- Leek, EnglandMegs Cottage Butterton can be found on the edge of the Staffordshire Moorlands and Derbyshire Peaks in the picturesque conservation village of Butterton. Situated in the heart of the Peak District National Park, the detached cottage is an eco-friendly stable conversion, full of character with the staircase and beams crafted from reclaimed wood from the Royal Doulton Pottery. Antique furniture including a magnificent 18th-century oak chest and farmhouse oak table add to the wonderful eclectic and individual style, as do rustic ornaments and the farmhouse style kitchen, handmade by the owner himself. The property offers flagstone flooring with underfloor heating on the ground floor, and two en-suite bedrooms with super kingsize beds (can be twin on request) dressed with crisp Egyptian cotton linen. Outside, the private lawned garden and patio offers truly beautiful and unobstructed views across the surrounding fields and peaks. Sounds of the stream and birdsong play in the background and the view of the sunset is spectacular.
Megs Cottage Butterton is perfect for a quiet hideaway, away from life’s hustle and bustle but also as a base for more energetic activities. The Peak District offers excellent walking, climbing and cycling, and with the Manifold Valley, Dovedale, The Roaches, High Peak and Tissington Trail all in the local area you really are spoilt for choice. Finally for those thrill seekers, Britain’s premier theme park Alton Towers is just 20 minutes by car. Leek, with its supermarkets, is about 15 minutes’ drive. Shop 5 miles, pub and restaurant 180 yards.£88Price per night from
- England
This super dog-friendly 18th Century barn makes a wonderful base for a rural retreat with your canine companion, placing you and your pampered pooch in the heart of the picturesque Peak District.
£363Price per night from
- Stafford, EnglandThe Stables at the Oaks is an off-the-grid, solar powered, eco-friendly, stable conversation, situated on the owner’s small holding with pigs, sheep and chickens, has been lovingly renovated by the owner to allow for a memorable stay. The open plan living space has a cosy, crackling wood burner as the central point in which to relax and enjoy after a day exploring. Features also include exposed beams, and this grand space has been tastefully decorated throughout. Two bedrooms await a good night’s sleep, and the shower room has all the features you would expect. Open up the door, pull back the window shutters and look over the open fields and wonderful views. The outside area is fabulous for al fresco dining and just to watch the world go by. Directly from your doorstep you will be amazed at the number of footpaths and walking opportunities.
Nearby you will find the busy little village of Yoxall offering a wonderful array of amenities. The ancient woodland at Needwood Forest offers lovely walks and is well worth a visit when the forest bursts to life in the spring with a beautiful carpet of bluebells. Definitely worth a visit is the National Memorial Arboretum, which is just a short drive away, as well as the National Brewery Centre, located a little further afield in Burton-on-Trent. Why not take a visit to the magnificent Cannock Chase, or just enjoy the peace and quiet of the Peak District National Park. There are plenty of historic estates located nearby for you to explore including Chatsworth House, Shugborough Hall, Kedleston Hall and the nearby Sudbury Hall. All in all The Stables at the Oaks is a truly ideal base for a wonderful holiday! Shop, pub and restaurant 1 mile.£61Price per night from
- Gailey, England
A canal boat trip makes a fabulous adventure for your canine friend. You have the freedom to go where you want and your dog will love stopping off for endless new dog-walking opportunities and the gorgeous riverside dog-friendly pubs on route.
£214Price per night from
- Thorncliffe, EnglandSituated on a country road, this attractive detached barn set in the grounds of the owners’ home has been lovingly converted, retaining many original features and beams. Celebrating excellent views over the surrounding countryside and superb walks from the door, with numerous local footpaths, the Old Byre makes an ideal base for visiting all the attractions the Peak District has to offer including Chatsworth House, Alton Towers (just 10 minutes away), Haddon Hall, Carsington Water, Cheddleton Steam Railway, Rudyard Lake and Meerbook Reservoir to name just a few. Shop 2½ miles and pub 1 mile.£64Price per night from
- Rudyard, EnglandThis architect-designed boathouse enjoys a beautifully quiet location on the banks of Rudyard Lake. Set on arguably the best spot, it has stunning views up and down the lake. From the first floor balcony of the boathouse, visitors can take it all in and, on a still day, observe the surrounding lush woodland’s inverted reflection in the lake with all its colour, like in a mirror. Rudyard Lake is abundant in wildlife and offers various activities including birdwatching, fishing, sailing, canoeing, walking and cycling. Hire boats available on the lake. Rudyard Lake is located on the edge of the Peak District National Park in the Staffordshire moorlands and is surrounded by blanket tree preservation order. Other places of interest within easy driving distance include the market town of Leek, Macclesfield, The Potteries, Biddulph Grange, Buxton, Tittesworth Reservoir and The Roaches. Shop and restaurant 3 miles, pub 2½ miles.£119Price per night from
- Barton-under-Needwood, EnglandDesigned to exacting standards, and with a fabulous indoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi, games room and gymnasium on the doorstep (open all year), these three extremely comfortable adjoining properties enjoy a peaceful courtyard setting on the owners’ non working farm. Footpaths cross the local farmland and the National Forest, and a nature reserve is in 0.75 miles. Lichfield Cathedral, Uttoxeter’s racecourse, cinema and bowling, and Sudbury Hall’s Museum of Childhood are all under 10 miles. Alton Towers, Drayton Manor, Tamworth SnowDome, Shugborough Hall and Calke Abbey (NT), and Dovedale in the Peak District National Park are all within 20 miles. Shop 1 mile, pub serving food 0.5 miles.£101Price per night from
- Onecote, EnglandSet in glorious countryside in the south of the Peak District National Park, this charming beamed and attractively furnished cottage adjoins the owners’ 17th-century home in the hamlet of Onecote. There are numerous marked footpaths locally for extensive walking. Leek is 7 miles away, with interesting shopping, and Ashbourne and Buxton, with its summer festival, are 12 miles away. There is cycle hire available on the Manifold Trail, 5 miles, and Alton Towers is 10 miles away. Trentham Gardens, Monkey Park, Waterworld, Chatsworth House, Little Moreton Hall (NT) and the Heights of Abraham are within a 45-minute drive. Golf 7 miles, riding 12 miles. Shop 4 miles.£57Price per night from
- Leek, EnglandBeside the Caldon Canal and enjoying views over the water and meadows these lovely cottages offer very comfortably furnished retreats amidst pretty countryside, close to many year round attractions. They stand adjoining a renowned country pub in the hamlet of Denford, adjacent to a country park and within 4 miles of the Peak District National Park. Leek is 3 miles. Waterworld swimming pool, china factory tours, museums, steam railways, Alton Towers, Biddulph Grange Gardens and Little Moreton Hall (National Trust) are within 10 miles. Canal fishing (licence required) and an adventure playground are also nearby (100 yards).£72Price per night from
- Stoke-on-Trent, EnglandWith superb walking from the door into Dimmingsdale Nature Reserve and the Churnet Valley, with its steam train, this peaceful comfortably furnished semi-detached farmhouse is ideal for bird watchers yet only 3 miles from Alton Towers. Waterworld Swimming Pool, Drayton Manor Park, Shugborough Hall, Trentham Gardens and Monkey Park and Carsington Water are all within easy reach. Visitors are welcome on the neighbouring farm. There is a ‘seasonal’ pub (open March - November) just 200 yards away and shops and pubs 1 mile.£74Price per night from