Tag: holiday cottages

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A First-Timer’s Guide to the Peak District

Planning your first holiday in the Peak District National Park? You’re choosing one of the UK’s most popular countryside destinations — known for scenic walks, charming villages, and relaxing short breaks. This article is a first timers guide to the Peak District to help you make the most of your visit.

This first-timers guide is for visitors planning to stay in a holiday cottage, helping you decide where to stay, what to do, and how to get the most from your Peak District break.

Why the Peak District Is Ideal for First-Time Visitors:  The Peak District is

The uplands in the high peak area are a dramatic contrast to the white peak.

easy to explore and incredibly varied. In just a few days you can enjoy hilltop views, gentle valley walks, traditional villages, and cosy pubs — all without long drives.  Perfect for:
✔ Short breaks & weekend getaways
✔ Walking holidays for all abilities
✔ Couples, families & dog-friendly stays
✔ Guests wanting countryside without isolation

Where to Stay for Your First Peak District Holiday: 

    • Stay in or Near a Village : Village locations are ideal for first-time visitors. You’ll have pubs, cafés, shops, and well-marked walking routes close by — making your stay easy and relaxing. Best if you want:
      • Walks from the door;
      • Local amenities nearby;
      • A traditional Peak District feel
    • Choose a Rural Holiday Cottage: For extra peace and privacy, rural cottages and lodges offer scenic views and quiet evenings. These stays are perfect if you want to relax after days exploring the countryside. Best if you want:
      • Tranquillity and space,
      • Countryside views,
      • A slower pace of holiday
Chatsworth House in the Peak District, one of the many stately homes to visit
Chatsworth House in the Peak District, one of the many stately homes to visit

What to Do on Your First Visit:  You don’t need a packed itinerary to enjoy the Peak District.

    1. Take in an Iconic Walk: Popular routes such as Mam Tor and the Great Ridge are ideal for beginners — offering incredible views without technical difficulty.
    2. Visit a Market Town: Bakewell is a favourite with first-time visitors, combining riverside walks, independent shops, cafés, and local food.
    3. Historic Houses: Visit one of the many stately homes in the Peak District. Many like Chatsworth House also have events, gardens and tea rooms to visit.
    4. Balance Walking with Relaxation:  Many guests choose one main walk per
      Dogs are welcome in the Peak District and at all our cottages.
      Dogs are welcome in the Peak District and at all our cottages.

      day, then enjoy relaxed afternoons and evenings back at their cottage or try one of the many  pubs or restaurants, serving locally sourced food.

We have an on-line guide with more ideas of what you can do during your stay at www.peak-holidays.co.uk/the-peak-district/

How Long Should You Stay? For first-time guests, 3–5 nights is ideal. This allows time to explore, unwind, and enjoy your holiday cottage without rushing….. 2–3 nights: Great for a weekend break; 4+ nights: Ideal for walking and sightseeing

Bridge Cottage, Castleton, Peak District HolidayMake Your cottage Part of the Experience: Choosing the right place to stay makes all the difference. A comfortable, well-located holiday cottage lets you explore easily, return to relax, and enjoy the Peak District at your own pace.

Peak Holidays offers a wide range of holiday cottages across the Peak District. We Peak Holidaysoffer short breaks throughout the year and all our cottages welcome well-behaved dogs at no extra charge.  We are an independent family run local business in the Peak District.

Many first-time visitors quickly discover why the Peak District becomes a place they return to again and again for a holiday. We hope you have found our First Timers guide to the Peak District helpful, and if you have any questions or want to find out more, drop us a message or give us a call.

 

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Don’t forget your toothbrush!


Now, you’re probably thinking about your holidays for this year and where to go. Have you thought about staying in a cottage in the Peak District?

Oh, it’s just smashing… lots of walks suitable for youngsters (the mix of villages, open country and hills are so good for their education, I think) to those in their prime (see my current picture!) and the more mature members of our packs (we have pubs within yards of all our cottages). All those incredible country smells… you know what I mean.   Anyway, when you’ve cleared it with your owners and chosen one of our cottages you’ll have to supervise them packing for your needs.

Make sure they remember:  

  • Collar and ID – well you’ll be wearing this of course! But it’s worth checking the ID is still readable. Plus consider getting one with our cottage postcode (this is on the booking paperwork) and your mobile number on for while you’re staying.  
  • Lead – worth checking that there’s no wear – you don’t want to lose your owners on a walk – you know that they’ll never find their way back to the cottage without you. Bring a spare in case it gets mislaid.  
  • Bedding – very important. There is nothing as nice as your own bed in a new place. If you have a cage, then bring that too – sometimes a cage is the only way to get some “me” time on a holiday crammed with so many new things to smell!  
  • Jacket – now you (like me) may wear your waterproofs and undercoat all the time – but if you don’t it’s nice to have a lightweight jacket which you can pop on. And your owners will appreciate that you’re nice and clean and dry if you get caught in the rain.  
  • Towels – for those like me who just love a little swim, walks in the rain and splashing in puddles, the price to be paid is a towelling-off when you get home. Bring plenty of towels, so your owners can dry off any wet, muddy coats and paws before you go indoors (there are washer/dryers in the cottages so the towels can be laundered easily). Although we’ve got hard floors in the cottages, there are rugs that stain and splashes of dirty water from a good shake aren’t popular I’ve found!  
  • Dog food – essential! It’s probably best to bring enough for the whole of your stay in case your owners can’t find your normal kibbles (or whatever you have) to buy locally. There are all the usual supermarkets and pet shops in the Peak District, but you don’t want to get an upset tum from a sudden change if they don’t have your favourite in stock!! We provide can openers for those of you who have canned food which doesn’t have a pull top.  
  • Travelling water bowl and water bottle  – these are handy for keeping in the car. Get your owners to look out for those thermal ‘jackets’ that keep the water bottle cool.  Saves drinking from puddles on a hot day!  
  • Poo bags – not my idea, but my owners insist I include this on the list. They say bring plenty – ’nuff said’.  
  • First-aid kit –  get your owners to check that are you up to speed with wormers and flea/ tick control.  I always think it’s good to have at least a basic first aid kit with you for the little scrapes we dogs can get into  – and you really ought to check your owners remember any medication you’ve been prescribed to cover the holiday period, however nasty it tastes!  
  • Sunshade for cars – although you’ll be staying in our cool, stone cottages and perhaps eating in local pubs – which allow we dogs to join our owners for dinner, it is possible that at some point you’ll be left guarding the car (although hopefully not on warm days). Suggest your owners try sun shades to help with this – as well as the usual parking in shade, leaving air gaps etc. It all helps you stay on top of your job of looking out for strangers near the car. 
  •  Stain remover/ kitchen roll – for those ‘Little accidents’ that can occasionally happen, even to the best of us! You’ll find cleaners and kitchen roll in the cottages, but worth bringing some for when you are out and about.  
  • Recent photo – now what owner won’t have a picture of you on their phone and so useful if you get separated. Spruce yourself up and get a fresh one taken for your hols!  
  • Bumbag/rucksack – for your owners to carry your accessories in!  

And finally   Don’t forget that toothbrush…

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