Our Favourite Peak District Cottages
The High Peak is a great place to visit with children. Not only is it one of the most beautiful places in the UK, but there is an abundance of charming old barns, stables, smithies, and oast houses that have been lovingly converted. These make for utterly unique places to take your family for an amazing holiday. The Peak District cottages we have listed below are some of our favourites, featuring a mixture of the remote and those a stone’s throw from Buxton, Bakewell and even Manchester.
If you want to experience local hospitality and some of the best traditional food in the UK, take a look at our guide to The Best Peak District Hotels with Children.
If you want to experience local hospitality and some of the best traditional food in the UK, take a look at our guide:
River Cottage, Hayfield
This is proper country living! Set in the charming, quiet village of Hayfield and overlooking the River Sett, it is a perfect base to explore Kinder Scout and the other rugged peaks nearby. There is also a great play park close by and the Sett Valley Trail, which is perfect for a family bike ride or walk.
The cottage is cosy and beautifully decorated with four bedrooms that can sleep up to eight, so it may be large enough for two families to share quite comfortably.
Hayfield has some great eateries, including The Pack Horse, which is a lovely gastropub with an amazing menu; Colosseo, which is an authentic Italian restaurant and The Sportsman Inn, which is a great stop on your way down from Kinder offering a good old fashioned pub menu.
It is also an easy drive from Hayfeild into Manchester, making it an ideal place to stay for a trip away with kids if you want a mix of town and country.
The Old Stables, Near Blackwell
This twin-bedroomed barn conversion is like staying in a true slice of history. It is set in Blackwell, arguably one of the prettiest parts of the Peaks, and is surrounded by rolling Dales on all sides. The property is stunning and can accommodate six people comfortably.
The Old Stable is a great base to explore from, with a number of family-friendly activities close by. It is a short walk to Blackwell Cycle Hire, where there is access to the Monsal Trail and from there to the charming Chee Dale Stepping Stones.
Blackwell is also central to the entire Peak District, and from here, you are only a 10 min drive from either Buxton or Bakewell.
Carder Cottage, Longnor
This is the place to go if you really want to get away from it all. Longnor is a pretty hamlet as far off the beaten track as it is possible to be in the Peak District. It has a proper country pub, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, and an excellent cafe as well. The main appeal is the beautiful surrounding countryside with some excellent walks on your doorstep. One you must try is a short four-mile loop over The Dragons Back.
Carder Cottage is a cosy spot with three beautifully furnished bedrooms that can comfortably sleep six. Come the evening; you can snuggle in with the kids by the log fire.
Even though you are in a wonderfully remote area here, you are just 15 mins from Buxton and 20 mins from Bakewell, so there is still plenty to do just an easy drive away.
Willow Brook, Glossop
One of the larger and newer cottages on the list, this 6-bedroom house can sleep 12, so it is perfect for the bigger family or for a few families looking to get away together.
It is an open, spacious, and comfortable home with plenty of welcoming seating areas and even a table tennis room! If you are looking for a bit more life, then Glossop is a great choice.
It has all your local amenities including an abundance of cafes and resteraunts. The house itself is situated in a quiet residential area but near the local shops and is a great place from which to explore the stunning Derwent Valley and Castleton. Manchester is just a 30 min drive in the other direction if you fancy seeing the bright lights of the big city.
Our only comment here is that Glossop does struggle with traffic, especially during rush hour. It might be worth considering if you are planning to do a lot of driving.
Meadow View, Edale
Nestled between Mam Torr and Kinder Scout, Edale is a family favourite for us as one of the prettiest parts of the peaks, and Meadow View is a great place to discover it from. This charming accommodation is tucked away in a stunning and quiet location. It is perfectly equipped for staying and is just a short walk to the two pubs in Edale.
This home can sleep six, and there are some incredible walks on its doorstep. It is a short drive to Castleton from here, which is a great day out with the kids where you have a number of different caverns and the remains of Pevril Castle to explore.
Have We Missed Your Favourite Peak District Cottages?
If you think there is a beautiful cottage we have missed then please let us know in the comments below – we would love to check it out!
