Self-catering holiday cottage, sleeps 5. 01538 703163. Alton Towers 3 miles and Peak District walking from the doorstep. Family & pet friendly accommodation barkshc@gmail.com
self-catering holiday cottage, holiday rental near Alton Towers and Peak District
A Tribute to little Pickle Valentine: Snowdrops in our little Nature Reserve
Last minute or plan ahead?
Short self catering breaks
July short break last minute availability
Arrival Sunday 16th July:
3 night weekends
Thursday 20th July - 3 nights £575
Thursday 27th July - 3 nights £610
School summer holidays
Escape to the countryside this July
Wonderful walking
What a morning! Took doggo for a very long walk because it was such a sparkling morning. Wildlife was posing for us everywhere. Three roe deer stood and looked at us really close up, but it seemed sensible to hold Stormy's collar rather than grapple for my camera. The buzzard was unconcerned and jumped clumsily from branch to branch while I unlocked my phone and took this rubbish snap.
It's such amazing walking country, and I especially love this time of the year.
The holiday cottage is open for direct bookings and short lets, but not available via our booking agents until spring. So if you like a winter hike come to the Churnet Valley and explore!
Holiday Cottage with open fire
Green and pleasant
Walkies from the holiday cottage
Then we go through a field gate and he finds the muddiest puddle ever and is very pleased with himself as he achieves maximum mud coverage.
And we have an outside tap! Bad luck Albie 🐶
For the latest availability please check online
Coffee shop walks
If you need an incentive to do some walking, then a coffee shop is the answer. In the summer, one that also sells great ice cream can be a winner with the whole family, including the dog. Our countryside cafes have lovely outdoor seating and also sell dog ice cream. If only your dog could read this blog it would be booking 😀🐕🐕🐕🍦
A step in the right direction? #motivation |
Lovely walk in Churnet Valley, over the bridge from the Ramblers Retreat cafe. |
A stroll along the Caldon Canal, from Hetty's tea room to the Black Lion. |
We have destination tea / coffee shops in all directions for long and short walkies. And pubs, of course.
Off season breaks
Walking from the doorstep at Barks Holiday Cottage, Churnet Valley |
Off season short breaks are becoming increasingly popular as an entertaining getaway. If you can't decide between a spa retreat or a country cottage break here is a possible answer - do both at Barks Holiday Cottage.
- Alton Towers spa which has entry to the sauna and relaxation rooms
- country retreat, open fire, great views
- walk in the Peak District and Churnet Valley - great walks from the doorstep
- lovely pubs and restaurants in the local area.
Please check the latest availability and book online directly with us
Getting organised last minute for Christmas 2019
The cottage is available for 4 nights from 23rd December for £470. There is some flexibility in those dates (however we are already booked for New Year).
We can also be very flexible as to how much we decorate the cottage for our Christmas guests. We'll put a tree on the terrace and we generally do some indoor decorations, unless asked not to, and give our Christmas guests a box of chocolates.
Please email or ring us to check Christmas 2019 self catering availability
Is it autumn? Peak walking season?
Even though everywhere is green and lush, there is the hint of autumn in the air. Especially in the mornings and evenings. This is my favourite time of year for walking in the Churnet Valley. Soon colour will appear in the woodlands and there might even be those breathtaking early frosts. Not too soon on that, my bean row won't cope!
So we have moved the holiday cottage into autumn mode too. The family room is now laid out as a twin room as its default setting. One twin, one double. With the children back at school this week, the guests we have booked in for September are adult groups or couples. Probably with a dog.
Because it is peak walking season, and where better to walk than round here, in the Churnet Valley woodlands and the hills of the Peak District?
Is it walkies time? |
For the latest availability please check online or contact us.
Last minute holiday cottage Peak District and Alton Towers
Cottage sleeps 5 in two bedrooms, pet dog welcome.
