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Enjoy the Summer Holidays

Peak Holidays Summer DealWe have a few dates left now for the school holidays, so why not enjoy your summer holidays in the Peak District?

Whatever your tastes and interests, Peak Holidays have a selection of holiday cottages which provide easy access to all of the Peak District. Choose a relaxing break or explore the numerous local attractions with family or friends, or for the thrill-seekers enjoy an activity holiday – walking, cycling, sailing, water-sports, horse riding, climbing – the options are endless.

And, why not get a last minute deal at the same time – get 20% off selected cottages for holidays taken before 31st August 2023. To claim your discount, book online and put the code for your chosen cottage in the booking page, and 20% will automatically be taken off the total, for any of the cottages listed below.

Rock Lodge Farm, Priestcliffe in the Peak DistrictRock Lodge Farm:  Sleeps 14 in 7 bedrooms.  Rock Lodge Farm is located in the rural hamlet of Priestcliffe,  and is the ideal holiday location for larger families or groups meeting up ……. Code: RLFP23

 

Brew House, Bakewell - OutsideBrew House Bakewell:  Sleeps 6 in 3 bedrooms. Located a short walk from the centre of Bakewell, this spacious ‘upside down’ family cottage has 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and private parking …… Code: BHB23

 

Candle House, Winster: Sleeps 6 in  3 bedrooms. This spacious cottage located in a quiet lane the village of Winster, surrounded by beautiful countryside, with a local pub a short walk ….. … Code: CHW23

 

Church Corner Cottage, Youlgrave, Peak District HolidayChurch Corner Cottage, Youlgrave: Sleeps 7 in 3 bedrooms. This 17th century Grade II listed cottage located in the heart of the thriving village of Youlgrave, surrounded by beautiful countryside, near Bakewell………Code: CC23

 

Bridge Cottage, Castleton, Peak District HolidayBridge Cottage Castleton: Sleeps 4 in 2 bedrooms. Located in the heart of the thriving village of Castleton and surrounded by beautiful countryside, Bridge Cottage, has been lovingly renovated to maintain the character ……….  Code: BCC23

 

 

Anne Cottage, Bakewell: Sleeps 4 in 2 bedrooms. This cosy family cottage is located near the centre of Bakewell, retains lots of character, exposed beams and modern home comforts ……..Code: ACB23

 

Cherry Cottage, Youlgrave, Peak District HolidayCherry Cottage, Youlgrave: Sleeps 4 in 2 bedrooms. This cosy cottage is full of character and located in a quiet lane near the River Bradford in the thriving village of Youlgrave,  with shops and local pubs nearby and just a few miles from Bakewell ……..Code: CCY23

Sandy’s Barn, Foolow: Sleeps 2 in  1 bedroom. This cosy & compact cottage located in the heart of the village of Foolow, surrounded by beautiful countryside, with a local pub a short walk from the cottage …..Code: SBF23

 

Joiners Cottage, Ashford in the Water, Peak District HolidayJoiners Cottage, Ashford in the Water:  Sleeps 2 in 1 bedroom. This 300 year-old stone cottage is full of character and extremely well-furnished throughout, is just a short stroll from the famous  Sheepwash bridge in the village of Ashford in the Water ……Code: JC23

 

 

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Staycations are advertised everywhere – are they a new thing?

Peak District Staycation with Peak Holidays

A staycation, in fact, isn’t a new thing. The word can be traced back to 1944, when an advert for beer encouraged readers to help the war effort by tending to their victory gardens, writing to soldiers on the front and: “Take a Stay-cation instead of a Va-cation, this year. Trains and buses are crowded. Gasoline and tyres must still be conserved.”

Since the pandemic, in which foreign travel has ranged from discouraged to impossible, ‘staycation’ has become a buzzword that’s used to promote any holiday that isn’t abroad. But call it what you like – staycation, holiday, vacation, break, leave, respite, honeymoon, time off  –  now is the time to think about visiting the Derbyshire Peak District…… you could say, take a Peak Staycation. Or how about #PeakStaycation ?

Travelling to a destination in the UK means you’re only a few hours away – 50m people live within 4 hours of the Peak District – you can just pack up the car and head off on an adventure. There’s no waiting around for hours to check in and board that plane.

