Self-catering accommodation for Alton Towers Scarefest, Halloween and Fireworks

Alton Towers Scarefest, Halloween and Fireworks

27th October for 3 nights - £485

30th October for 4 nights - £495

 

Book direct with the owners to avoid booking fees 👍

If you would like more information or to book one of our last minute breaks please email

barkshc@gmail.com

🐕Two dogs welcome 

🎠Really near Alton Towers ST10 4DB

☀️Great for walkers and getting outdoors 

🍰Nearby tea rooms

🌳 Peak District & Churnet Valley await

😃 Family time 

Short self catering breaks

Barks Holiday Cottage is both near Alton Towers theme park and the gorgeous Churnet Valley and Peak District so it is ideal for short breaks. 

Alton Towers  - Families grab some action-packed, thrilling adventure at the Alton Towers theme park just a few minutes drive away (less than 3 miles from us to ST10 4DB) then come back to some peace and quiet to restore their adrenaline levels again.

Walking, dogs and scenery - immerse yourself in the idyllic countryside of the Churnet Valley with gorgeous walks straight from the front door of the holiday cottage. You and the doggo can walk for miles in the local woods and tracks, barely even crossing a road. Barks is also an ideal base for exploring the rest of the Peak District.

Treat yourself - to add a touch of indulgence to your break, there are some fabulous tea rooms, gastro pubs and restaurants. Our guest information folder has loads of information to help you choose the treat to suit your mood. If you want to stay in and put your feet up after a busy day, it's easy to order a takeaway from one of the local providers.  Supermarket deliveries are also an option, and the kitchen is well equipped if you want to create something delicious to enjoy with your favourite tipple. 

Long and short breaks available.  If you can grab a few days away, just message us about self-catering availability at Barks Holiday Cottage.

July short break last minute availability

Arrival Sunday 16th July:

5 nights £575

3 nights £450

3 night weekends

Thursday 20th July - 3 nights £575
Thursday 27th July - 3 nights £610

School summer holidays

School summer holiday short break options available. Please enquire - current availability is marked in green.

Information correct as at 10th July.

Loving this sunshine

What an amazing few weeks of sunshine we've enjoyed. The holiday cottage garden is a joy to wander past. 

The grounds are looking great too. The paths through the grasses are lovely and our recent self-catering holiday cottage guests made the most of this space with their young alsation. 

Just a quick reminder that the cottage has no secure garden or fencing so best suits trusted doggos. The location is away from it all with some of the best walking from the doorstep. 

For the latest availability please check online or contact us.

2021 self catering cottage availability

If you look at our calendar on the major booking sites we look fully booked in the 2021 school holidays, but actually I have just blocked those dates off so that our regular guests and direct bookings get first dibs on their preferred dates.

How we are managing 2021 bookings

In the strange season that was 2020 we closed for a night between all bookings as part of our Covid policy. We felt a lot better managing change over after the cottage had been fully aired for a couple of hours. We also found that arriving guests were reassured that the cottage had again been fully aired after we had finished ready for their arrival. We even gave all the pillows and duvets an outside airing, as well as freshly laundered mattress and pillow protectors between each booking. So with all this airing and the extra time required for laundry and cleaning, 24 hours between bookings was about right. 

This year, with good vaccine uptake we think the situation is sufficiently different that we are going back to on-the-day change-overs. We will however be giving ourselves a bit more time than previous years by having 5pm arrival and 10am departure for all guests. And we shall ask our guests to do a few extra Covid prevention measures in addition to the standard tidying to leave the cottage as they found it. Nothing complicated, just a spray round in the bathroom and to leave the doors and windows open as they leave.

We appreciate the later 5pm arrival time can seem frustrating when you just want to arrive and get on with your much-needed break, but I do hope that everyone understands that we need the time to offer our services safely in these times.

To check dates for long and short breaks please see our self-catering availability

If you would like more information about our Covid policy for 2021 please don't hesitate to contact us.

hello@barks-holiday-cottage.co.uk

Summer holiday mini breaks for Alton Towers

The summer holidays are nearly over for 2019.
Please contact us for autumn breaks and Scarefest at Alton Towers.

Make your stay action-packed with Alton Towers, Splash Landings, country walks, animal park, pub meals, tea rooms, ice cream parlour and loads more....

Barks Cottage ST10 3DX to Alton Towers ST10 4DB
the recommended route is 9 mins and 3.4 miles

Barks Cottage is near enough to Alton Towers that if you want to drop the children off and do something different for a while, or come back and chill out, it is easy to do. But if you want to go with the kids for a bit of theme park fun, we can look after the dog for you.

Make the most of family times this summer!

Holiday cottage near Alton Towers

This week has seen sunshine and showers - and a fantastic rainbow. This was taken on a walk that we like that is straight from the front door of the holiday cottage and doesn't cross any roads. Hard to believe that you are staying in a holiday cottage near Alton Towers.

