Choosing the right house for your group
Start with the numbers, because that's what narrows things down fastest. The group accommodation Hartington offers sleeps anything from about seven to nearly twenty, so a family holiday and a big birthday need different places. Use the sleeps and bedrooms filters on the cards above, then look at the bathrooms. A stay with plenty of bathrooms keeps a long morning queue from wrecking the day.
Look at the kitchen and the table too.
Eight friends can squeeze round most tables. A crowd of fifteen needs a spacious dining room or a barn with space to spread out. The photos on each listing show what you're getting. Some have an open fire or a garden, while most welcome dogs (the dog filter will show you which). If you're weighing up large cottages in Hartington against a bigger barn further out, think about how you'll eat. A big shared kitchen usually makes the holiday.
Where is the best group accommodation Hartington has?
Location matters more than anything else with a big party, so here's how the areas compare.
The village itself is the pick if you like the idea of walking to the pub. One house is a short stroll from the centre. You'll find pubs there and a duck pond to wander round, though it fills up on sunny weekends.
Head out to Sheen or Hulme End and you're about a mile from the centre. The area around them feels more like open countryside, with the old railway path of the Manifold Way starting at Hulme End. Biggin and Pilsbury are around two miles out. It's a quieter location again, so you'll want a car or a long walk for the evening meal.
Further out
Alsop en le Dale is nearly four miles away. Over Haddon and Gratton are around five miles away, with Ilam about six. The trade-off is simple. You get more elbow room and big skies, but every shop or pub is a drive.
Whichever you choose, the walking is the draw. The best base for a large group is the one where everyone can step outside and have a route ready.
Days out from Hartington
Hartington village sits in the upper Dove valley in the Peak District National Park, so the big names are all a short hop away. Pick a day out in the table below to see the drive from the village centre. Stays in a further-out area will add a few minutes. If you'd rather be on the eastern side of the White Peak, have a look at group accommodation in Matlock instead.
| Day out | Drive from Hartington (minutes) | Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Arbor Low stone circle | 9 | 4.9 |
| Manifold Valley (Wetton Mill) | 11 | 5.5 |
| Bakewell | 16 | 10.8 |
| Tissington | 17 | 10.0 |
| Monsal Head | 18 | 11.9 |
| Haddon Hall | 19 | 12.1 |
| Dovedale stepping stones | 19 | 10.9 |
| Buxton | 20 | 12.4 |
| Ashbourne | 21 | 12.8 |
| Heights of Abraham, Matlock Bath | 22 | 13.6 |
| Carsington Water | 26 | 14.2 |
| Chatsworth House | 28 | 15.1 |
| Alton Towers | 31 | 15.4 |
The closest is Arbor Low. It's a prehistoric stone circle on a working farm, open in daylight hours, with a short walk across the fields from the car park. English Heritage has the access details. The farmer asks a small fee to cross the land. Dogs on leads are fine, though livestock may be grazing.
Chatsworth House and Haddon Hall are the big indoor attractions for a rainy day. Alton Towers is the one to plan for, as it's the longest trip on the list.
Walks and cycling from the door
The dales and the old railway
This is what you came for. Beresford Dale and Wolfscote Dale lead south from the village towards Dovedale. Pick up the Tissington Trail at the old Hartington Station too. It's a former railway line from Ashbourne to Parsley Hay, which makes it a gentle route for cycling. The preserved signal box is still there.
Pilsbury Castle loop
Fancy a proper outing? The Peak District National Park's village trail starts at the duck pond. A longer loop to Pilsbury Castle covers about four and a half miles with several stiles. It's a moderate walk and a good way to tire out the kids before dinner. The earthworks are a Norman motte and bailey that once watched over the Dove valley.
Agree the route before you set off. A big party strung out along a path loses people quickly!
When to go
Spring and summer give you long evenings for a Peak District walk before supper. Autumn turns the dale woods golden and some houses have an open fire for the evenings. Winter is cosy but muddy underfoot. If you're after a festive week, our large Christmas cottages in Derbyshire list the houses that suit a crowd round the table.
Before you book
A few things are worth settling early:
- Dates and sleeping arrangements, so everyone knows who is in which bedroom.
- Dogs, if you're bringing them: check the filter and the listing first.
- Who's cooking and whether the kitchen suits it.
- Parking if you're arriving in several cars.
- Wifi, if someone needs to work or keep the teenagers happy.
If your party is closer to twenty, our large houses to rent in Derbyshire are a good place to compare. Planning something livelier? Try the party houses in Derbyshire. If a hot tub is on the wish list, compare our large cottages with hot tubs in Derbyshire.
If you need group accommodation, Hartington puts you right in the White Peak with the whole Derbyshire group cottages range a short drive away.
Pick a stay and plan the holiday.
Questions people ask
How far are the stays from the village centre?
It varies. One is a short stroll from the centre while others are around a mile out at Sheen and Hulme End. The furthest are about six miles away, so check the distance on each card.
How many people can the stays sleep?
From about seven up to nearly twenty. The sleeps and bedrooms filters will narrow the cards to the size you need. Larger parties should look at the biggest barns and farmhouses first.
Can we bring our dogs?
Most do, so use the dog filter and read each listing for the rules.
What is there to do nearby with a group?
Walk the dales towards Dovedale, follow the old railway line or tackle the Pilsbury Castle loop. Bakewell, Buxton and Ashbourne are each around twenty minutes away by car.
Is the stone circle free to visit?
English Heritage doesn't charge but the walk crosses a working farm and the landowner asks a small fee per person. Check the English Heritage page for the current arrangements before you go.
Do we need a car?
For most houses yes, because even from the stay nearest the village every day out in the table above is a drive.