What to expect on an autism-friendly holiday at Hoe Grange
Hoe Grange Holidays offers autism-friendly holidays in a quiet, peaceful location on a working farm between Ashbourne and Bakewell.
Here is a detailed guide on what to expect at each stage of the process – from researching and booking a holiday to what happens during the stay.
Hoe Grange Holidays is run by the Brown family – Farmer David (centre), his wife Felicity (left), and their daughter Caroline (right).

What to expect: A detailed guide
Where can I find all the information I need?
There is a lot of detail on the Hoe Grange Holidays website to help me find the information I need to have a comfortable holiday.
If I want to see what the log cabins and glamping pods look like before I book, I can use the 3D virtual tours. I can also see a gallery of photos for each log cabin, glamping pod or gypsy caravan. I can find the tours and the photos on the individual property webpages:
- Pinder log cabin
- Hipley log cabin
- Daisybank log cabin
- Rainster log cabin
- Swallow and Skylark glamping pods
- Rosehip gypsy caravan (There is no 3D virtual tour of Rosehip)
If I want to see more photos or videos of a specific area of the site, I can contact the Brown family and they will be happy to send these to me.
If I want accessibility details like the width of the doors, whether there are any steps, and what type of bathrooms the log cabin or glamping pod has, I can look at the Detailed Access Guides on the AccessAble website.
If I want to see a full list of the additional accessibility equipment that I can book for free, I can look at the accessible equipment webpage.
If I want to know what kind of things to expect during my stay, I can read the sensory story.
If I have any questions that I can’t find the answer to on this website, I can contact the Brown family by email or phone. They will always respond to me in the same way.
How do I book?
When I am ready to book, I can make a reservation online or by phone or email.
To book online, I will:
- Visit the Book online webpage
- Choose my log cabin, glamping pod or gypsy caravan
- Select my arrival date and how long I want to stay
- Enter the number of people coming (including myself)
- Add any extra options if I want them
If I’m not sure if I want any extras, I can add them later through the online guest portal, email, or phone. However, they might not always be available.
On the next page, I will share my details and answer some questions about what I would like for my stay, such as if I would prefer white or brown bread in my welcome pack.
There is a question that says, “Is there anything else you would like us to know about your booking?”. This is where I can share any information I want the Brown family to know. This could be:
- If I do not want to be contacted by phone
- If I would like to have one primary contact to talk to about my booking – though this is not always possible, the Brown family will try to make this happen
- If I want any additional items of accessibility equipment that I couldn’t add to my booking on the previous page
- If I would like to book a self check-in
- If I have any specific social distancing or cleaning requirements, like having the windows left open before I arrive
I will finish my booking by pressing the “Complete booking” button after I’ve accepted the terms and conditions.
If I make a mistake when booking, I can contact the Brown family. They will help me fix it so I don’t need to worry.
If I don’t want to book my holiday online, I can contact the Brown family by phone or email and they will ask me for the information they need to make my booking.
What happens after I make my booking?
I’ll get an automated email.
When I pay the deposit, I’ll get a personalised email from the Brown family that confirms any equipment I want is available and that any requests I’ve made are possible.
When I pay the balance, I’ll get another automated email confirming the payment.
A few weeks before my holiday, I will get an email with some top tips for making the most of my stay. This will include a mobile phone number I can contact if I prefer to use WhatsApp before and during.
I won’t usually be contacted by phone unless there’s a question on the day I am checking in. If I prefer not to be contacted by phone, I can let the Brown family know when I make my booking.
If I have any questions or concerns before my holiday, I can email, phone or message on WhatsApp, and they’ll respond the same way.
Who will I meet on my holiday?
The Brown family who run Hoe Grange Holidays have all completed training so they know how to provide an autism-friendly welcome and will listen to my needs. Farmer David has lived at Hoe Grange all his life and enjoys answering questions about the farm and the animals. His wife Felicity loves horses and will happily tell me all about the horses on the farm. Their daughter Caroline helps them to run Hoe Grange Holidays.

I will see some of the animals in the farmyard, including the cat, called Kat, and some free-range chickens.


If I want to meet the other animals – including Oliver and Rocco the horses, the pygmy goats, the cows and the sheep – I can ask any of the Brown family. I must not go near them on my own.

What happens when I arrive on site?
I can look at some pictures of the lane to the farm and what I will see when I arrive in the sensory story.
When I arrive at Hoe Grange:
- I will drive up the lane and park in the farmyard
- If I arrive before 7pm, a member of the Brown family will be at reception to greet me
- They will show me where to park, where to find my log cabin or glamping pod, and give me a quick tour
- I can ask them to help me unload my luggage into the cabin
- They will tell me how I can contact them while I’m on site and ask if I have any questions
If I requested a self check-in, I will have an email with instructions instead. This will include contact details for the Brown family I can use if I have any problems.
What happens during my stay?
The Brown family won’t contact me during my holiday unless I ask for help or if there is an emergency. However, I can contact them with any questions or problems and they will be happy to help. I can choose how I contact them – either by going down to reception or the farmhouse, by calling them or by text or WhatsApp.
If I want to meet the farm animals, I can let the Brown family know and they will arrange a time with me.
Hoe Grange is a peaceful place, but because it is a working farm, I might hear animal noises (such as cows, chickens or horses) or farm machinery. I might also notice smells from animals or the farmyard. These things are explained in the sensory story, so I know what to expect.
What happens at the end of my stay?
I need to leave my log cabin or glamping pod by 10am on the last day of my holiday so that the housekeeping team can get it ready for the next guests to arrive, unless I have pre-booked a late checkout.
Before I go, I must check I haven’t left anything behind, especially under the bed or in the fridge. I can choose whether to take the sheets off the bedding and put them in the laundry bag or leave them where they are.
I will leave the keys in the log cabin or glamping pod and shut the door behind me.
I don’t need to let the Brown family know I’m leaving, but I can choose to say goodbye to them in reception if I want to.
What happens after my holiday?
I will get an email from the Brown family to say thank you.
If I signed up to the mailing list, I will get monthly emails with special offers and local tips. If I don’t want to receive them anymore, I can unsubscribe using the link at the bottom of the email.







