The Garden Cottage

Located in the wooded grounds of the Wootton Hall Estate in Staffordshire, this beautiful stone cottage was the pumphouse for a large and long-demolished mansion and has been recently converted to a luxurious three-bedroom holiday cottage. Right on the borders of the Peak District National Park, it's an ideal base for walking, cycling and generally enjoying the local attractions of what is by any standards one of Britain's most scenic corners. 

The Garden Cottage has been tastefully refurbished in cool country colours and has central heating and carpets throughout. It enjoys wonderful views over the surrounding countryside, not least in the the very comfortable downstairs sitting room where on sunny days light floods in through large windows. There's a TV and DVD player along with a collection of DVDs, an open fire with a fire-seat-cum-guard, and games and books for rainy days. Next door there's a large dining room and a well-equipped country kitchen, with hob, oven, microwave, dishwasher and everything else you could possibly need. There's also a separate utility room with fridge, freezer, washing machine and tumble dryer, plus a handy downstairs loo, while outside, the garden and terrace have a barbecue and outdoor furniture where you can enjoy al fresco drinks and dinner as you enjoy the perfect peace of the countryside around. Upstairs, there are three bedrooms, all enjoying more lovely country views – two doubles and a twin room (which can be made into a third double) with an en-suite bathroom, plus a spacious family bathroom.

You could spend several very happy days just idling around the cottage, enjoying the garden and the numerous walks and adventures that are possible on your doorstep. If you want to get further out and about, though, the pleasant, antique-filled town of Ashbourne is close by, the delights of the Peak District National Park are a short drive away, while to the east you are literally only a ten-minute drive from the theme park at Alton Towers – something which makes Garden Cottage a big hit with young families. It's worth knowing, too, that the cottage is owned by the delightful people from the nearby Duncombe Arms in Ellastone, which serves terrific food and just 15 minutes walk or a quick drive away in case you can't be bothered to cook!