Easy ways to help the bees

  Myself and my sister travelled to Costa Rica and Panama via Viva Holidays Ltd. The holiday was exceptional and one to be treasured forever. Andrew at Viva Holidays... read more listened to my wish list and created a beautiful package. My wish was truly his command.

Whilst in Costa Rica (amongst other areas), we visited Alajuela (one of the coffee regions) and La Paz Waterfall Gardens, also known as Las Cataratas. I was taken aback by the beauty and variety of the wildlife. We were greeted by a huge buffet full of tasty authentic Costa Rican cuisine. Eat well as you will need the energy for a lot of walking and some steep steps to climb at the end!

In Panama one of my most memorable excursions was to the Embera island. If you want to meet one of the seven indigenous tribes of Panama and learn about their history from them, then this is for you. I felt honoured to experience something that I have only ever seen on documentaries over the years. Wear crocs or walking sandals with soles that have good grips on them as you will be walking through muddy terrain and rocks and rivers that could be waist high. Ladies, wear your swimsuit underneath your clothing as you will have the chance to bathe in the river and waterfall before going to the Embera village. More

  We stayed in Rainster cabin for a long weekend 6 th to 9 th September. This was my 5 th visit to the amazing Hoe Grange. I had visited before... read more with my husband who had Multiple Sclerosis and was wheelchair bound. He could not weight bear and had to be hoisted. For many years we did not take holidays as we were apprehensive about leaving our extensively adapted home. The facilities and equipment available at Hoe Grange were fantastic and gave Phil the confidence to enjoy holidays again. Sadly Phil passed away in January this year and having reminisced about our lovely Hoe Grange holidays my family were eager to visit. We were a party of 3 adults and two children aged nearly 4 years and 17 months. This time it was a different kind of stay. I had always viewed Hoe Grange from the accessibility point of view but this time it was a whole new experience. My relatives were blown away by the location and interior design of the cabin. Everything is quality and it is fantastically equipped. The children loved the animals and were delighted by the chickens on the decking and the visiting dogs. The welcome pack was delicious, wonderful home made bread, biscuits, milk etc. They all thought Felicity must be superwoman to do all she does. There were lots of toys for the children and a play area with climbing frame and slide. It's... We stayed in Rainster cabin for a long weekend 6 th to 9 th September.
This was my 5 th visit to the amazing Hoe Grange. I had visited before with my husband who had Multiple Sclerosis and was wheelchair bound. He could not weight bear and had to be hoisted. For many years we did not take holidays as we were apprehensive about leaving our extensively adapted home. The facilities and equipment available at Hoe Grange were fantastic and gave Phil the confidence to enjoy holidays again.
Sadly Phil passed away in January this year and having reminisced about our lovely Hoe Grange holidays my family were eager to visit.
We were a party of 3 adults and two children aged nearly 4 years and 17 months.
This time it was a different kind of stay. I had always viewed Hoe Grange from the accessibility point of view but this time it was a whole new experience.
My relatives were blown away by the location and interior design of the cabin.
Everything is quality and it is fantastically equipped.
The children loved the animals and were delighted by the chickens on the decking and the visiting dogs.
The welcome pack was delicious, wonderful home made bread, biscuits, milk etc.
They all thought Felicity must be superwoman to do all she does.
There were lots of toys for the children and a play area with climbing frame and slide.
It's a perfect base for Carsington Water, Matlock and CBeebies land. All of which we visited.
A new addition was the shop on site, fabulous locally sourced produce and interesting gifts.
We did not want to come home and will return next year.
One further example of David and Felicity going the extra mile was their search for a precious teddy bear who we had left behind( lucky him he got a few extra days stay).
He was found and posted home in his own little bed labelled " Handle with Bear". Typical Of the lovely couple that David and Felicity are.
I felt I had returned to see old friends and my family loved it.
I saw Hoe Grange from a new perspective as a brilliant place for a family holiday.
We will be back. Thank you. More

  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 your stay. Very relaxing and enjoyable holiday.

