We arrive at Hoe Grange on a beautiful bright and clear winters morning
Our visit
- Saturday 17th December – Sunday 18th December
- From £100 per night
- 2 night minimum stay
- Find out more about Hoe Grange Holidays
Camping Pod Amenities
- Full bathroom including a double-sized shower and heated towel rail
- Double sofa bed
- Contemporary kitchenette with hob, microwave, sink, fridge and dining area
- Lighting, heating and electric plug sockets
- Decking area with seating
- Free WiFi
- Swedish hot tub and sauna also available to rent
As 2016 hurtles towards a close, Dovedale to Ilam is the final walk we want to cross off our list for the year. All our Christmas shopping is done, the presents are wrapped and cards have been posted, so we decide to use the weekend before Christmas to avoid the frantic hoards, and instead make plans to head up to the Peak District.
Luck is on our side as we locate an impressive-looking glamping pod with last-minute availability and make the necessary arrangements. We set off bright and early on Saturday morning, wanting to settle into the pods before setting off on our walk.
We leave Cheshire in dense fog to the soundtrack of cheesy Christmas songs. Half an hour into the journey as we reach the outskirts of the Peak District, the fog finally clears, giving me a glimpse of a herd of Belted Galloways in a nearby field. As the rugged landscape of the Peak District reveals itself to us, I can feel the sense of calm that always seems to settle when I spend time in the countryside.
Some of our lovely welcome treats
We continue onward into the hills heading towards the southern edge of the Peak District National Park where Hoe Grange Holidays are located; close to Dovedale National Nature Reserve which is the starting point of our planned circular walking route.
We see a sign telling us we’ve arrived and as we park up, we’re greeted by smiling owner David, who explains wife Felicity will be over to say hello as soon as she’s finished her morning hack. We’re shown to our accommodation and immediately notice how peaceful the location is, the winter sun blazing in a glorious bright blue sky.
The spacious yet cosy pod
Hoe Grange was previously a dairy farm, but as is so often sadly the case, the couple needed to diversify, opening their first holiday cabins some ten years ago. Making the most of their stunning location, over the next few years they turned more of their land over to holiday accommodation. The entire site is built with sustainability in mind, and it’s a pleasure to see the farm has two large solar arrays and even its own wind turbine; initiatives that have helped them to win numerous green tourism awards.
Hoe Grange currently operate four luxury cabins, three of which have wet rooms and are wheelchair accessible. In fact their facilities for disabled guests are so extensive, that they have twice won Visit England awards for excellence for “Access for All”, further demonstrating their sustainability and accessibility credentials.
Inside the cosy timber pod
In April 2016 Hoe Grange Farm opened two new timber pods, and it’s in one of these funky two-person pods that we are staying. Positioned together, but with plenty of space between them, the attractive pods are energy efficient and fully insulated and heated, making them ideal for stays all year round. We unpack our walking gear, store a bottle of wine in the fridge for later, and munch on the freshly made oaty welcome biscuits we’ve been given as we familiarise ourselves with the beautiful interior.
The view from our pod
A second horse appears in the field in front of us, heralding the return of friendly Felicity, who pops round to say hello and provide us with some more insight into Hoe Grange Holidays.
We’ve stayed in many different kinds of glamping accommodation – from simple unfurnished pods to caravans and big log cabins, and this is by far, is the best of them all.
Honestly, to refer to the pods here even as glamping, is to do them a great injustice – they are essentially luxury mini self-catering log cabins and It’s easy to see why Hoe Grange Holidays received two VisitEngland Awards for Excellence this year. Over the past few years we’ve stayed in many different kinds of glamping accommodation – from simple unfurnished pods to caravans and big log cabins, and this is by far, is the best of them all.
The exceptionally well equipped kitchen with everything we needed during our stay
As well as ample storage and a beautiful interior, there are impressive little design and technology touches everywhere, from a low-energy radiator disguised as a mirror to remote controlled multi-coloured spotlights around the door. The attention to detail is stunning, and sets the pods at Hoe Grange Farm aside from anything similar we’ve stayed in before.
The complimentary toiletries are handmade locally and smelled divine
We finally tear ourselves away and leave for our walk. Afer taking in the sights, including the popular stepping stones in Dovedale, a steep climb up towards Ilam (during which I slip and land unceremoniously on my bottom…but we won’t talk about that) and finally up and around Bunster Hill circling back to our starting point in Dovedale. As the daylight fades, we head back to Hoe Grange Farm. 15 minutes later the sky is full black, and a dense fog settles. Famished after a meagre breakfast/lunch consisting of just a biscuit and a flapjack, we turn into a randomly selected pub called the Coach and Horses and offset the calories burned during our 4 hour walk with an enormous deli sharing platter.
It’s not much past 6pm when we arrive back at our pod. Parking up and getting out of the car, we are again struck my the silence of the location. Above us the sky is as clear as we’ve ever seen it, unsurprising really as there is no light pollution at all and I curse myself for failing to pack my telescope. Motion activated lights flick on, lighting our way back to the pod which looks warm and welcoming, festooned with fairy lights.
Outside the pods the next morning
Muddy boots removed, we take it in turns to shower before wasting no time in cracking open the wine and getting down to the serious business of relaxing. We chat, I make notes and we go through the photographs captured during our walk before settling into bed and watching a film on our tablet. Bliss.
Mr CWS cooking breakfast
The next morning my alarm clock is a cockerel, and still muzzy-headed from the wine, I’m feeling relaxed. I allow myself the rare luxury of drifting in and out for a while before getting up to make a coffee, everything I need, easily to hand. Coffee drunk, I’m finally awake and we fling open the pod doors to let the day in as we set about making breakfast and packing away.
What We Loved Most
- Welcome pack that included freshly baked granary bread, biscuits and fresh free range eggs
- The locally produced bathroom toiletries (which smell divine)
- Absolutely gorgeous interior – even in the middle of December it was warm and cosy
- Excellent facilities inside the pod with the eco ethos echoed in everything, from the washing up liquid to the low energy heating system
- Accommodation is set within the grounds of a peaceful working farm and we loved looking out onto open countryside
- Though we didn’t have time to use them on this occasion, the Swedish hot tub and log fired sauna looked inviting
- Great location for walking and exploring the Peak District from
As well as being dog friendly, they also offer holidays that allow you to bring your horse with you, providing stables and a secure turn-out field for your equine friend. How cool is that? We really can’t recommend a stay at Hoe Grange enough, but If a glamping pod isn’t your thing, they also provide larger log cabins that sleep 4; ideal for families, and popular with disabled holiday makers.
Glamping pods cost from £100 per night, whilst log cabins start at £457 for short break.
Find out more about Hoe Grange Holidays.
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