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The story behind our double gold (and David’s Unsung Hero moment)
March 25, 2026Archives
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Our seventh time winning gold at the regional awards
Last Wednesday started just like any other day. A mix of emails to answer, laundry to hang on the line, website bits to tweak, and the hands-on jobs that come with looking after a place properly. The only difference was the slightly unusual addition of last-minute getting ready in between it all - like a third coat of nail varnish while the hot tub was filling! All because we were heading to Pride Park Stadium for the Peak District, Derbyshire & Derby Tourism Awards - and we wanted to look suitably glam for once.
By the end of the night, we were on our way home with two gold awards (Accessible & Inclusive Tourism and Regenerative Tourism), and a silver for David in the Unsung Hero category.
It was a genuinely special evening. And it felt even more meaningful because these awards recognise the things we work hardest at, often quietly in the background.
If you fancy a nosy at the photos (and a little story behind what those awards actually mean here on the farm), you’re in the right place. And if it’s reminded you that it’s time for your next visit, you can always have a peek at our availability while you’re here.
The moment our name was called
If you’ve ever been to an awards night, you’ll know the strange mix of excitement and proper nerves when your category comes up.
You’re trying to stay calm. You’re listening carefully. And then, suddenly, you hear the words and it takes a moment for your brain to catch up – or at least mine – David was whooping and cheering before I clocked on!
Then you’ve got to all stand up and do the slightly awkward “walk like a normal person” shuffle to the stage for the photo opp - not once, but three times!
The nicest thing about winning gold for Accessible & Inclusive Tourism and Regenerative Tourism is that these awards are about the things we care about most. Not only “is it a nice place to stay?”, but “is it inclusive?” and “are we looking after this little bit of countryside properly?”
And then, later on, when David was announced as the silver winner for the Unsung Hero award, we all got a bit emotional - he’s really the oil that makes the whole Hoe Grange engine work! (Hoping he'll appreciate the tractor reference here).
Which brings me to the bit I keep coming back to...
Why it matters just as much the seventh time
Did you know this is the seventh time we’ve won gold at the regional tourism awards?
Not seven years in a row. We don’t enter every year. Life is busy, the farm is busy, and sometimes the thought of the application paperwork makes us suddenly find an urgent job in the laundry room.
But when we do enter, we tend to go for the categories that match how we’ve always run Hoe Grange. Accessible tourism and sustainable, regenerative tourism are not bolt-on projects for us. They’re part of the day-to-day.
It’s not really about collecting trophies (although I’m not saying we didn’t have a little celebratory fizz on the night). It’s about someone independent looking at what we do, properly looking, and saying: yes, that effort shows.
And the effort is not glamorous. It’s the constant small decisions that make a place feel comfortable, welcoming, well equipped, and genuinely thought through. It’s the behind-the-scenes graft that most people never see, because the whole point is that you don’t have to think about it when you’re here. You get to arrive, put the kettle on, and enjoy the peace and quiet.
The stories behind the wins
When people ask what it’s like running Hoe Grange, I usually say: no two days are the same, and some days contain about six different jobs before breakfast.
One minute we’re baking bread for the welcome packs. Next minute, someone’s asking a question about a local walk, David’s got a gate that’s decided it no longer believes in hinges, Felicity is making a new curtain, and I’m trying to find a missing bit of kit that has definitely not “walked off on its own” (even though it sometimes feels like it has).
The awards are a lovely headline, but the moments behind them are the real story.
The accessible bits you don’t always see
Lots of our returning guests already know this, but it’s worth saying out loud: we don’t treat accessibility as a tick-box.
People’s needs are different. What works brilliantly for one guest won’t be right for another, so we try to make things as clear and as flexible as we can. And we're always happy to talk things through with you.
Some of the “accessible bits you don’t always see” are very practical:
- Making sure everything is where it should be, and working, before guests arrive.
- Checking equipment, charging what needs charging, replacing batteries, tightening bolts, adjusting small things that make a big difference.
- Moving furniture, rethinking layouts, and doing the boring-but-important checks that mean a holiday feels easy - sometimes as simple as moving the shower head lower down when someone has booked a shower chair.
- Keeping information clear, including our AccessAble Detailed Access Guides, so guests can look at specifics and decide what will work for them.
