Explore Derbyshire Locations

Finding Group Cottages in Derbyshire

Most of the Peak District, Britain's first National Park, lies in Derbyshire. The county splits into two very different landscapes. The Dark Peak in the north is gritstone moorland and long edges. The White Peak in the south is limestone dales, dry-stone walls and stone villages.

Both are within an hour of Manchester, Sheffield, Derby and Nottingham.

That makes Derbyshire one of the easiest places in England to get a big group together for a weekend. The location pages above list our group cottages in Derbyshire by town, with the large houses in each place first and others within about 15 miles below. Here's how to choose the right base for what your party wants to do.

Prefer to search by size? Browse all our large holiday houses, or go straight to cottages sleeping 8 or more, 10 or more or 12 or more. Every card shows how many each house sleeps.

For Walkers and Climbers: Castleton and Hathersage

Castleton

Castleton sits at the head of the Hope Valley under Mam Tor, whose ridge walk to Lose Hill is one of the most popular in the Peak. The village has four show caves: Peak Cavern, Treak Cliff, Blue John Cavern, and Speedwell Cavern, where you travel underground by boat. Peveril Castle stands on the crag above the village. On a wet day, the caves keep a whole group busy.

Hathersage

Hathersage is the base for Stanage Edge, a four-mile gritstone cliff that draws climbers from all over the country. The village also has a heated open-air swimming pool, open in the warmer months. Charlotte Brontë stayed here, and nearby North Lees Hall is thought to have inspired Thornfield Hall in Jane Eyre.

Both villages have stations on the Hope Valley line between Manchester and Sheffield. Some of your party can arrive by train and walk straight from the platform.

For Stately Homes and Trails: Bakewell

Bakewell is the main town of the White Peak, with a medieval bridge over the River Wye, a Monday market and several shops that claim to sell the original Bakewell pudding. Chatsworth House, home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, is about four miles away. Its park is free to walk in, and the farmyard and adventure playground keep younger children busy.

The Monsal Trail starts just outside town. It's a flat, traffic-free former railway line of around eight and a half miles, with lit tunnels and the Headstone Viaduct over Monsal Dale. Bike hire is available along the route. That makes it ideal for groups with mixed fitness, grandparents and young children, because no one gets left behind on the hills.

For Spa Towns and Days Out: Buxton and Matlock

Buxton

Buxton is a Georgian spa town where the famous bottled water comes from. The Opera House, designed by Frank Matcham, hosts the Buxton International Festival each July, and the Pavilion Gardens are good for a gentle walk. Poole's Cavern on the edge of town is a show cave with a woodland walk up to Solomon's Temple, a tower with views over the town.

Matlock and Matlock Bath

Matlock is the county town, and Matlock Bath, in the gorge just south, is the busier resort. Cable cars climb from the valley to the Heights of Abraham, where there are caves, play areas and views over the Derwent Valley. Gulliver's Kingdom theme park is aimed at younger children. In autumn the river is lit up for the Matlock Bath Illuminations, with decorated boats on the water.

For History and Easy Access: Belper and Chesterfield

Belper

Belper is part of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, where Jedediah Strutt and Richard Arkwright built some of the world's first water-powered cotton mills. The North Mill visitor centre tells the story. Belper is in the south of the county, so it suits groups coming from the Midlands or the M1.

Chesterfield

Chesterfield is known for the crooked spire of its parish church, which twists and leans nearly three metres off centre. It has one of England's largest open-air markets and a mainline station with fast trains to London and Sheffield. It's a practical base for exploring both the eastern moors and Hardwick Hall.

Ashbourne and Dovedale

Ashbourne, at the southern edge of the Peak, is the start of the Tissington Trail, a flat traffic-free cycle route. Close by, the stepping stones in Dovedale are one of the most photographed spots in the Peak District.

Farm Cottages, Barns and Big Houses

Self-catering group accommodation in the Peak District is mostly converted farm buildings. Farm cottages often come in clusters, so a large group can split across two or three cottages on one farm and still share a garden, a barbecue and a big kitchen for the evening meal. That suits a family reunion where each household wants its own space at night.

Converted barns have high ceilings and one big open-plan room. They work well for friends who want to cook, eat and play games together. Larger Victorian houses near Buxton and Matlock have more bedrooms with their own bathrooms.

Activities you can book for large groups

Local outdoor centres and instructors run guided caving, rock climbing on Stanage, gorge scrambling, paddleboarding and navigation days, all set up for groups in the Peak District National Park. Booking an instructor for a day takes the planning off one person's shoulders.

Which Base Suits Your Group?

What Should You Check Before Booking a Large House?

Big houses in the Peak District are often old farmhouses and barns. They're full of character, but layouts vary a lot, so look closely at the details:

• Bedrooms and bathrooms. "Sleeps 18" may include bunk rooms or sofa beds, which suit children better than adults.
• Drying space. After a wet walk, a boot room and somewhere to dry kit makes a real difference.
• Access. Some farmhouses sit at the end of steep, narrow tracks. Check how many cars can park, and whether the drive is fine in winter.
• Dogs. Many walks cross farmland with livestock. Use the pet-friendly filter, and check how many dogs each house takes.
• Celebrations. Tell the owner about any party plans before you book. Many don't allow events or extra guests.
• Extras. A hot tub after a day on the hills goes down well. Use the filters on the cottage pages to find one.

When to Go

Spring brings lambs and well-dressing season, when villages decorate their wells with pictures made from petals, a tradition found mainly in Derbyshire. Summer is busiest. Autumn is quieter, with heather on the moors in August and early September and colourful woods in October. Chatsworth's Christmas market and decorated house make late November and December popular, so large houses near Bakewell book early for those weekends.

Getting There

The M1 runs along the eastern edge of the county and the A6 runs through the middle, linking Buxton, Bakewell and Matlock. Trains reach Buxton from Manchester, Matlock from Derby, and the Hope Valley villages from both Manchester and Sheffield. Roads in the Peak are narrow and winding, though, so allow longer for drives than the map suggests.