hoe grange blog posts
Browse through our blog posts to find out what life is like at Hoe Grange Holidays along with some great ideas for days out in the Peak District.
Your August insider guide to a Peak District summer stay
June 10, 2026Archives
Order
Category
How to enjoy the Peak District in August like a local
If you want to enjoy the Peak District in August without feeling like you’ve accidentally joined the busiest day-trip of the year, you don’t need a list of “secret hidden gems”. The real trick is much simpler.
Holiday like a local and do these three things:
- Vary your timing
- Choose small and hyper local
- Retreat to your home-from-home
The best summer staycations tend to follow a simple rhythm: head out a little earlier or later, follow local recommendations, and make sure you’ve got somewhere comfortable to come back to so there’s no pressure to be out all day.
That’s one of the reasons Hoe Grange works so well in summer. You can head out for fresh air and big views, then come back to peace and quiet, a soak in the hot tub, or an easy dinner overlooking the farm fields. Plus we’ve got plenty of tried and tested local recommendations to help you explore.
If you’re still deciding, now’s a good time to check remaining August availability, especially for the log cabins. They’re spacious, well equipped, and a great fit for couples, families, friends, and easy-going summer breaks.
-
Pick your timing
Sometimes finding your own quiet haven in peak season is simply about choosing a different rhythm. Shift your day by a couple of hours and instantly even the busiest spots feel much calmer.
The golden rule is to avoid the hotspots between late morning and mid-afternoon, then enjoy them at their best.
Go early for peace and quiet
This is the easiest win, especially if you’re hoping to do one of the more popular walks or viewpoints. Get a head start on everyone who is heading in for a day trip by starting early. As a bonus, this also means cooler temperatures (for both you and your dog)!
The only exception to this one is Mam Tor – don’t go for sunrise along with the hundreds of other visitors! Enjoy a relaxed golden hour there instead, or head for a different sunrise spot. The Peak District is full of them, and we’re happy to share our favourite spots with guests.
Go later for golden hour
Late afternoon into evening is underrated in August. The light softens, the hills look gorgeous, and you still have enough daylight to enjoy an adventure.
Even better, most of the day trippers have headed home, so you get some of the best viewpoints all to yourself.
Stay flexible
The best way to really enjoy August in the Peak District is to stay flexible and spontaneous – and this is where having a comfortable base to stay makes all the difference!
Pick your timings based on the day’s weather and don’t over-pack your schedule. If it’s hot, head out early or choose a shady walk rather than an exposed hill. Plan in a pub stop for the hottest point of the day in one of the area’s traditional stone-built village pubs – those thick walls do wonders to keep the heat out!
If there are showers, the day trippers might stay home, so this is your opportunity to head out to a bigger attraction, or sneak in a few walks straight from the door between the rain.
2. Choose small and hyperlocal
Build your days around small places and events that don’t need queuing systems! Think one village, one pub walk, or one event and you’ll have plenty of breathing space.
Do a pub walk
This is one of the nicest “local” ways to spend a summer day and turns a walk into a treat without feeling like an expedition.
Our favourite pub walks from the door (and yes, we've got route maps you can borrow!):
The Old Gate Inn, Brassington
Head over the hills and within 40 minutes you’ve arrived at the Old Gate, a traditional village pub with low beams and thick stone walls. Perfect for summer, it stays cool in the heat and has a large pub garden with views over the village.
The Sycamore, Parwich
For a slightly longer walk, head towards Parwich. An hour and 15 minutes later and you’ll find The Sycamore in the centre of the village. Dog-friendly with a big garden and good food, there’s also a play park on the village green opposite.
Potter around a pretty village
When you’re looking for picturesque places to visit in the Peak District, you might find lots of recommendations for places like Castleton, Tideswell and Hope. And while they’re all pretty places, they’re also very popular and often crowded.
For some quieter options with just as much charm, explore our top 10 prettiest Peak District villages.
Explore the local calendar
Local community events have a different feel – more relaxed, less busy, and just as welcoming to visitors.
Here are some of our personal favourites for this summer. Hopefully we’ll see you there!
Country shows
Yes, Chatsworth Country Fair is the glamorous and well-known option here, but head for one of the smaller local country shows and you’ll get a real insight into local rural life. Enjoy meeting farm animals, displays in the main ring, local shops and stalls, and of course plenty of delicious food (including that all important ice cream).
