Hartington Cottages, Hartington, Derbyshire Peak District, England

These three cottages are set around a private courtyard in the centre of one of the ‘honey-pot’ villages of the Peak District The six person 5 star graded picture postcard cottage (with three ensuites and inglenook fireplace) is 700 years old and has original (700 year old!) beams exposed, an Inglenook fireplace and stone mullion window. The other two cottages, again with plenty of beams and considerable character, are well above average size and are graded in the top end of 4 star. All three have central heating, full sky programmes and wifi.. All bedrooms have their own TV and each bed has an extra thick mattress. Each cottage has 9(!) highly organised, much praised, personalised information folders. In the grading process the cottages all achieved an unheard of 100% for standards of cleanliness.

The village is very popular during the day but is remarkably quiet in the evening. Many people come just to park up being the start of many excellent walks, has teashops, two pubs, a couple of gift shops, two grocers and newsagents. The village is famous for its duck pond and cheese shop and Old Hall.

The village is approached down a three mile long dale, with limestone cliffs towering above on either side. One of the numerous walks starts in the village, immediately passes over alovely meadow to reach the River Dove just 300 yards away. Dovedale is easily accessible downriver.

As well as footpaths, bridleways and ‘leisure lanes’ abound in the area. There are three cycle trails within 3 miles of about 15 miles each, Sustran Route 54 passes within 80 yards and there is an extensive network of quiet country lanes and there is a cycle hire base 3 miles away. Quite apart from the great outdoors, there are numerous attractions in the area, such as Chatsworth, indeed there is almost certainly more to do within 30 minutes drive than anywhere else in the UK.

This is an extremely popular village during the day, but reverts to a quiet village in the evening. Many people come just to park up as it is the start of many excellent walks, has three teashops, two pubs, a couple of gift shops, two grocers and newsagents, one with cash and lottery machines. The village is famous for its duck pond and Cheese factory (and well known cheese shop) where genuine Stilton cheese (it can only be made in certain restricted areas) and other local cheeses are produced and sold. There is also a fine Norman church, and a magnificent Jacobean Youth Hostel.

For us, however, our favourite feature is the main approach to the village, down a three mile long dale, with limestone cliffs towering above on either side. A really impressive entrance! The River Dove is only a few hundred yards away and a very popular walk starts in the village, over some lovely meadows to the River, then along the stretch known as Beresford Dale (passing the fishing temple where The Compleat Angler was written by Isaac Walton and Charles Cotton) onto Wolfscote Dale.

We are fortunate in having cottages in such a wonderfully central area in the Peak District, we are in fact situated roughly in the middle of that part of the Peak District known as the White Peak. This is the area of rolling countryside, dales, streams and rivers limestone villages and dry-stone walls, which give the area so much character. (The Dark Peak is mainly moorland). Hartington's central position within the White Peak is confirmed by its equal distance, namely 11 miles, from Buxton, Matlock, Bakewell, Ashbourne and Leek, all towns on the perimeter of the White Peak at different points on the compass. Chatsworth House and Haddon Hall are also similar distances from us. Alton Towers is under 30 minutes drive away. The Potteries is within easy reach.