Tucked away in the rolling hills of the Derbyshire Dales lies the town of Ashbourne – also known as the ‘gateway to the Peak District’.
Not only does the vibrant town offer a great collection of cafés and pubs, it’s also home to the country’s best hotel. National lifestyle magazine GQ recently crowned Callow Hall their winner, attributing the win to its individually designed bedrooms and acres of woodland and meadows to explore.
Callow Hall invites guests to stay “in the house” or “in the wild”. Inside the Victorian country house, guests will find 15 individually designed bedrooms, while outside guests can spend their days in Callow Hall’s Treehouses and Hives, secluded in woodland.
The hotel sits in 35 acres of grounds, with local wildlife, including deer, badgers, and rabbits. It's perched at the edge of the Dovedale valley, with its walking and cycling routes.
In the valley, visitors can find the iconic Stepping Stones as well the limestone promontory known as Lover’s Leap. Meanwhile, at the southern end of Dovedale there's steep-sloped hill between the village of Ilam and Thorpe. If you fancy climbing up to the summit, it’ll take you 287 metres high.
One route into the Peak District from Ashbourne is the Tissington Trail, starting at the 350-metre Ashbourne Tunnel. The 13-mile cycle trail and footpath follows the route of a railway which once linked Ashbourne with Buxton but was abandoned in the 1960s.
In Ashbourne itself, there are over 200 listed buildings lining the streets, from old coaching inns to elegant townhouses and converted almshouses. Don't miss the Grade I listed Old Grammar School, the 'longest inn sign in the world' at The Greenman public house on St John Street; and the beautiful St Oswald's Parish Church with its 212 feet high spire, described by classic author George Eliot as the 'finest single spire in England’.
There's also Carsington Water, a hive of activity during the summer months, to enjoy. Fed by the River Derwent, the reservoir is the perfect place for a leisurely stroll with the dogs, a hub for water sports, and a great place to pitch up and have a picnic, MyLondon reports.
Ashbourne is also home to two top Michelin Guide rated restaurants. The Lifehouse Restaurant opened back in 2010, and, being a tasting menu-only restaurant, their food changes with the seasons. For spring expect to see the likes of Chicken & Truffle stuffed Morel with Wye Valley asparagus and hay, Cornish Monkfish Tail served with mackerel, buttermilk mousse and compressed watermelon, and Rhubarb Sando with yoghurt and pine.
If you’re after a pub, The Duncombe Arms boasts a 'spacious garden with views across the Dove Valley to Worthy Island Wood', and is a proud winner of the Michelin Guide’s Bib Gourmand award.
It takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes to drive to Ashbourne from Manchester. Alternatively, you can take a bus to Derby, changing at Sheffield, before hopping on a bus to Ashbourne.