Whatever your tastes and interests, Peak Holidays have a selection of holiday cottages which provide easy access to all of the Peak District. Choose a relaxing break or explore the numerous local attractions with family or friends, or for the thrill-seekers enjoy an activity holiday – walking, cycling, sailing, water-sports, horse riding, climbing – the options are endless.

Discover our Peak District Holiday Cottages  >>>>

Peak Holidays are local – based in Bakewell & Sheffield, truly independent – we have no affiliations with any of the national providers, and experienced – we have been in business for 25 years.

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Your Local Independent Holiday Letting Agency

Peak Holidays Owner ServicesOur relationship with our cottage owners is a partnership. We depend on each other for success. We ask the owner to provide a top quality cottage and a warm welcome and we deliver highly targeted marketing and bookings management systems.

We are local – based in Bakewell & Sheffield, truly independent – we have no affiliations with any of the national providers, and experienced – we have been in business for 25 years.

We are a small company which means that we know all of our cottages and owners personally. This detailed knowledge allows us to form a relationship with potential or returning guests built on trust and a detailed knowledge of the cottages we are selling.

We want to be able to say honestly that we recommend the cottage rather than just promote it. Simply, we want to work with people who care as much as we do.

Find out more about the services we offer >>>

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Our Twelve Days of Christmas

You do know it’s nearly Christmas? And you’re heading to the wonderful Peak District  for a cosy cottage holiday?

Well then, it’s time to turn that frown upside down and get into the Christmas spirit with a little help from Peak Holidays. It’s all jingle bells and Ho-ho-hos from here on in with our Twelve Days of Christmas.

Twelve days of Christmas

Day One: Turn up those classic Christmas tunes. Whether Bing Crosby’s ‘White Christmas’ or ‘Merry Christmas Everyone’ by Slade, get those Christmas songs playing in the car on your way to the Peak District.

Day Two: It’s time to decorate!  If you’re spending Christmas Day in one of our cosy cottages, you can check with us to see if there will be a tree and decorations provided, but if not, why not get creative and head out outside, gather up some of nature’s finest and ‘deck the halls with boughs of holly’.

Day Three: Get baking! Dig out the Christmas recipes and start making your very own selection of treats. When you book a self-catering holiday cottage with Peak Holidays, you’ll be able to explore the local farmers’ markets and artisan stores for local ingredients.

Day Four: Gather in the logs and kindling and get the home fire roaring. When it’s cold outside there’s nothing more inviting than the warm glow of a real fire. The majority of our holiday cottages have a real fire or log burner and we include a pack of logs to get you started.

Day Five: It’s time to rekindle those old family rivalries. With the nights drawn in and the weather wet and wild, why not round off the evening with a board game, a jigsaw or a good old fashioned game of charades. Our cottages have good sized living areas, so you can all gather together comfortably.

Day Six: Join the locals and pop along to the village carol singing service or local pantomime. Many of our cottages are in small villages where the gentle pace of life often revolves around the friendly local pub and the seasonal celebrations at the parish church.

Day Seven: Enjoy a festive tipple to get you into the Christmas spirit. Whether you fancy a hot ladle-full of spiced mulled wine or one of our locally brewed beers, a little Yuletide libation is sure to sweeten the mood and have you puckering up under the mistletoe in one of the village locals.

Day Eight: How about a cheery Christmas film to fill you with those warm, fuzzy, festive feelings.  Most of our cottages have a DVD player or a smart TV so you can log into your favourite streaming service.

Day Nine: Embrace the great outdoors with a revitalising winter stroll. When you book a stay with Peak Holidays, you’ll be surrounded by some of the UK’s most celebrated countryside walks. It’s time to round up the family, wrap up warm, and follow the tracks and trails.

Day Ten: Christmas is a time for giving. If you’re racking your brains for gift ideas, look at the many special Christmas markets across the Peak District. Picking out that special something for that special someone is sure to capture the Christmas mood.Santa Paws

Day Eleven: Don’t forget Santa Paws. Most of our cottages are dog friendly but remember to bring everything you need to keep your furry friend safe and comfortable this Christmas.

Day Twelve: Any finally, nothing will put a smile on your face than catching up with old friends and spending precious time with your loved ones. For many of us, this is what Christmas is all about, especially after all the recent COVID restrictions. The Peak District’s central location makes getting together that bit easier for everyone to spend quality time with family and friends.

