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.
Have you eaten too much turkey this festive season? If – like us here at Hoe Grange - you’re feeling a little overstuffed, maybe it’s time to dig out those walking boots and explore the Peak District on foot.
We’ve done a few winter walks already to help us get more active, lose those extra pounds after Christmas, and start 2020 off in a healthy way.
Walking helps build stamina, is good for your heart, and a study from Harvard has shown it can even boost the immune system. It’s great for your mental health and wellbeing too – it can improve your mood, help you get a better night’s sleep, and reduce anxiety.
Best of all, walking is free –enjoy a winter break in a cosy log cabin, or gorgeous glamping pod at Hoe Grange and you can yomp across the fields and explore the many footpaths - it's like having your very own outdoor gym on the doorstep!
The Derbyshire Peak District has plenty of fabulous walking routes – from easy rambles on surfaced paths to more challenging hikes with strenuous hills. Here are some of our favourites walks.
Explore the history of the area around Hoe Grange Farm and follow our Hoe Grange Time Travellers Trail, over the farm fields and up Royston Grange.
This 8-mile walk is pretty easy-going, largely following The High Peak Trail, green lanes and farm tracks. Parts can still be pretty muddy in the winter though, so boots are definitely a good idea. It's also a great route for cyclists, horse riders and less mobile guests hiring our off-road wheelchairs. Debbie North from Julia Bradbury's The Outdoor Guide has filmed a great video of this Wheel Friendly Walk from Hoe Grange showing some of the amazing views.
This is David's favourite walk! Head over the hill to the local pub for a pie and a pint in front of the roaring fire at The Old Gate Inn.
It’s always good to have an aim and this easy 40-minute walk heads across the fields to the village of Brassington. It’s a great route for families, and The Old Gate Inne serves real ale, fabulous food and welcomes dogs too.
Discover spectacular scenery along the Limestone Way, including iconic Derbyshire limestone walls and undulating dales.
The Limestone Way runs right past Hoe Grange. You can join it there or plan your own route – long or short - using the Rambling Man website. Or explore lots more local walks following nearby sections of The Peak District Boundary Walk.
Sir Richard Arkwright's Cromford Mill is said to be the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and is just a few miles from Hoe Grange. You can explore the visitor centre, and find out how the wig maker made his fortune by patenting the spinning frame powered by water, before taking a walk along the canal.
This 6- or 8-mile route passes through Arkwright’s Mill, the village of Cromford and along the canal.
Hills and Mills Route_12_1218711991 (2)
Visit the market town of Bakewell and tickle your taste buds with an authentic Bakewell Pudding, before walking along the river to Haddon Hall, one of the best examples of a Medieval Manor. During the Edwardian and Victorian eras Haddon Hall remained unlived in and thus avoided the fate of many other historic manors which were "modernised" and extended in a dramatic Gothic style!Rural_Ramble_to_a_Romantic_Hall
Want some more tips on where to go for the best winter walks? Paul of My Guided Walks offers personalised private or group guided walks across Derbyshire and the Peak District countryside. Paul will help with navigation, share his specialist knowledge of the area, and take you to the best spots to catch a glimpse of the rare mountain hares in their natural habitat. [Did you know that mountain hares are only found in the UK in the Highlands of Scotland and the Peak District?]
Paul offers various themed guided tours including the aviation history walk over Bleaklow Moor. Learn about some of the aviation history influenced by this unique landscape including the famous Dambusters of the RAF’s 617 squadron.
Where is your favourite walk?
Our dog friendly log cabins and glamping pods are an ideal base to explore the many wonderful walks here in the Peak District. Tell us your favourite winter walks on social media @HoeGrange
Felicity