Somewhere to stay: Peak Edge Hotel, Derbyshire :: Hotel reviews

Peak Edge Hotel, Peak District - UK hotel reviews - Country & travel - allaboutyou.com

The ultimate feel of the Peak Edge Hotel is welcoming and comfortable – fantastic food and accommodation in a truly friendly setting, with really helpful owners and staff. To give you an idea, I left my mobile charger in my room and it arrived back at my home the day after I called the hotel reception...

What's the hotel like?

The Peak Edge Hotel is a four-star, luxury boutique hotel overlooking beautiful Derbyshire countryside. A mere 10-minute drive from Chesterfield and 30 minutes from Sheffield, the 27-roomed modern hotel is stone-built and sits perfectly in its Derbyshire countryside setting, next to a lake.

What are the rooms like?

The rooms have king-size beds, rain showers and double-ended baths in the tiled bathrooms – there are also family rooms, plus two with four-poster beds and dog-friendly room. My bedroom was fully equipped and there was a large LED flat-screen TV that I could view from the comfort of either the ample sofa or the bed.

Eating and drinking

A unique feature is The Red Lion, which is the bar and bistro restaurant where we had all our meals and drinks. This 17th-century coaching house is immediately next to the hotel. All is stone-built comfort as you enter and there are cosy fires to sit around on sink-into sofas and armchairs. When we went into the bar for a drink, there were Damian and Joanne Dugdale, the owners. This really is a family-run enterprise and the couple and their children were seen often during our stay; at breakfast or indeed anywhere in the Red Lion and the hotel, Damian and Joanne were always on hand to help.

The Red Lion bistro has won several awards: from the AA in June 2014, Derbyshire Food and Drink Gastro Pub of the Year 2011, 2012 and 2013, to name just two. These accolades are deserved as the superb food is sourced locally, and the hotel kitchen grows its own salad vegetables and herbs. As an example of the superb food, one evening, warmed by a real fire, seated on proper comfy dining chairs, and in the glow of elegant lighting, we ate hand-dived king scallops, saddle venison, with fresh local veg, followed by lemon syllabub. All this was perfectly complemented by wine from a carefully chosen list.

What's nearby?

Haddon Hall, near Bakewell, is thought of as ‘one of the most romantic houses’ to survive from the Middle Ages and it’s easy to see why. It’s been used as a location for numerous films, including Pride and Prejudice, The Princess Bride and The Other Boleyn Girl. Visiting the market town of Bakewell to sink your teeth into its most famous confection is a must.

If you’re visiting with children, the Tropical Butterfly House. is enchanting. You can meet butterflies, of course, macaws, parrots, owls, otters and even help to feed everyone’s favourite ‘look out for each other’ animals, the meerkats. For golf fans, there’s Stanedge Golf Club, near Chesterfield, known as ‘the friendliest golf club in Derbyshire’, where all levels of expertise are welcome.

Not forgetting the breathtaking Peak District National Park. There are 555 square miles of beautiful countryside to walk, horse-ride, cycle and even camp in. It includes learning centres where children (and adults) can find out more about wildlife and preserving this important and historic piece of England’s ‘green and pleasant land.’

Chatsworth House is another must-see. The building contains one of the most notable art collections in Europe and, in the summer, immense modern art installations are often on display – and for sale. There is a farm, with farm shop, and 1,000 acres of parkland, providing an impressive backdrop for the house.

Find out more

A night in a double 'Superior' room costs from £150 per night, B&B. In January and February 2015 it's £150 for dinner, bed and breakfast. To find out more, or to book, visit the Peak Edge Hotel website or call 01246 566142.