If there’s one thing sure to recharge your batteries, it’s a weekend away with a group of your favourite people in a simply stunning holiday cottage. And that’s exactly how I blew away the January blues this year, whilst simultaneously celebrating a friend’s milestone birthday. The luxury property, booked through Sykes Holiday Cottages, was Wildersley Farm – surely the dreamiest farmhouse rental in the whole Peak District!
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Wildersley Farm sleeps 12 people in 6 bedrooms (several of them with en suite bathrooms), and is perfect for a group of friends or family. And as you can see from the photos, it’s absolutely luxurious. Everything about this property inside and out was a delight, and clearly no expense was spared when it was renovated and decorated. From the welcoming entrance snug and the real log fireplaces, to the fabulous bedrooms, staying here was quite unforgettable.
The Highlights
- The kitchen/dining room is probably the showstopper of the whole property, with plenty of exposed stonework and wooden beams. A huge wooden dining table for social dining is the centrepiece of the room. On one side, the luxury kitchen with every mod con, including an (essential) dedicated wine cooler fridge, and an Alexa for playing music all evening. On the other, one of the farmhouse’s several cosy seating areas and a real log fire.
- Another highlight for me was the bar – a room you didn’t even know you wanted your holiday rental to have. But drinking cocktails mixed and served from here felt oh so luxurious.
- The hot tub, which fitted 8 people (fairly) comfortably is where many of my memories of the weekend away were made. Even in January it was absolutely delightful. And not far from the hot tub is an outdoor firepit surrounded by stone seating.
- One final highlight from me was the outdoor snug. Yes this property has several snugs, and several outdoor seating spaces. The undercover outdoor snug has comfy cushioned seating and enough cosy cushions and blankets to allow us to spend time in here even in the middle of winter. Right next to this was another mini firepit perfect for toasting marshmallows (also provided).
The Location
This somewhat isolated farmhouse is situated in fields down a long off-road track. It’s not so isolated that we couldn’t order a takeaway from Just Eat, but quiet enough that we could enjoy prosecco in the hot tub late into the night. Which I think is exactly the right level of isolated.
The local town is Belper, which by all accounts is a nice place to visit if you can bear to leave the luxury farmhouse. And nearby Peak District towns like Matlock and Matlock Bath are also worth a trip if you’re planning a longer stay.
I can see that prices have increased since we booked our weekend away, and it’s now a little pricey if you’re looking for a cheap and cheerful week’s holiday. Instead it’s a stunningly luxurious property that would be perfect for making a special occasion extra memorable. I certainly won’t forget my stay in a hurry and absolutely recommend a stay at Wildersley Farm!
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