Self-Catering Holiday Cottages in the Peak District National Park, England, UK

High quality vacation rental accommodation in a beautiful area of England.

REVIEWS

Nineteen guests have written a review about our cottages on 'Trip-Advisor', the main accommodation review site (mainly dealing with hotels); Anyhow here are the reviews, 17 giving us 5 star, one a four star and one a miserable one star! They were unsolicited, (and we  dont even know who posted some of the earlier ones). Incidentally Trip-advisor recommend that cottage owners actively solicit reviews, which produces a rather biased result, as obviously any owner will only actively solicit a review from a guest who they know has had a good experience. Visitors to that site are advised to be more guided by those cottage with not so many reviews as they are less likely to have been solicited.

Posted in April 2008 The most fantastic self catering accommodation I've ever stayed at. Great appartments, fantastic views, excellent hosts. Information packs in each appartment details everything about the area, including walks from 1 mile to many, those suitable for children and more experienced walkers, where to rock scramble, caves to visit, plus all the usual "payable" attractions of the area. Fresh eggs are available daily from the farms free range chickens. Francis and Patrick (hosts) are fantastic and can answer any question on the area - a trully brilliant holiday.

Posted in January 09; Lovely cosy accommodation, even in a blizzard, which we had one day! The views from the property are gorgeous, and the cottages have every home comfort. On-site owners are helpful if needed and discreet if not.
Only a mile from the fantastic village of Hartington, which has plenty of good places to eat, a couple of great pubs with genuinely friendly locals, and not forgetting the incomparable cheese factory, where you can even buy Stilton with stem ginger, should you feel the need.
Would recommend these cottages wholeheartedly for comfort, peace and quiet and superb walks on the doorstep.

Posted in June 2009. This is a lenthy entry on Trip Advisor from someone staying in the Dairy, which you might wish to visit directly to get the full flavour, but without removing anything we dont like but simply reducing its length, the reviewer wrote:
Cottage itself:
It's as nice as it looks in the photos! Very cosy and a perfect space for two people with a range of facilities to keep you occupied. The lounge area has a lovely wood burner, which gives the cottage character, and there is a TV, DVD player and Sky+. The kitchen has all the implements you need to cook and eat a range of meals and has the benefit of a dishwasher (there are communal washing machines). The bathroom and toilet is downstairs (bit of a pain if you need the toilet in the night) and is large with a separate shower cubicle. There is a private patio outside with a few chairs in addition to the communal picnic tables at the front of the properties. Perhaps the most impressive element is the effort that the owners put into the information booklets, which cover all aspects of a holiday – it’s worth spending a bit of time each day to go through these booklets. Overall the cottage exceeded my expectations (which were high, based on the photos) and I'd say that it's perfect for a romantic getaway.

General facilities: There are a range of good bikes and fresh eggs and frozen meals (sourced from a local producer); everything is good value and operated under an honesty box system which makes thing very simple. The owners are happy to help if needed but also recognise when to step back if you’d prefer to be left alone; they are rightly very proud of their cottage and it shows in the little touches here and there. The surroundings are lovely and I was very impressed with the views.

Location:I liked the fact that the cottages had a feeling of remoteness, yet we were actually very close to a number of key places.

Things to do: There are a number of walks nearby, which would keep you occupied for quite a few weeks. There are also 3 cycle trails that all pass near Cotterill Farm, and the cottages provides good bikes at an unbeatable price. If you’re looking for thrills there is Alton:placename> Towers:placetype>:place> which is only a 30 min drive. There are many small towns and villages within a short drive; I recommend Hartington, Ashbourne, Ilam and Bakewell (which gets very busy at weekends). Buxton is very close and has a few scenic parks. You also have a number of National Trust properties, parks and walks nearby so it’s a good idea to become a member, which should pay for itself in the space of a couple of weeks. We were impressed with Ilam (walks), Hardwick Hall (house and walks)

Overall: This exceeded my expectations and I can’t actually think of anything negative to say. I’d say that it would especially suit a couple looking for a romantic break with some outdoor activities in lovely surroundings.

