10 of the very best cottages near Buxton, including features such as hot tubs, period décor and barbecues.
Based in the Peak District National Park, Buxton is Britain’s highest market town.
That’s not all that Buxton is famed for, however. The thermal spa town has a genteel mix of Georgian and Victorian architecture, high-end wellness spas and the underground world of the Poole’s Cavern and Buxton Country Park.
Relax with a picnic in the Pavilion Gardens alongside the River Wye. Catch a pantomime, opera or musical at the Buxton Opera House or see what’s on at the Octagon Theatre. Then, head out into the surrounding Peak District landscape, which has dales, caverns, old railway lines, gorges, and rocky ledges. In Buxton town, the Buxton Museum and Art Gallery divulges secrets about the Peak District’s archaeology, art, and history. At Poole’s Cavern & Buxton Country Park, there are underground passages in a natural limestone cave over two million years old.
With one of the following self-catering Buxton holiday cottages as your base, you’ll have somewhere like home to base yourself for your getaway. Best of all, many of the holiday cottages in Buxton – and cottages in the wider Peak District, in fact – are traditional, stone-built cottages, packed with period features and an old-world charm.
The Top 10 Buxton Holiday Cottages:
1. Ardeevin Cottage (Buxton, Peak District)
2. Otters Retreat (Macclesfield, Peak District)
3. The Rooftop (Buxton, Peak District
4. Shepherds Crook (Macclesfield, Peak District)
5. Shenton Cottage (Buxton, Peak District)
6. The Stables (Buxton, Peak District)
7. Ash Cottage (Hope, near Castleton, Peak District)
8. New Cottage Farm (Quarnford and Flash, near Buxton, Peak District)
9. The Barn (Miller’s Dale, Peak District)
10. Harpur Cottage (Buxton, Peak District)
Ardeevin Cottage
Location: Buxton, Peak District
Best for: A dainty, pet-friendly cottage within walking distance of Buxton attractions
Situated in Buxton town, Ardeevin Cottage is a classic stone-built cottage with a small courtyard, where buckets of flowers hang from the wooden fencing. If that doesn’t sound just adorable already, the property is pet-friendly, so your furry companion can curl up by your feet after a day of browsing Buxton’s marketplace or cycling along the Monsal Trail, an old railway line cycling trail accessible within a short drive of Buxton.
With a blend of old-world mahogany furniture and a modern, open-plan living space, Ardeevin Cottage strikes the ideal balance between traditional and new. If you haven’t already gathered enough local produce from the markets, there are independent shops and pretty Peak District pubs a short walk away. The central location is a few streets away from the Pavilion Gardens and Buxton Opera House too.
Facilities: Soak in the Peak District air in your private courtyard, where there’s a bench and a table laid out alongside a small stretch of astroturf. There’s a large, comfy sofa in the living room, complete with a rug and a Smart TV. You might want to boil some tea over the electric hob first; in the modern kitchen, the equipment includes an electric oven and hob, a microwave, dishwasher and a fridge. There’s a wooden dining table set with bench-style seating, which might make you feel like you’re having a picnic indoors.
Otters Retreat
Location: Macclesfield, Peak District
Best for: A spacious country retreat in 30 acres of farmland.
Otters Retreat is the perfect place for a spacious country getaway. Located in the hamlet of Wincle, under 10 miles from Buxton, the cottage is surrounded by 30 acres of the owner’s farmland, which includes a river. It’s also within walking distance of the local family-friendly pub and a brewery, which runs tours and tastings.
Small families are easily accommodated at this Peak District cottage near Buxton spa town, as there are two bedrooms and two bathrooms There’s a large bike storage area, which is particularly handy, considering the huge selection of bicycle paths and walking routes on the cottage’s doorstep. With views over the surrounding countryside, stunning scenery is a given, especially from the patio.
Facilities: At Otters Retreat, the outside is just as lovely as the inside. Highlights in the interior include an inglenook fireplace with a logburner, seating for eight in the dining area, and a modern, well-equipped kitchen with a coffee machine, good news for any coffee snobs. Outside, the patio has its very own barbecue, so you’ll soon be sizzling barbecued masterpieces over the Wincle Countryside. Wander down to the river for a picnic or a quick wade in the shallows. If you get too messy, there are two highly-modern bathrooms back in the house.
The Rooftop
Location: Buxton, Peak District
Best for: A scenic self-catering apartment in the centre of Buxton.
If you want to stay directly in Buxton spa town, The Rooftop is a match made in heaven. You won’t miss out on any of the lively scenes in Britain’s highest market town because the four-bedroom, duplex self-catering apartment is on the second floor of an elegant house with views over Buxton’s architecturally-savvy Crescent.
