Why book a Peak District holiday cottage through Simply Owners
With Simply Owners, you skip the middleman. Simply contact the owner of the cottage and ask all your questions. And with no commission to pay on top of the price, you pay around 20% less for a similar property on a larger booking site.
All cottages are checked on Simply Owners and we operate a Payment Protection scheme so your money is safeguarded at all times. We won't try to sell you travel insurance or car hire at checkout. The process is straightforward, simply search, enquire, book and stay.
Best places to stay in the Peak District
Where you choose to stay can change the mood of your holiday. Below, we unpack some of the best places to stay in the Peak District:
Bakewell is likely the best all-round base in the park. Situated on the River Wye, it has a Monday market that goes back to the 14th century and is located just a few miles from Chatsworth House and Haddon Hall. With a variety of pubs, cafés, and bakeries, it makes for a comfortable and welcoming stay.
Buxton has a different feel. It is a spa town that sits on the western edge of the park at around 300 metres above sea level. The Opera House hosts a summer festival, Pavilion Gardens are worth a slow wander, and the architecture sets it apart from most Peak District towns. If you want evening options beyond a village pub, Buxton delivers.
Hope Valley covers Castleton, Hope and Edale and is where walking and running enthusiasts tend to stay. Mam Tor, Win Hill, Lose Hill and the start of the Pennine Way at Edale can all be reached on foot from any of these villages. Castleton has numerous caves you can explore and the remains of Peveril Castle. Cottages in this area tend to sit on farms or in small hamlet clusters.
Ashbourne guards the southern entrance to Dovedale and the White Peak limestone country. Families enjoy the area and Carsington Water is ten minutes away with sailing and cycling, and the Tissington Trail.
Matlock and Matlock Bath have a strangely seaside feel despite being landlocked. The Heights of Abraham cable car swings you across the Derwent gorge, and Cromford and a mile south is where Richard Arkwright brought about the Industrial Revolution, earning it UNESCO World Heritage status.
Things to do during your Peak District holiday
You could walk for a fortnight and still have trails left. The Monsal Trail, built on a disused railway, threads through tunnels and over stone viaducts with valley views at each opening. The Tissington Trail and High Peak Trail are flat, traffic-free and family-friendly. They also connect mid-route, so you can combine them into a longer day if the legs are willing.
For something that earns the view, the ridge walk from Mam Tor along the Great Ridge towards Lose Hill can't be beaten in northern England. On a clear morning, the light over Hope Valley from up there is worth every steep step.
Chatsworth House and Gardens draws visitors in every season. The house charges admission but the parkland is free to roam. Haddon Hall is less widely known but more evocative, an unspoilt medieval manor which avoided the Georgian makeover most country houses got. Heights of Abraham at Matlock Bath works as a half-day family outing (cable car up, show caves, hillside walking, café), and Peveril Castle above Castleton rewards a steep climb with views the full length of Hope Valley.
Road cyclists find quiet lanes looping through the southern dales. Mountain bikers head for the gritstone edges or the reservoir circuits around Ladybower.
Dog-friendly holiday cottages in the Peak District
The Peak District is one of the most dog-friendly national parks in England with sixty-five miles of traffic-free trails winding through the park. The Monsal Trail passes through lit tunnels and across viaducts while the Tissington Trail runs through open farmland with a dog-friendly tea room at Tissington village. The High Peak Trail connects to both and stretches the network further.
Chatsworth's parkland is open to dogs on leads (sheep graze in some areas), and the walks around Mam Tor and Peveril Castle suit a dog that can handle a bit of gradient. Half the pubs in the Peak District keep water bowls by the door and biscuits somewhere behind the bar.
Through Simply Owners, you can ring the cottage owner and get a clear answer about their pet policy. How many dogs are they happy to have? Is the garden enclosed? Is there somewhere to wash paws after a day on the moor? That conversation matters more than a paw-print icon on a listing page.
When to visit the Peak District
Summer (June–August): This time offers the longest days and warmest weather, averaging around 20°C. It is important to note that this is peak season, especially during school holidays. Book early if you have dates in mind.
Spring (March–May): Spring is a magnificent time as wildflowers fill Dovedale, lambs appear in half the fields, and the trails are noticeably quieter. Temperatures sit around 10–14°C. Good walking weather if you're comfortable with a waterproof.
Autumn (September–November): The heather turns the moorland purple through September, and the woodlands around Padley Gorge shift colour through October. Village harvest festivals and food markets run across the park.
Winter (December–February): frost on the higher ground, sometimes snow, and paths you might have entirely to yourself. Buxton and Bakewell both hold Christmas markets. Many cottages have log burners or wood-burning stoves.
Short breaks are available throughout the year. A three- or four-night midweek stay costs noticeably less than a full week, and gives you enough time to cover the essentials without feeling rushed.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I stay in the Peak District National Park?
Bakewell and Buxton are the most flexible bases, both with shops, pubs, cafés and good road access to the rest of the park. Hope Valley (Castleton, Edale) suits walkers. Ashbourne and Matlock work better for families.
What is the most beautiful village in the Peak District?
A matter of opinion, but Castleton, Edensor, Tissington and Ashford-in-the-Water come up repeatedly. Castleton nestles beneath the remains of Peveril Castle, with the Great Ridge rising behind it. Edensor, on the Chatsworth estate, is the surprise: the 6th Duke of Devonshire rebuilt the entire village in the 1830s and deliberately gave every house a different architectural style.
How much does a Peak District cottage cost per week?
Around £400 a week for a small two-person cottage in the off-season, rising to £2,000 or more for a large farmhouse sleeping ten-plus over summer. Short breaks start lower. On Simply Owners you pay the owner's price with no booking fees on top.
Is the Peak District easy to get to?
Very much so. Manchester is 24 miles away, Sheffield about 15, Birmingham 54. Direct trains serve Buxton, Matlock and Hope. The park sits between the M1, M6 and M62, so most of northern and central England can reach it in under two hours by road.
Find your holiday cottage in the Peak District
Browse our Peak District holiday cottages and get in touch with the property owner directly. No booking fees, no service charges. The owner's price and a real conversation to check the cottage suits what you need. Every property is verified and your payment is protected.
See also: Holiday cottages in England | Holiday cottages in the UK