Posted in October 2009

 We stayed in the Hay Store, which Patrick kindly found for us, as the regular cottages were fully booked. Actually for last year they only had 6 spare days for all of the cottages and they were in winter, individual days. So book for 2010 before it's too late!.
The weather was perfect and so we had wonderful sunsets. The (second floor) cottage was just right, and no sounds from the lower floor cottage, so Patrick's sound proofing really works.
Our only minor quibbles-all of the kitchen knives were blunt, and no steel in the drawer, also the kitchen lighting was not very good-I think a bulb was out. The glass cutting board probably explains the dull knives, I use a maple or bamboo board at home.
Highly recommended-we went to a family event in Derby as well as some local exploring for the 5 day stay.
We like the fact that pets and smoking are not allowed due to allergies, etc

Posted in November 2009
Stayed in the Milking Parlour cottage for 2 nights with my girlfriend. It was a surprise arrangement for her birthday. What a lovely place! The cottage was faultless, heated floors, Sky TV, dishwasher, 2 cosy bedrooms etc. My only criticism is that there is just too much information to wade through in the folders and laminates left at the cottage for guests - that's not a bad thing if you happen to be staying for a week or so but it just gave us the impression we were missing out on loads of stuff!! Patrick and Frances the owners are lovely, really helpful and friendly and the breakfast pack we ordered consisting of locally produced eggs, bacon, sausages, milk and bread. Very highly recommended and will definitely be going back.

And then in early 2010 our first negative one
A complaint from a guest, who suprisingly had been a couple of times before, saying we had double booked; incorrect, both sides of this tedious story can be seen on tripadviser. Too boring to spell out here, as there were no complaints about the cottage or location, but about what she believed to be a double booking,  but can be seen by doing a search for Cotterill Farm Cottages on Tripadvisors home page (top left hand corner).

And now in July 2010 we are back to positives!
(and can assure everyone that we did not invite this one  or any of the others that have appeared on TripAdvisor - although Tripadvisor do try to encourage business owners to solicit reviews) As follows:
What can I say, yet another fantastic week at Cotterill Farm, our sixth year and this year we had fabulous weather to boot. The accommodation was excellent as always and each year Patrick and Frances make improvements to keep the standards high, this year it was roof windows in the lounge and kitchen and new beds in the second bedroom. The walking from the cottage is superb we did four different walks during the week, direct from the front door and hardly retraced any steps. The big bonus this year was the new ownership of the local the Waterloo:place>:city> which now provides quality food at a reasonable price in welcoming surroundings.
Patrick and Frances were as helpful and friendly as ever , over the past six years we have been delighted by the level of service they have provided and also their efforts to provide top class accommodation at a very reasonable price. We will be back next year and sooner if we can!!!!

Two couples staying for a weekend break in November 2010
Stayed for a weekend in November and had a great trip. The cottage (Dale View) was nice and cosy with lovely countryside views. The beds are comfortable and we slept very well throughout our stay. We enjoyed the local produce on offer with really tasty bacon, sausage, eggs and milk. We felt the cost of a winter weekend break here was excellent value for money, paying £190 for the cottage.

We recommend visiting the picturesque village:placetype> of Hartington:placename>:place> where we had a really nice meal at the Devonshire Arms, great quality food and friendly staff. We also went to the village:placetype> of Biggin:placename>:place> one night for a drink at the Waterloo Inn, which was ideal as it is only 350 yards from the farm and we found it to be friendly.

The farm is in an ideal location being only 5 minutes away from the main road connecting Ashbourne and Buxton. The owners supply informative folders in the cottage describing all the activities available in the area. There is a vast selection of walks to choose from locally. We enjoyed the walks around Biggin Dale and Dovedale which were easily accessible and had great scenic views of the river Dove.

Overall we had a great time and would definitely be returning in the future

Newly weds posting in December 2010

We stayed in this cottage for a week for our honeymoon and it was simply wonderful. The cottage itself has everything we could have wanted from sky tv to a teapot! It is extremely welcoming, spacious and comfortable with real quality furnishings and attention to detail. On arrival we were greeted by Frances and Patrick and we just knew that we had chosen the perfect retreat for the week. They had even put some special touches to the cottage knowing that it was our honeymoon including champagne and rose petals on the bed which was a really nice and touching surprise. The location of the cottage is excellent with fantastic walks right on your doorstep and even though local pubs and villages are only a short walk away it really is a lovely, peaceful and quiet location. Amenities are great and everything we wanted we had, from free range eggs to homemade food in the guest freezer. We went on lots of walks during the week and hired the bikes for a day which was really good fun with the trail nearby. Overall, we could not have had a better honeymoon. The cottage is really special and you really feel like you are having a treat by staying here. Thoroughly recommend it and we will definitely be back in the future!

