxton Country Park, where days are spent clambering up treehouses and swinging on ziplines. Other families will enjoy riding the wondrous subterranean boats of the Speedwell Cavern, or the heart-thumping roller coasters of Gulliver’s Theme Park.

Getting a good deal on Peak District holiday cottages

You don’t need to give up on that break to nature just because the budget is a little tight – there are lots of self-catering Peak District getaways that offer excellent value for money. You can stretch the pounds even further by following the 3 handy hints below.

Always try to book early

With 1000s of ramblers and hill walkers keen to visit the Peak District every week of the year, there’s never a time when rentals here aren’t in demand. Getting in there early with your booking not only means scoring the home of your choice but also potentially great deals that would otherwise be snapped up fast.

Try for last-minute Peak District holiday cottages

You might need to be a little flexible in your choice of destination if you’ve left things late, which could mean trading in the high tors around Castleton for the historic spa buildings of Matlock or swapping remote Edale for bustling Buxton. The upshot is that you open up the possibility of last-minute deals in any rentals that haven’t been taken for the coming days.

Self-catering Peak District lets outside of the park

While the Peak District often refers to the national park of the same name, it’s not exclusively that. The region also spreads across swathes of counties Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Yorkshire. That means you can still enjoy the green dales from cottages in towns like Ashbourne and Matlock. Although they aren’t in the reserve itself, they are surrounded by the same sculpted vales and deep caves, but could have cottages for a slightly reduced price.