Hard to believe sometimes that Barks Holiday Cottage is so near Alton Towers

Merlin passes

Our half term guests have Merlin passes and made good use of them by all accounts. They built a holiday around daily family trips to Alton Towers. Having said that, they also made daily outings to local attractions - walks, tea rooms, browsing local towns. A good time was had by all, according to their feedback. Personally, I think this is the framework for a brilliant family holiday - something for everyone with never a dull moment. I have just come back from my own family holiday and reviewing it in the light of our departing guests' comments, I can see that we fell into a framework for our time too. Funny how that works out!

I will also mention the other bit of feedback we just received as it is something we were pleased to hear. Our holiday cottage guest was pleased to be able to comfortably accommodate her three children in a bedroom by themselves (so that she had a room to herself) in a sweet cottage that is close, but not too close, to Alton Towers ST10 4DB... all within her budget.

Family time, that's what we believe in.

2018 bookings have opened

High Season 2017 is now over, it has been very busy! Some very organised people have already booked their repeat visit to Barks Holiday Cottage for 2018. They booked before they left, which is the sort of endorsement that speaks volumes.

We have just published our prices for next year. Please check our availability page for rates for 2018 and get in touch if you would like to check any facts about the cottage or surrounding area

Barks Holiday Cottage - 2018 bookings have started.

Summer holidays begin

I have set the auto-response message on my phone to 'Summer Holidays 😊'

I want to make the most of my son's summer hols and don't intent to chain myself to my desk 9 til 5 over the next few weeks. However, the reality is that we will simply be a parent taxi service unless we make an effort. Or worse than that, we will walk past his human form slumped on the sofa with a mobile device obscuring the view of his face. I suggest a walk with the dog or a cycle ride and generally get a negative response. Been there, seen it, done it! I need to book in some family time and plan some activities that we will all enjoy!

Once upon a time a trip to Splash Landings was a brilliant family activity, but now he is a teenager he is more likely to go with a couple of school friends ... and we are the taxi service! But this is only because Splash Landings and Alton Towers are on our doorstep. If we were travelling it would be a suitable family activity.

I've discussed this with some other mums staying at Barks to visit Alton Towers. We reckon the key is to get everyone away from home. Grown ups stop thinking about work and chores, teenagers seem to switch on and engage with the rest of the family and younger ones just love everyone doing something all together.

School holidays take some planning! I hope the smiley face emoji on my auto reply turns out to be the right choice 😕

(at the time of writing we have one mini break left in the school holidays - 3 or 4 nights from 21st August please check availability).

Last minute self catering availability August

18th August: - 
7 nights is £495
3 nights is £375
3 nights breaks available from Fri 18th or Mon 21st

We don't very often get cancellations, but Tracey and family have had to change plans. So there is a last minute availability in August that is ideal for families to stay for a 7 day holiday or grab a 3 day break.

A 3 day break with the kids in the summer holiday can be jam-packed with entertainment round here. There's a theme park (Alton Towers, no less), two water parks, steam railway, zoo etc etc. And there is loads of walking or more extreme outdoor pursuits like bouldering and rock climbing. After you've done all that, let the kids carry on burning energy on our playing field playing penalty shoot out while you have a cup of tea (or something stronger) on the terrace. Sorted!

Alton Towers Scarefest & Fireworks - Self Catering

The 2015 Alton Towers Scarefest and Fireworks is nearly upon us. Should be a good season as I have heard that Alton Towers is going all out to make this the best Scarefest EVER!  Good for them, we say.

Barks is the ideal self catering holiday cottage accommodation for your Alton Towers Scarefest break because we are very conveniently located in the next village from the gates of the theme park - we are ST10 3DX and the park is ST10 4DB if you want to check on Google Maps.

We have a gap for 3 night breaks between 18th - 22nd Oct and arrival 31st Oct for Fireworks. Please check our Availability page for more details

Summer 2015 holiday cottage bookings

Availability at Barks Holiday Cottage near Alton Towers

As ever the summer holidays are booking up fast for family trips to the Peak District and Alton Towers. If you would like a three night break for a trip to Alton Towers  please contact us as soon as possible. Call us on 01538 703436 or email barks@btconnect.com

Alton Towers accommodation Oct half term

Alton Towers Fireworks -
Barks Holiday Cottage is just 8 minutes drive from
gates of Alton Towers

Barks Holiday Cottage near Alton Towers has a three night break available during October 2014 half term for £295. This self-catering holiday accommodation for a family of 5 is just 2.6 miles or 8 minutes drive from the gates of Alton Towers ST10 4DB.  The holiday cottage is perfect for the late opening during Alton Towers Scarefest Spooktacular and the fabulous Fireworks season finale. If you have a Merlin pass ... make the most of it!

Please email barks@btconnect.com or use our online booking form or call us on 01538 703436.

Nipping to Cbeebies land this summer?

I've  not been to Alton Towers CBeebies land - my son is nearly 11 so he has somewhat outgrown it and much as I love Charlie and Lola it is probably not my thing either. Not even sure Charlie and Lola are featured at CBeebies...maybe they are, perhaps someone can enlighten me.