A couple staying in May 2011
We've been staying at Cotterill Farm Barn for several years now and every year we look forward to it more and it always meets our expectations. This year we decided to stay a month earlier and although the weather was showery all week it didn't spoil our holiday.
The cottage is less than a hours drive from our home but it could be miles away, the setting is peaceful, there is no traffic noise and we were woken every morning by the dawn chorus and the lambs in the field outside the front door. There is no stress in packing as the cottage provides everything you need (we did have a discussion about a cheese grater before we left home but we didn't need to worry as there was one in the kitchen along with everything else you might possibly need), In fact when I walked in I felt like I was coming home I felt so comfortable.
We did some fabulous walks, caught the bus to Thorpe and walked back the eight miles through Dovedale, Milldale and Biggindale. There are also lots of footpaths around the local fields and farms and we walked into Hartington several times along the paths to have lunch or dinner. The Devonshire was excellent as always, sunday lunch is recommended. We also ate at the Charles Cotton which has improved beyond recognition in the past few years, we didn't like it quite as much the Devonshire as the food was a bit pricey and and it wasn't as relaxed as I didn't like the fact that the owners were sat at the next table eating and surveying their domain. The Waterloo in Biggin is also excellent it had improved last year and it was even better this, it is now a lovely, clean family pub with friendly staff and good value food.
If you want a perfect retreat which is excellent value for money you can't go wrong with the Cotterill Farm cottages.

A family staying in July 2011 headed their contribution as: :Beautiful location, lovely accommodation, amazingly helpful hosts.
This was our first ever cottage holiday rental and we were really pleased with everything . It's not the cheapest, but then you get so much added value from things like the amazingly comprehensive and up to date info folders, welcome gift , freezer meals if you don't want to cook and walks straight from your front door into fabulous scenery as well as a high standard of accommodation that it is definitely worth it. Great owners - there if you need them, but discreetly absent if not required. We will be back if only to do all the things we didn't fit in this time round!

A Couple posting in August 2011

We had a very relaxing week in very good accomodation. The information and walk packs were invaluable to planning our stay. (These guests like all the others apart from the repeat guest complaining about an alleged double booking, gave it 'excellent' in the overall rating system)

A Couple posting in October 2011 under the heading: Tranquil Setting, ideal for cyclists, walkers and drivers alike.

My wife & I stayed in the Milk Parlour Cottage for a week in September. The cottage was very comfortable and the surrounding views were lovely, but unfortunately you can’t really enjoy the views from inside the cottage as the only window in the lounge / kitchen looks straight out onto the side of the next barn and there is a restricted view from the side door. However Patrick (the owner) did inform us that they are hoping to get planning permission to put a window in the lounge / kitchen area so hopefully future guests will be able to enjoy the view over breakfast whilst planning their days out.

The cottages are ideally situated for all guests, whether you want to go walking, cycling or like us driving around and seeing as much of the area as you can during your stay.

Local places of interest including, Ashbourne, Ashford in the Water, Bakewell, Buxton, Chatsworth, Dovedale, Hartington, Matlock and Tissington are all less than 20 miles away and with so many quaint village pubs around you are really spoilt for choice as to where to eat out each evening.

If you are unsure where you want to visit during your stay, don’t worry because Patrick has a passion for providing his guests with all the information you will need. I for one am a stickler for organising our holidays but even I found his information packs rather overwhelming and in some cases repetitive and out of date (including the local bus timetable which was dated March 2008).

Putting Patrick’s ‘passion’ to one side we had a lovely peaceful, pleasant stay here and would recommend it and the location of their two other cottages in Hartington Village. If we could make just one minor suggestion it would be for Patrick to make his Information Packs more “User Friendly” in both size and quality and relevant to “current events, reviews and prices”.

During your visit here if you really fancy a good value meal out you must try Biggin Hall Hotel in Biggin (half a mile from the cottage and set back slightly from the road next door to the Waterloo Inn). Don’t be put off by it’s 2 star rating and rather cluttered reception area because beyond that they have a cosy lounge with a log fire and provide a one sitting evening meal at 7.00pm in their light and airy restaurant which includes a free glass of pimms, three course meal, cheese & biscuits and you can finish off your evening out with complementary coffee & mints back in the comfort of their lounge all for £19.50 pp.

Can I, Patrick just add a comment here: The document that this reviewer identifies as being out of date is in fact the latst timetable for the local bus service as there have been no changes since then (2008). We do have about 400 leaflets produced by the various mainly commercial attractions providers in the area, and I admit that as we have all 400 in each of our six cottages (and three more likewise in Hartington) I do not change all the leaflets, when the leaflets are updated, if there are only minor changes, I only do so when there have been significant changes - otherwise I really would be wasting literature/paper/money and my time. Often the only change to a leaflet is the latest admission prices have gone up a few pence. Re the views, I agree at the moment the Milking Parlour is limited in views, but we are indeed putting the extra window in, in January. Regading the suggestion for improving things by, I think, providing current events, we do in fact send out to all our guests  coming during the 'event season' so between May and end of October in advance an events list on usually one full page of A4, specifically tailored to the period of a guests stay, so they are not seeing events not occuring during that period. Also I am mindful that all the iformaiton can be a bit daunting, soin advance I send out a two sided, one A4 page summary of the 10 information folders.