In fact, there’s an entire outdoor space designed for soaking in the views and Buxton sunsets. The roof terrace has a hot tub, sun loungers, LED lighting, a barbecue and furniture. Another alternative is eating out, and there are many of Buxton’s best foodie destinations within walking distance of the spacious apartment. Simply put, this is a great location for dining on local produce, sightseeing around the Roman spa town and visiting local attractions such as Buxton Opera House and the Crescent.
Facilities: With two floors and a rooftop terrace, The Rooftop doesn’t compromise on space. There are four bedrooms with two ensuite bathrooms, and an open plan living space. The many amenities include WiFi, a Smart TV, gas central heating and a kitchen with an electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge-freezer, washing machine, tumble dryer and dishwasher. Elegantly decorated throughout, this is the perfect place for large groups wanting a sumptuous stay in the heart of the Peak District with hot tub soaks whenever they fancy it.
Shepherds Crook
Location: Macclesfield, Peak District
Best for: A unique shepherd’s hut stay in a peaceful part of the Peak District National Park
Situated 10 miles from Buxton, Shepherds Crook isn’t exactly a cottage; it’s a self-catering shepherd’s hut with its own personal summerhouse in the south west of the Peak District National Park. As a glamping accommodation, getting back to nature is part of the appeal. Wildlife watching might occupy a lot of your time since the hut is surrounded by the Wincle countryside and based on the edge of a bluebell wood with views of the Roaches and the Dane Valley.
With no neighbours, Shepherds Crook also has the added benefit of extra peace and privacy. The shepherd’s hut may be small, with one bedroom and one bathroom, but it’s an excellent size for couples seeking a cosy romantic retreat. So, whether you want to nurse a glass of red over the barbecue, snuggle up over the firepit or sunbathe outside of your summerhouse, you won’t need to worry about any prying eyes. That’s aside from passing birds and the other wildlife living in the bluebell woods.
Facilities: As well as stunning scenery, Shepherds Crook has many more assets. There’s a well-lit double bed, where guests can wake to views of the green fields. Handily, the double bed has reading lights, just in case you start reading a page-turner before bed too. While compact, the kitchen has a built-in microwave oven, a hob and a fridge, making it easy to prepare effective meals quickly. There’s also a small, ensuite shower with a shower, toilet and sink so that you can easily freshen up after unbuckling your walking boots.
Shenton Cottage
Location: Buxton, Peak District
Best for: A dog-friendly cottage with a hot tub on the outskirts of Buxton
Situated on the outskirts of Buxton, a short walk from all of its attractions, Shenton Cottage is ideally located for adventures in the heart of the Peak District National Park. The semi-detached Peak District cottage is right next to the Buxton & High Peak Golf Club, making it the ideal place for golfers looking to perfect their swing. Buxton’s opera house is a short walk away and pretty villages and towns like Chapel En Le Frith are within driving distance.
Even more conveniently, two well-behaved dogs are welcome at Shenton Cottage. That means that your furry friend can unwind on the patio while you take time out of your adventures to eat dinner, and they can join you as you hop between the Peak District’s many slopes, pretty villages and hiking trails. The only place they won’t join you is the cottage’s hot tub, which is based under a purpose-built, wooden shelter and fitted with wooden grates for privacy. The tub has views over the fields, as well as the garden’s traditional wishing well.
Facilities: With a TV and a fireplace in the living room, you should feel quite cosy in the evenings. There are two bedrooms, both king-sized, and two bathrooms to share between all four guests. That makes this Peak District cottage ideal for small families seeking a cosy Buxton home with a little extra pizzazz. While families will be pleased to find a fully-equipped kitchen, entertainment like books, games, and DVDs, and a travel cot, high chair, stair gate and baby bath upon request, dogs also have their own treats to look forward to. The cottage provides dog beds, towels, bowls and welcome treats.
The Stables
Location: Buxton, Peak District
Best for: A 10-person cottage in Buxton with a barbecue in the back garden
The Stables is the epitome of a stylish cottage in the heart of the Peak District’s Buxton spa town. It’s not often that you stumble upon Buxton cottages that can sleep 10 people, or two well-behaved dogs for that matter. However, The Stable is designed to be spacious and sociable.
In a past life, the five-bedroom cottage was actually a stable. Now, there’s no trace of the cottage’s stable past. The semi-detached conversion has rooms carved out of old stone and features such as built-in fireplaces and old-style chandeliers. There’s also a deliciously warm and welcoming conservatory next to a patio with outdoor seating and a garden sprouting with bushes, flowers and hedgerows.
Facilities: If you’ve been searching for self-catering holiday cottages with extra luxuries such as a coffee machine and a huge double gas cooker, The Stables fits the bill. It will also tick lots of boxes for any holidaymakers who envision themselves barbecuing in their backyard. With two fridges, a 10-seater dining table, and a breakfast island with bar stools, the cottage very comfortably fits a full group of 10.