Wishing you all a Very Merry Christmas from Peak Holidays!

 

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2022 Poppy Appeal

Since starting in the 20s, the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal has raised hundreds of millions of pounds for serving and ex-serving members of the British Armed Forces and their families.  For generations, the red poppy has been a symbol of respect and remembrance for those lost during war – not only in the First and Second World Wars, but all wars since then.

Money made from purchases of Poppies goes to helping members of the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, and their families. The money is for those still serving and those who previously served in any war where the UK has been involved – not just the two World Wars. Support created by the funds goes to expert advice and guidance, recovery and rehabilitation, and transitioning back into civilian life for those who have served.

We are doing our small bit to support this year’s appeal – we have car poppies on our vehicles and through our Amazon Smile account, we are making donations of 0.5% on our purchases to the royal British Legion.

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Dogs Welcome – House Rules

Hello, I’m Joe, an 8 year old labrador – this is me jumping through the snow a couple of years ago. As my humans started this blog, I thought I should paw a few words so the puppies amongst you will know where you can go and what there is to sniff in the Peak District.

Whenever you go to someone else’s cottage it is always best to understand the house rules before you go. In conjunction with my humans, I have agreed the following house rule on behalf of all dogs staying at the cottages:

  • Ensure the humans keep off the floors at all times – these are strictly for dogs to lie on. If they must sit down make sure they use the chairs provided. To ensure they have no excuse for sitting on the floor, you should not get up on the furniture.
  • I have found that the humans have some odd bedroom and washing habits. Therefore, it is best that you keep out of the bedrooms and bathrooms at all times – stick to the living areas of the cottage where you can be cosy and the bonus is you avoid their snoring, which only keeps you awake all night.
  • Do not allow yourself to be left at the cottage on your own. How would they like to be locked in a strange place alone? It is your holiday too and those humans need to find places to go where you are welcome – and there are plenty of them in the Peak District, so there are no excuses!

We welcome well behaved dogs at all of our cottages, at no extra charge.

We do not set arbitrary limits on the number of dogs take but like to ensure that the cottage is large enough for them to be comfortable.

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We’re Good to Go…..Again!

WTTC SafeTravels StampIn 2020, we were pleased to be awarded the Visit Britain ‘We’re Good to Go’ accreditation. We have now been re-awarded it for 2021, and we have now also  been awarded the World Travel & Tourism Council’s Safe Travels stamp too.

 

Good To Go England - Peak HolidaysVisitEngland in partnership with the national tourist organisations of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales has today launched a UK-wide industry standard and consumer mark to provide a ‘ring of confidence’ for tourism as the sector works towards reopening.

The ‘We’re Good To Go’ industry standard and supporting mark means businesses can demonstrate that they are adhering to the respective Government and public health guidance, have carried out a COVID-19 risk assessment and checked that they have the required processes in place……and Peak Holidays now have a certificate to prove it!

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We’re Good to Go!

VisitEngland in partnership with the national tourist organisations of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales has today launched a UK-wide industry standard and consumer mark to provide a ‘ring of confidence’ for tourism as the sector works towards reopening.

The ‘We’re Good To Go’ industry standard and supporting mark means businesses can demonstrate that they are adhering to the respective Government and public health guidance, have carried out a COVID-19 risk assessment and checked that they have the required processes in place……and Peak Holidays now have a certificate to prove it!

 

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COVID-19 – Keeping our guests safe

Peak Holidays has always operated to the highest cleaning standards. We employ rigorous cleaning protocols across all our cottages and whilst operating under the shadow of COVID-19 we have raised these standards to even higher levels.  We are not aware of any other self-catering holiday cottage company in the Peak District offering this level of hygiene and cleanliness as standard.

New Deeper Cleaning Regimes

We have developed a deeper cleaning, sanitising and disinfecting regime for every changeover, using chemicals that have independent certification and are manufactured here in the Peak District – our viricidal / bactericidal disinfectant is proven to kill Coronavirus, as well as all the other common viruses and bacteria that are still in circulation.

During this period of the pandemic our team are temperature and symptom checked on arrival for each shift and will also be wearing PPE including face masks and gloves.