We also have over 60 pieces of additional accessibility equipment available, from mobile hoists and shower chairs to rise and recline armchairs and pick-up sticks. The point is to take some of the faff out of packing and planning, so it feels more like a break and less like a logistical marathon.
But the bit that makes me proudest is not the equipment itself. It’s when someone arrives looking slightly anxious, and then you see the shoulders relax once they’ve got the key, found everything they need, and realised they can just… enjoy themselves.
That’s the win.
If you'd like to know more about how we make our Peak District holidays accessible for as many people as possible, have a look at our Accessible Holidays webpage.
What does regenerative tourism look like in practice?
“Regenerative tourism” isn’t a phrase many of our guests use in everyday life, and it can sound very conceptual. But in reality, it’s simple.
It’s asking, over and over: how do we do this in a way that looks after the land, supports the future of the farm, the landscape and the local community, and still gives guests a warm, cosy place to stay?
Some of that is the stuff you might notice. The cabins being warm and comfortable. The fact you can recharge your electric car on site. The quiet sense that things are being done thoughtfully.
Some of it is hidden in the background.
We generate a large proportion of our energy on site using renewables, including solar panels, a wind turbine, and heat pumps, and we use renewable technologies to heat the cabins. It’s practical, it reduces our footprint, and it makes good business sense too. Warm cabins that are efficient to run are good for everyone.
Then there are the projects that are slightly nerdy in the best way.
One of my favourite recent examples is the dew pond.
In spring 2025, we worked with the Derbyshire Amphibian & Reptile Group to restore a dried-out dew pond. It’s part habitat creation, part rural heritage, and part “if we don’t look after these features, they disappear.”
The aim was to provide habitat for rare great crested newts and bring the pond back to life using traditional materials and techniques, with a modern liner to help it last. We even built smart fencing around it, low enough to keep cows out (they are not known for their gentle pond-side manners), high enough to let sheep graze.
If you’re the sort of guest who notices birdsong, likes watching the weather roll across the fields, or enjoys spotting little bits of wildlife on a morning wander, biodiversity projects like these make the farm a much more interesting place to stay!
David’s Unsung Hero moment
If you’ve met David, you’ll know he’s usually the one with the grin, the daft joke, and the ability to fix something that really should not be fixable with the tools he happens to have in his pocket.
He is also the person who is here quietly keeping things ticking over in the background.
He’ll be sorting something in the yard early in the morning, answering enquiries (mostly no longer in ALL CAPS, though we’re still working on that), cleaning, fixing, checking, baking bread, looking after cows and sheep, and generally being Mr Get-It-Done.
He is the reason a lot of things feel “seamless” when you stay with us. And seamless is a funny word, because the behind-the-scenes reality is usually the opposite. It’s lots of little moving parts, held together by someone who just quietly gets on with it.
So when Dad was announced as the silver winner in the Unsung Hero category, it was amazing to see that behind-the-scenes work recognised and celebrated.
We joke (only half joking) that if he ever retires, we’ll need at least three people to replace him. One to fix things, one to wander around making everyone feel like they’ve known him for years, and one to do everything else!
All thanks to you
If you’ve stayed with us before, you’ve played a part in this.
Repeat guests are the ones who notice the small improvements. You’re the ones who tell us what made your stay easier, what helped you relax, what you loved, and what would make next time even better.
You’re also the ones who trust us enough to come back, and that matters more than any award ever will.
So thank you. For coming back. For recommending us. For leaving reviews. For chatting to David in reception and laughing at his jokes even when you’ve heard them before.
And if reading this has given you the nudge for another proper break, you know where we are. Have a look at availability on the website or get in touch. We’re always happy to help you find the right fit, so you can arrive to a warm welcome, everything you need, and that lovely feeling of being properly looked after.
-Caroline
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Hoe Grange Holidays Tripadvisor Comments...
- rachelthomas2015
What a lovely weekend away! We stayed in the lovely gypsy caravan, which was a wonderful and really unique experience. We took along our two horses, who also had a... read more 
June 18, 2019Angie B
Lovely place to holiday near to interesting locations and easy access to the High Peak trail and Carsington Water. Part of a working farm with fresh produce to enjoy during... read more
August 3, 2019HelenLCarter We stayed in Skylark, one of the two glamping pods available at Hoe Grange in February 2020.
Felicity & David welcomed us when we arrived to show us around... read more
February 6, 2020