Our country houses - The Peveril of the Peak

For those easily seduced by the Peak District, our 19th century country house combines old-fashioned charm with modern comforts. Set in the tiny village of Thorpe, a stay here puts you less than a mile from the famous Dovedale Stepping Stones and within easy reach of the Twelve Apostles, Lover’s Leap, the Roaches, and Thorpe Cloud. Here’s what makes a stay at The Peveril of the Peak so appealing.

Named after Sir Walter Scott’s 1923 novel, The Peveril of the Peak was most likely to have been built in the 1830s. By 1863, the Derby Mercury reported the transfer of an alehouse to Randel Williams and by 1871 it was owned by George Huggett. At the time, it was described as a ‘hostelry recently enlarged and made attractive, not only by its position, but by the imitable capacity of the landlord’.  

In 1908, a local travel guide advertised ‘The Peveril’ as ‘a tourist house of good repute’. An advertisement in the Manchester Guardian in June 1925 shows that the building was for sale as a residential and catering hotel. It was later auctioned at the Grand Hotel Birmingham and changed hands several times over the years. 

The cast and crew of Ridley Scott’s 2010 blockbuster, Robin Hood, stayed at the house in 2009 while filming scenes for the movie at nearby Thorpe Pastures. Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe has since cited the Peak District as one of his favourite places on the planet, describing it as “definitely very visually appealing. I would go as far as to say it is breathtaking”. The property has been part of our HF Holidays line-up since 2012.

Open from February to November and during the festive season, the house has 46 well-appointed guest rooms in three categories: Classic, Premium, and Superior. There’s a comfortable lounge with a wood burner for chilly days, a dining room serving a wide range of dishes using fresh seasonal ingredients, plus a function room for dancing and activities.  

You’ll also find a boot and drying room, extensive grounds, an outdoor terrace for soaking up countryside views, and a Discovery Point with easy-to-follow routes and maps for self-guided walks as well as books and games to borrow during your stay. Behind the house there’s a marked trail that leads around the eastern edge of Thorpe Cloud to the Dovedale Stepping Stones - a series of 16 limestone-capped stones that were laid out in the 19th century to allow for a safe crossing over the River Dove.

Less than a mile away, the limestone valley of Dovedale is one of the best-loved and most-visited beauty spots in the Peak District National Park – an inspiring landscape that became Britain’s first national park in 1951. There’s plenty of big-name attractions for walkers, most notably the cone-shaped Thorpe Cloud - a limestone hill that runs along the southern end of Dovedale and the rolling green hills of the Staffordshire-Derbyshire border. Equally visit-worthy are the Roaches, Stanage Edge, and the Twelve Apostles, best viewed from the limestone promontory known as Lover’s Leap.

Whether you’re enjoying one of our guided or self-guided walking holidays, there’s plenty to see and do within easy travelling distance of The Peveril of the Peak. Here’s some of our favourites:

Chatsworth House: home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, this magnificent 17th century mansion is set in over 1,000 acres of stunning parkland and formal gardens. Inside, there’s over 30 rooms to explore, including the State Rooms, Sculpture Gallery, and Painted Hall. 

Haddon Hall: overlooking the River Wye, this fairytale-like manor house with its fortified exterior dates from the 12th century. Every part of the property is steeped in history, but the banqueting hall, chapel, and kitchens are particularly worth exploring. 

Crich Tramway Village: just a 45-minute drive away, this recreated Edwardian-style village is home to the National Tramway Museum. Located near the village of Crich, highlights include the woodland walk, sculpture trail, and collection of over 60 trams built between 1873 and 1982. 

Ashbourne: approximately three miles away, this market town charms with cobbled streets, interesting Tudor and Georgian buildings, lovely shops and cafés, and the spectacular St. Oswald’s Church – one of Derbyshire’s loveliest famed for its 212-foot spire. 

Buxton: as England's highest market spa town at 1,000 feet above sea level, there’s more to this place than water. Must-see sights include the Devonshire Dome building, the Edwardian Opera House, and Poole's Cavern – a two-million-year-old natural limestone cave. 

Castleton: located at the head of the Hope Valley in the heart of the Peak District National Park, this beautiful village is as famous for its semi-precious stone, Blue John, as for its show cave superstars: Peak Cavern, Blue John Cavern, Speedwell Cavern, and Treak Cliff Cavern. 

Bakewell: there’s more to this market town on the banks of the River Wye than jam-filled pastry. The best attractions include the honey-coloured stone houses, specialist markets, Lovellock Bridge, and the famous summer carnival reputed as the biggest in Derbyshire. 

Cromford Mills: part of the UNESCO-listed Derwent Valley Mills, the world's first water-powered cotton spinning mill developed by Richard Arkwright in 1771 is known as the birthplace of the modern factory system. The mill museum and visitor centre are both visit-worthy.