Families that come to our holiday cottage near Alton Towers are definitely headed to CBeebies land. It is great that there is something more for the little ones. And the Waterpark at Alton Towers is also a fab day out with little ones, especially off season when you can stay much longer.

We have limited school summer holiday 2014 breaks available at Barks Holiday Cottage for self-catering near Alton Towers. But if you have pre-school children there is more available in Septermber and October when it is really lovely around here, with plenty to amuse the little ones in addition to CBeebies Land. 

Alton Towers holiday cottage - April mini break

21 - 24 April available -  3 nights for £275 or 4 nights for £330

Please call 01538 703436 if you would like to enquire about this last minute availability for a self catering mini break in a holiday cottage near Alton Towers. Or email barks@btconnect.com. Or just book online ...

The Alton Towers theme park at ST10 4DB is well underway and the weather (today at least) is perfect.

Accommodation near Alton Towers - summer holidays 2014

My goodness, we only have a few self-catering short breaks left in the school summer holidays for a family dash to Alton Towers and a breath of fresh Staffordshire air.

People are very organised booking their self catering holiday cottage accommodation this year. I suppose this time last year there was still snow on the ground and it was hard to conceive of a glorious sunny day at Alton Towers or walking in the Peak District.

I've just been updating the availability page and as of today this is Barks Holiday Cottage availability.

for prices and latest availability please check the Availability page or call 01538 703436

July 2014
4, 5, 6 July available - £295 for 3 nights weekend mini-break
11, 12, 13 July available - £330 for 3 nights weekend mini-break

August 2014
only 3 mini breaks left ...
15, 16, 17 - weekend mini break available £450
18 - 21 available either £380 for 3 nights or £450 for 4 nights
29, 30, 31 August available as weekend mini break for £450

If you are looking for a quick trip to Alton Towers with your family and would like to organise a short break self catering break that combines proximity to ST10 4DB and glorious countryside views and walks then please enquire about our latest availability.

barks@btconnect.com or 01538 703436

2014 availability for holiday cottage near Alton Towers

Very pleased to report that the holiday cottage phone line is ringing frequently with enquiries for accommodation near Alton Towers during 2014. The holiday cottage was booked solid during 2013, mostly because the cottage is so close to Alton Towers but set in a peaceful scenic hamlet away from the bustle and traffic. We hope to see some of our regular guests return again in 2014 for a family holiday break.

Barks Holiday Cottage - next village to Alton Towers

Winter weekend self-catering breaks are from £230
When Alton Towers theme park is open we have self catering breaks in the holiday cottage from £280 in low season. Please email barks@btconnect.com or call 01538 703436 for more details.
Online booking available.

Self catering near Alton Towers 17 - 20th October for Scarefest

Self catering near Alton Towers 17 - 20th October

It's Scarefest at Alton Towers! And this is our last available long weekend self-catering break in Barks Holiday Cottage.

The cottage sleeps 5 in two rooms - one double, one family with adult sized bunk beds.
Alton Towers theme park is open late til 9pm during Scarefest, so come back to the holiday cottage afterwards, zap something to eat and light the open fire and ... recover! Especially if you are devoted Alton Towers fans who are going back the next day!

Let us know if you have a pet dog that needs looking after as we may be able to help you out by taking it walkies while you are at Alton Towers. The holiday cottage is pet friendly too.

Self catering near Alton Towers 17 - 20th October is £330 for 3 nights and £370 for 4 nights.

Please call 01538 703436 or email barks@btconnect.com for more details.

Alton Towers Scarefest self-catering holiday cottage accommodation

LATE DEAL - HOLIDAY COTTAGE NEAR ALTON TOWERS

6 - 10th October available £330 for 5 nights 

Love Alton Towers? Love Scarefest? Love Alton Towers late opening til 9pm? Curious about the new Alton Towers maze? Relieved that the clowns are, apparently, all friendly?

Looking to book a short self-catering holiday cottage in the next village to Alton Towers? Love that Barks Holiday Cottage is only 3 miles away in next village to gates of Alton Towers. Enjoy our family friendly holiday cottage.

Half term nip to Alton Towers sorted!

Holiday Cottage Summer Bookings

You might think that holiday cottage bookings would come in dribs and drabs as the months roll along, but no, it is not like that.  Strangely, several people have the same thought on the same day. "I really must get on with booking our trip to Alton Towers" they think to themselves and onto Google they go.  And you may be thinking that this is no great shock as it is well known that people discuss their holiday plans over Christmas dinner and retreat quietly to the PC to book the next thing to look forward to. Sure, I do this myself, and as a tourism provider I try to be ready for these predictable booking rushes. But why do I have two bookings before 11am today, a  regular Thursday in May?  Is it pure coincidence?  Is it because there was a bank holiday discussion about a summer trip to Alton Towers and this has now been actioned?  I guess that might be the answer.

Anyway, thank you to the two families that booked today, we look forward to seeing you here later in the summer.  If anyone else would like to book today I really am fine with updating our Availability again. Let's try for a hat trick!

Next week 11th May is still available so if anyone wants a last minute 3 night break for £230 please let me know. 01538 703436

The sheep are back from their winter pastures