Our most local is Ashbourne Show on 15th August, but there’s also Manifold Valley Agricultural Show on 8th August, Ashover on 12th August and Hope on 31st August.
Along similar lines but even more unusual, there’s the World Championship Hen Racing in Bonsall on 1st August!
Open gardens
We’re not naturally green-fingered at Hoe Grange, so we’re always in awe of the talented gardeners who open up their garden paradises for visitors. This August, explore Calver, Curbar and Frogatt Hidden Gardens on 1st August, Bradwell Open Gardens on 8th August, and get a sneak peek around the gardens (and inside the hall!) at Tissington Hall on 17th, 24th and 31st August.
Weekends at the summer bar
Our absolute favourite thing to do in the summer is to head to Aldwark Ales summer bar. Only open at weekends, this micro-brewery up the road from Hoe Grange does the best beer – and we promise we’re not being biased! Sit in the sunshine in the farmyard and enjoy the view over the valley, or keep cool (or dry) in the bar.
It’s walking distance from Hoe Grange along some pleasant footpaths and quiet country lanes, so you’ve got plenty of opportunity to sample more than one of the different brews. On August bank holiday weekend, they’ve got music and brewery tours too – a mini festival atmosphere that’s perfect for a low-key summer day out.
Outdoor heritage events
These can get a bit busier with a few more visitors to the area, but with plenty of open space, you won’t feel crowded. We love the Cromford Steam Rally on the first weekend of August, with plenty of fascinating engines to marvel at. Brand new for this year is also the Ashbourne Classic Car Festival on 2nd August, taking place across the town.
3. Make staying in part of the holiday
One of the loveliest things about a summer stay in the Peak District is having somewhere peaceful to come back to. When your base feels calm, comfortable and easy to settle into, there’s no pressure to pack every hour. You can head out for a walk, a village potter or a lazy pub lunch, then come back and properly switch off.
Better still, staying in the area rather than popping in for a day trip gives you the freedom to be more flexible with your timings, a bit more spontaneous, and to support the local visitor economy in a gentler, more sustainable way.
Why self-catering cabins work so well in August
Our spacious log cabins are a lovely fit for August stays. They keep comfortably cool on warmer days, give you plenty of room to spread out, and make easy breakfasts or simple suppers feel part of the holiday. With walks from the door and farm fields to wander, you can have a full, fresh-air day without needing to venture far at all.
Settle into long summer evenings on the farm
One of the nicest parts of an August stay is that the day doesn’t have to end when you get back. Pick up a few local treats as you explore, then ease into the evening with a sharing platter and something cool to drink out on the decking.
If you’re in the mood for a gentle potter, an evening stroll around the farm and a quick hello to the animals is a lovely way to wind down before the light starts to fade.
For something a little different, you can book the pizza oven experience and make supper part of the fun. We provide the oven, the wood, all the equipment, plus fresh homemade dough and passata - you just bring your favourite toppings.
And if you’re staying in Daisybank or Pinder, you can round things off with a soak in the hot tub as the evening air cools.
Ready for an August break in the Peak District?
If an August break in the Peak District sounds like your kind of escape, the simplest way to enjoy it is to follow that easy rhythm: head out a little earlier or later, choose the small local things, then come back to your own space and slow right down.
We’re always happy to help with ideas once you’re here, whether that’s a favourite walk, a quiet village, or the best pub to aim for after an afternoon out.
And if you’re still weighing up dates, it’s worth a quick look at the remaining August availability while there are still a few gaps left.
-Caroline
View our accommodation...
rose hip caravan
swallow pod
skylark pod
hipley log cabin
pinder log cabin
Contact us or book direct online to avoid disappointment
Hoe Grange Holidays Tripadvisor Comments...
- Catboy86
We have just returned from a short stay in one of the pods on site at Hoe Grange Holidays. We couldn’t recommend them enough. The pod has everything you could... read more 
August 17, 2019Jdrichie12 We've just returned from our second visit to Hoe Grange. The suggested riding routes with stunning scenery were enjoyed by my daughter and I while the menfolk were delighted with... read more
July 11, 2019Peachey167 Recently spent a week in "Pinder" and had a lovely time. The location is stunning - the site is nestled in a beautiful valley on the edge of the Peaks... read more
July 16, 2019
