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.
The UK’s most inclusive farm stay: As seen in the Sunday Times!
September 8, 2024Archives
Order
Behind the scenes of our glowing Sunday Times review
Making headlines: Hoe Grange Holidays's star moment
"All farms are equal, but some are more equal than others."
We are beyond excited to share that Hoe Grange Holidays has been featured in The Sunday Times this weekend! Honestly, we're still pinching ourselves – it’s not every day a small family-run business like ours makes national headlines.
The piece in the Travel section highlights our dedication to providing accessible holidays, calling our log cabins "the UK's most inclusive farm stay".
Journalist Ben Aitken and his friend Anthony came to stay for a short break in Daisybank cabin in June, and have shared their experiences with a good deal of humour in this weekend's paper (the piece starts by comparing a moment in the hot tub to the time when Michael Portillo admired Ben's hot pink trousers).
So we thought we'd share our side of the story too!
So how did we end up in the national papers?
It all started with our big win earlier this year at the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, where we were chuffed to receive the Gold Award for Accessible & Inclusive Tourism.

I'll admit it, I hate putting myself out there in a glitzy, glamorous setting like an awards ceremony - I'd much rather be chatting to our guests, spending time with the animals or walking through the fields and up the High Peak Trail. But in the spirit of networking (and perhaps after a glass or two of celebratory bubbly), I struck up conversation with some fascinating people.

One of the other trophies up for grabs was the Travel Content Award. I ended up chatting to the silver award-winner, Liz Edwards of The Times who had written a piece on swimming in the Thames, and separately Anthony, wheelchair user and friend of Ben Aitken, the gold award-winner for his article on Miles without Stiles in the Lake District. I came away clutching Liz's business card like another trophy - one I hoped would help us spread the word about our accessible holidays.
I reached out to Liz a few days later to pitch a story with a quote from one of our guests. She emailed almost straight back to say she had been thinking about Hoe Grange, and wanted to commission Ben and Anthony to write about us instead! Ben's previous piece is an amusing and joyful take on accessible travel in the Lake District that really brings their friendship to life, and Anthony had seemed lovely at the award ceremony, so we were looking forward to welcoming them for a visit.
After a few emails back and forth, we found some dates that worked for everyone, and got them booked in.
Image credit: VisitBritain and Kevin Moran
First impressions count: preparing to host a journalist!
We were so excited to host a journalist for a national paper like The Sunday Times, but also quietly terrified – would they love Hoe Grange as much as we do?
Determined they would have an authentic experience, we didn't put any extra special effort into preparations for their visit. (We pride ourselves on our attention to detail, so we would have struggled to find anything extra anyway...)

The only concession we made to this being a VIP visit was that Felicity (queen of the laundry) made sure that her absolute favourite bedding was on the beds - because, you know, it's all in the little touches...
We treated them like all of our wonderful guests, sharing tips in advance on things to do and how to get here, sourcing local produce, showing them around the farm and sharing all our eco-friendly practices.
Anthony seemed to love bombing about the farm in his electric wheelchair with the enthusiasm of a kid on Christmas morning. Throughout the week, we'd be sat working in reception and he'd whizz past out of nowhere on his way to see the goats or say hello to the cats, grinning ear to ear.
A visit to the farm to remember
The week that Ben and Anthony came to stay was memorable for another reason. Our pygmy goats were heavily pregnant and due any day. Anthony had become firm friends with them after joining in at feeding time.
One afternoon after lunch, David went to check on the pregnant goats in the field near the cabins and shouted for help. Raspberry had already given birth to one baby and her second kid was stuck, with only her tiny feet showing out of the birth canal. I raced to his aid, but his shouts had caught the attention of Ben and Anthony too, who'd been enjoying a drink on the cabin decking.
The next minute, Ben and Anthony were watching the twins take their very first wobbly steps in the world - talk about an unforgettable farm experience! It had us all completely captivated, and even old hat Farmer David was enjoying the magic of the moment. We couldn't have planned that better if we'd tried - thanks Raspberry (yes, you can have some extra treats for such a well-timed delivery!)
Once the twins had bonded with mamma goat, Anthony also had the honour of being the first guest to have a baby goat cuddle, starting their training as Guest Entertainment Officers early. The twins and their mum are both doing well and continuing to delight guests with their bouncy antics in the field.
What makes us special: Highlights from The Sunday Times feature
"This corner of Derbyshire has it all, and it has it all for everyone."
Reading the paper this morning as a family over the breakfast table, there might have been a few happy tears shed, as well as a giggle or two at Ben's turn of phrase. He certainly has a talent for bringing his friendship with Anthony to life (though Anthony definitely has the best lines)!
Seeing our hard work and love for Hoe Grange reflected in print is a feeling that’s hard to describe. The fact that The Sunday Times called us "a top-notch getaway whatever your needs" has us beaming with pride.
What's next for Hoe Grange Holidays?
We are very lucky to live in such a spectacular landscape and we're passionate about sharing it with guests like you. We're hoping that this The Sunday Times article will help spread the word about our accessible log cabins so that even more people with disabilities can enjoy the magic of a Peak District adventure.
We've recently been accredited as both Autism-Friendly and Dementia-Inclusive too, and we'll continue to explore how we can provide the best experience for people with different needs. If you've been to stay before and have any suggestions, we'd love to hear from you!
Feeling inspired? Book your accessible stay at Hoe Grange now!
We couldn't be more thrilled with our feature in The Sunday Times - you can read the full article online, or pick up a copy this weekend.
Feeling inspired by Ben and Anthony's antics? Now is the perfect time to plan your own countryside escape with us. Whether you're looking for a peaceful autumn break or hoping to witness your own live births on the farm (hint: go for April or May for baby lambs!), we're ready to welcome you.
Check out our facilities and equipment, explore accessible days out, or discover our local Changing Places map.
Don't miss out, book your stay today!
- Caroline







"This corner of Derbyshire has it all, and it has it all for everyone."