Ash Cottage
Location: Hope near Castleton, Peak District
Best for: A cosy cottage on the outskirts of Hope with a shared indoor swimming pool and shared garden
Located on the outskirts of Hope near Castleton’s caverns, Ash Cottage could have been snatched from a Peak District postcard. The dappled stone cottage is cosied alongside a sloping lane leading to farm fields, and there’s a little, brown picket gate and picnic bench to welcome you into your holiday home. The inside is surprisingly modern in contrast with the outside. The open-plan living space is fitted with a modern kitchen, a dining table and sofas, and the fireplace adds a touch of old-world glamour once again.
One of the best parts of Ash Cottage is that it has access to a shared, heated indoor swimming pool with changing facilities. It also has a huge shared back garden, which sits at the foot of the aforementioned sloping fields. It has a large AstroTurf area too, where dogs and kids can run free and a gravel area with a barbecue.
Facilities: Since the cottage has access to shared bike storage, you’ll have no trouble whipping out your wheels for cycles along the Monsal Trail, pedalling over to Castleton’s caverns or taking on other Peak District National Park trails in the surrounding area. While naturally, you might want to take advantage of the country pubs and cafés a short walk away, the kitchen should have all you need for meals too. There’s an electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge, TV, DVD player, WiFi and a variety of books, games and DVDs.
New Cottage Farm
Location: Quarnford and Flash, near Buxton, Peak District
Best for: A remote rural cottage, a 15 minutes’ drive from Buxton.
New Cottage Farm has no neighbours, just miles of sloping farmland. Located in rural Quarnford, the cottage is in a remote but central location for exploring the Peak District National Park. It’s only 15 minutes’ drive from Buxton, but you wouldn’t guess it from the peaceful valleys on all sides.
Naturally, that makes New Cottage Farm an ideal base for keen hikers. Whether that involves walks through the local valleys or a more adventurous hike over the Roaches nearby, you’ll have plenty of scope for relaxation when you get back to your gravelled garden and woodburning stove.
Facilities: There are three bedrooms and a bathroom at the five-person New Cottage Farm. Books, games and DVDs have been provided for simple evening entertainment, or you might want to watch the sun dash behind the hills from the picnic bench on your gravel patch. With a huge fireplace, wooden beds and a modern kitchen, the cottage has plenty of character too.
The Barn
Location: Miller’s Dale, Peak District
Best for: A quirky three-bedroom barn conversion near the Monsal Trail
Cute and quirky, The Barn is a three-bedroom barn conversion that’s been standing since 1760. The cottage shows no signs of its old age, unless you count gorgeous period features such as a farmhouse-style kitchen, vaulted ceilings and exposed beams.
The cottage has been decorated with a combination of old-world charm and comfort in mind, so there’s a freestanding bathtub, checkered curtains and a traditional wooden dining set. Based in Miller’s Dale, there’s easy access to the Monsal Trail, and those wanting to experience Buxton spa town from the Roman times will only need to drive for 20 minutes or so to reach the historic spa town.
Facilities: Set out over a reverse level layout, which means that the kitchen is upstairs and the living spaces are on the ground floor, The Barn has a unique and charming layout. There’s a Belfast sink and wooden detailing in the farmhouse-style kitchen and a separate utility room with a dishwasher, fridge-freezer and washing machine. The garden is particularly inviting too. There’s furniture on the patio, equipped with a parasol in case the clouds start spitting, and a gravel area higher up when you fancy gazing out over the surrounding green foliage.
Harpur Cottage
Location: Buxton, Peak District
Best for: A cosy cottage on the outskirts of Buxton
Located on the outskirts of Buxton, Harpur Cottage is incredibly warm and welcoming. Part of a line of traditional terraced buildings, it dates back to 1860. There’s a wall-length chalkboard to welcome you to the kitchen and a set of three cosy bedrooms upstairs.
While the modern, fully-fitted kitchen and the front courtyard’s bistro table might tempt you to prepare your own homecooked meals, there are plenty of Peak District pubs and diners within walking distance of the cottage. Being based in Buxton means that you can get out at a moment’s notice, whether that’s to track down delicious local produce, stroll to the town’s museum and art gallery, picnic in the Pavilion Gardens or visit Poole’s Cavern & Buxton Country Park.
Facilities: Share a glass of wine or a fizzy drink with the family in the front courtyard, and then start cooking the family’s favourite meal in the well-equipped kitchen, which has an electric oven and hob, a microwave, fridge, washing machine and a tumble dryer. Harpur Cottage comes with a TV and WiFi if you’re looking for a lazy evening, curled up in front of the electric fire.
Book Your Next Dream Holiday Today
Whether you choose to stay in one of the above Buxton holiday cottages or to keep browsing more of Breakfree Holiday’s cottages in the Peak District, there’s plenty to look forward to in a Peak District holiday home.