And don't forget, if you want us to look after your dog while you and the family go to Alton Towers please book that in straight away 🐶
Barks self-catering holiday cottage - last minute deals self catering, sleeps 5 in two bedrooms |
Suitable for short holidays in the Peak District and to Alton Towers. Ideal for a couple for a walking holiday, possibly with their dog. Perfect for a family to spend a day or two at Alton Towers, maybe flexing your Merlin pass. Alton Towers is only 3 miles away, hidden out of the way in the valley and woodland.
Last minute weekend break in the countryside
How about a last minute break in the countryside? What would work for you - a romantic break for two or a family escape to Alton Towers? Email or ring us to check availability and reserve your break.
There are lots of things to do. Alton Towers is the most obvious, but there are gorgeous walks, tea rooms and pubs. Our local towns have much to offer, with lots of shops specialising in antiques and collectibles.
And in the evening, you could cook something, better still you could order in or go out to one of the local eateries. See how you feel after a busy day...
Special offer
If you book a short break directly with us as a result of seeing this post we will put a bottle of fizz in the fridge for you. Email us on barks@btconnect.com to book this special offer.A wet week in the Peak District
We have a lovely crew that have come down from Bridlington and guess what... they chose Barks Holiday Cottage because it has an open fire. It's June, so I was surprised that was such an important criterion when selecting a self-catering holiday cottage in summer. If it had been a last minute booking I might not have been so surprised.
Anyway, they chose Barks because it is all on one floor and has an open fire. One of the ladies has restricted mobility so it is perfect for her. She hasn't been able to go out very much with her companions, but has stayed in the cottage and enjoyed a roaring fire and the views across the Churnet Valley.
Self catering holiday cottage, single storey accommodation. |
July opening times at Alton Towers
If you are planning a trip to Alton Towers and need to juggle opening times, travelling times and booking accommodation, I hope you find this information useful.
July opening times at Alton Towers |
And here is a tip - The theme park is enjoying peak season in July, particularly with traffic approaching from Uttoxeter and A50 in the mornings. Midweek there are school and uni trips, with lots of coaches. Weekends the roads are noticeably busy with cars queuing through the villages at arrival and departure times.
Beat the queues when you stay at Barks holiday cottage which is 2.6 miles away and enables you to approach from the quieter direction,
Single storey, ground floor, self catering
We have recently taken a couple of bookings because people were particularly looking for single storey, ground floor accommodation in a country cottage. I can confirm, the cottage meets that description.
If you are looking for a bungalow in the countryside just drop us a line with your booking requirements and we can get your dates reserved straight away. Email us on barks@btconnect.com or phone 01538 703436. Many thanks
Barks Cottage - single storey self-catering |
Christmas at the Holiday Cottage
Christmas availability at Barks Holiday Cottage from 22nd December |
For a number of years the holiday cottage was booked by family members coming up to visit local friends. They could just about walk across the fields for their family get together. I was slightly nervous at the idea of them staggering back across the moorland after a few glasses of Christmas cheer, but it seemed to work out OK.
This year our booking agents took a booking for Barks Holiday Cottage back in August for a couple and their dog. That's organised, I thought, well done them! Very, very unfortunately, they weren't quite organised enough to take out holiday insurance. This bit is rather sad - one of them has been involved in a bad accident and so they can no longer go away at Christmas. Their deposit, taken by the agents, is non refundable which reminds me to stress the importance of taking out insurance on UK holidays, something people seem not to want to do.
Anyway, the cottage is back on the market for Christmas. It is available for 5 days from 22nd December for £475. There is some flexibility in those dates (however we are already booked for New Year).
We can also be very flexible as to how much we decorate the cottage for our Christmas guests. This year we are thinking we might put a tree on the terrace. We generally do some indoor decorations, unless asked not to, and give our guests a box of chocolates.
Meet Issie
Autumn days
This lovely lady was sunning her bones on the holiday cottage terrace this morning and looked such a happy picture that I nipped off to get my camera. Standing around photographing her was clearly very suspicious behaviour that required her to get up and investigate. A polite woof alerted her people, so then we had a jolly chat about the important topic of unmissable walkies destinations in the Churnet Valley - the list is long!