A posting in November 2011 under the heading This is the place to relax, recharge and see the lovely green countryside:

Our two 13 years old boys, my husband and I stayed in the Hay Store in August. The cottage was spotlessly clean, warm, light and airy. Standing outside the front door of the cottage, you could see miles and miles of green rolling hills. It reminds you the need to slow down and take stock.
The owners were kind, caring, considerate and very friendly, nothing was too much trouble for them. They even broke their journey on their way to an appointment to take my son back to the cottage to me when they came across him fallen off his bike, Frances took him back in their car and Patrick rode the bike back to the farm. You don't see much of these kind of good deeds nowadays.
Although the farm was a bit out of the way, it was very easy to walk to the wolfdale, Milldale and the Tissington trail, The Tissington estate itself was only a short drive away. There was lots of short walks nearby for fantastic views. I often walked 10 minutes or so (to the Highfield Lanes?) after dinner to admire the sunsets.
We spent 2 days travelling on the local buses, picking up 100 yards outside the farm, down to Asbourne, going through little hamlets and lanes, then all the way up to Buxton and had tea and a little look round, then caught the last bus back to Biggin. All for £12.60 for the four of us for the day. On another occasion, we picked up other buses from Buxton, eg to Macclesfield - the moors were just showing their purple colour, to Whaley Bridge, to Chapel-en-le-Frith etc. The boys loved it.
Peak Distrist is wonderful, so much to see and to do. Cotterill Farm provides a perfect base to explore these areas. Thank you Frances and Patrick

Again could I just add to these very kind comments. Our guest refers to this as being out of the way (although later saying a wonderful base to view all the attractions of the area). I guess one persons 'out of the way' is another persons 'too built-up'. I would point out we are 350 yards from Biggin-by-Hartington, one mile along a pretty easy road to the A515, a major artery road running north south between Buxton and Ashbourne and a mile and a half away from a trunk road heading to the east of the Peak District, namely Chastsworth, bakewell, Haddon Hall and Cromford, making it remarkably easy, in fact far easier than residents in the majority of Peak District villagers to access the various areas of the Peak District. In fact we remember one estate agent saying to us just after we had gutted our house, 'of course you would be crazy to move, with such a wonderful location, it could not be better, glorious countryside but so accessable to everywhere'. He was obviously underwhelmed by all the work we had done to our house, seeing the location as far more of a selling point!

 And finally another posting in November 2011:

 booked The Dairy at Cotterill Farm for a 4 night break for my girlfriend and I. On arrival we were met by a very enthusiastic and helpful Patrick who made us very welcome to our 'home' for the week. The Dairy was spotless and had everything we could possibly need for our stay.
Patrick and Frances have put together a comprehensive collection of folders full of things to do in the area, walking,cycling, tourist attractions, places to eat or drink the list goes on you can always find something to do. All put together to make your stay in the area as good as it could be.
Alternatively this is an ideal place to do nothing but relax. It's so snug and peaceful nestled in beautiful countryside.
I can't recommend a stay here enough and we will definitely be going back.

Another one posted on the same day so I suspect was from the partner of the person posting above

I have just returned from a 4 night stay with my partner. We had a fantastic stay. The 'Dairy' catered for all our needs. The welcome pack is well worth a go. It was spotless, welcoming, and cosy...Loved the log burner. There was so much to see and do couldnt fit it all in. Patrick is very enthusiatic about what he does....He is like a breath of fresh air...His information packs where up to date and comprehensive.
My only downside is that we couldnt stay for longer......We wil be returning in the future.

January 2012:

Stayed in the barn just as you pull on to the drive 31/12/2011-2/1/2012.
The pictures provided don't do this place any justice. It's such a perfect quiet quaint little cottage. The locals are so welcoming, the pub is rustic loved every second of my stay. Will def be going back. Best new year I've ever had x thanks x

2nd posting in January (by a guest who stayed in July):

Overall, we had a lovely time at The Dairy - Cotterill Farm. It was clean and comfortable.

The views are stunning and it is so tranquil. It is great to have bikes available to hire from the front door and a laundry room too. Everything is extremely well organized and we hope to return in the future.

3rd Posting in January 2012(a good month for us):

My wife, her mother and I spent a wonderful Christmas in the Milking Parlour at Cotterill Farm.The second we opened the door, Christmas itself greeted us.Christmas tree, mince pies,chocolates, Crackers, wine,etc etc. If you think of a chocolate box cottage and surroundings and add more and more you might get the picture.If you arrived there with nothing but what you stand up in, that would be enough.Its all there and more.
Patrick and Frances looked after us very well and were attentive and there when we needed them.
My wife and I will return in the summer to enjoy the beautiful surroundings and many walks.
We thank you for making our Christmas special.