New Specialist Cottage Cleaning

Following the deep clean, the cottage will be disinfected using a misting/fogging technique – developed for hospital operating theatres – this process atomises a super strength disinfectant solution into a fine mist and creates a complete cloud of disinfecting microscopic droplets.

The droplets enter the atmosphere of the whole room being cleansed and help sanitise every aspect of the area, walls, ceilings, floors, furniture, soft furnishings and surfaces. The disinfecting mist gets into every area, and parts that normal cleaning could never reach. Please note, there is a possibility that this process can leave a small residue, which is harmless.

Disinfection to this standard will be completed between every guest departing and prior to all new arrivals. All pillows, quilts, mattresses and cushions are also sanitised using the same technique

All linen, towels and bedding are always washed to Government advised standards, using professional hygiene detergents which kills 99.9% of known bacteria and viruses.

New Swab Tests

As an additional procedure, after the cleaning process is completed, we will use a Hygiena luminometer (in conjunction with ATP swabs) to detect residual ATP as an indicator of surface cleanliness. This test is conducted in the cottage with almost instant results, and we will only make cottages available for check-in when they pass the test.

Relaxed Terms & Conditions

Want to book a holiday with peace of mind you won’t lose your money? We’ve relaxed some of our booking terms for new bookings, so you can book your next holiday without worrying you’ll lose your money. Find out more>>>>

……. And welcome

We hope you agree that your cottage and holiday will be as safe as you could ask for. We would ask for your co-operation, understanding and patience, as these new stringent procedures may create a delay in cleaning our cottages ready for check-in. Remember that your safety is our first concern and any delay is only as a result of us taking your wellbeing seriously and following Government guidelines.

 

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Important Information regarding Covid-19

We recognise that a lot of people will be looking for information about their booking and so we have tried to provide as much information as possible in our policy below to help with different scenarios. We will be contacting all our guests due to stay with us before 4th July to explain their choices.

Over the past few weeks the world has changed and continues to change as the Covid-19 situation increases in severity. The Government are now asking people not to travel unless it is essential,  to stay at their principle residence and not at a holiday cottage. It is for this reason, we are ceasing taking new bookings that will commence before the 4th July 2020.

Unlike many other agencies, we are not giving credit notes or asking guests to rely on insurance (which in many cases does not pay out). If you request a refund because of the UK travel restrictions, we are offering guests  100% refund – the rental cost and the booking fees / commission that were paid –  because we think it is the right thing to do.

However, we would like guests to consider a transfer of  dates wherever they can, rather than cancel. This gives our owners some certainty of future bookings and maintains an income for them now – they still have expenses to keep the cottages running, even though they are empty.  And similarly for us at Peak Holidays, our costs to run the business are in the main not recoverable – for example, that advert you probably saw when you booked was paid for in advance. If you can change your dates, rather than cancel, you will help us keep the wheels of our small business turning.  To help that transfer of dates be as painless as possible, we are offering a Price Promise – transfer your holiday to the same location, and the same or equivalent date, in 2021 and we will honour the price you paid in 2020 (taking into account any changes in public or school holiday dates).

We do not know for how long the UK Covid-19 travel restrictions will continue nor whether the scope will be changed. At this stage, holidays for July onwards, should continue as normal – if they subsequently become covered by UK travel restrictions, our policy below will then apply. But guests with  holidays before the end of June2020 now have the option to;

  1. Continue with their booking unchanged at this stage; or
  2. Move their booking now to a date before the end of June 2021 at the same cottage, for the same duration; or
  3. Request a refund for your holiday.

If your holiday dates are within the Government’s UK Covid-19 travel restrictions (either now or if the Government extends the travel restriction), you will have the choice to;

  1. Move your booking to a date within 12 months of the original holiday dates, at the same cottage, for same duration;
  2. Request a refund for your holiday.

We are waiving the transfer fee for changes related to UK Covid-19 travel restrictions. If the new dates selected are a higher price, you will need to pay the extra cost. If the new dates are a lower price, the difference will be held as a credit towards another holiday with us to be taken before the end of 2021. All stage / final payments must continue to be made on time, otherwise you will have been deemed to cancel the holiday and no refunds or transfers will be allowed. Any other changes or cancellations will be considered under our normal terms and conditions.

It may be that we need to change our approach depending on Government policy, and we will continually review the situation.

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