  We love this place. Very wheelchair friendly, really well equipped and comfortable, with easy access by car to lots of places of interest particularly Crich Tramway Village, Chatsworth, Bakewell and... read more Carsington Water. Whatever the time of year it is a great place to stay.

  We spent four nights at Hoe Grange and had a lovely time. The location is fantastic and right next to the High Peak Trail. The cabin was very clean and... read more really well equipped. Thoughtful extras like the homemade bread, coffee, tea, eggs and biscuits plus cleaning products and lovely toiletries really added to the experience.

Though the weather was a little damp on occasion we were very happy to sit and watch the horses, cows, chickens and pygmy goats do their thing.

Though we had no need to use it there is farm shop where you can pick up essentials on a trust basis (you pay at the end of your stay for anything you use)

There is also a secure lock-up for bikes or you can borrow one. We used the hot tub one night and hot it was! Lovely after a 15 mile walk.

Felicity and David were very welcoming hosts and we couldn’t recommend the whole experience enough. 5 stars without a doubt.

We thoroughly enjoyed our time, so much so that there was a tear in my partners eye as we drove away. We will most definitely be back. More

  Second visit to the accessible holiday cabins at Hoe Grange. David and Felicity were as helpful and friendly as ever. We had a welcome pack of freshly baked bread, butter,... read more milk and home baked cookies. In terms of kit, we had a profile bed, a wet room, commode, shower chair, a perching stool, bed rail, riser recliner chair, raised toilet seat, adjustable sink, etc. In addition, we booked the wonderful Boma off-road wheelchair for an afternoon - it was a delight to see my sister bombing (no pun intended) off under her own steam along the High Peak Trail while we jogged along trying to keep up with her! Fantastic accessible holiday accommodation, excellent hosts. More

  What a wonderful find. As our first experience of needing accessible accommodation we could not have wished for better. Beautiful well equipped lodges in lovely surroundings. We stayed in both... read more Hipley and Daisybank with the lovely hot tub perfect for looking at the starry sky. The off road buggy devoured the terrain and made exploring the area a delight. David and Felicity were welcoming and always helpful allowing us to arrive early. As the next guests cancelled due to the corona virus they allowed us to depart late as well. Can't wait to visit again.

  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 the local fishing. Our dogs had fun exploring the countryside and near-by towns.
Thank you David and Felicity - you made us so welcome and your log cabin and Rosehip caravan provided the perfect home for a week.

  We stayed in Pinder cabin and had a lovely stay, the cabin was spacious and comfortable, nice and warm after cold days out. The children loved meeting the animals and... read more the little play area outside the cabin. We really appreciated the toys in the living area which kept them busy! Kitchen was very well equipped. Good homemade bread and gorgeous cookies on arrival. Beautiful area with plenty to do.

  A beautiful place to stay! Amazingly run family business! Everyone were very welcoming, friendly and cozy! The skylark pod we stayed in was very clean, cozy and well equipped! The... read more little goats also made it for me! So very cute! Would highly recommend!

  Another great holiday at Hoe Grange - such a great place for us all to holiday as a family - this time with a baby, a 3 yr old, a... read more dog and my mother in law in a wheelchair! 5 ️ for accommodating all our needs. The play area was perfect for our little ones as was saying hello to all the animals! Such a picturesque setting which hills all around. Everything is to a high standard, very homely too, with everything you need for a great stay incl highchair etc and additional disability related kit. Thanks. More

  For the second year running, we have had a great family holiday at Hoe Grange. We had one cabin for the week, for two sisters and our elderly wheelchair-using... read more mother and two other cabins for the weekend for the rest of the family. Altogether, ages ranged from 10 to 89. Having the right facilities (accessible bathroom, dining chair with arms etc) makes all the difference to taking our mother away but it still feels like a proper holiday, not a care home. Comfortable beds, good facilities, lovely views - all good. I'd definitely recommend (and have to others already).

  lovely surroundings real farm country with chickens paying you a visit nice decking area to chill at the end of the day accommodation very good plenty to do nearby... read more Chatsworth house quite close, excellent hosts there if needed. seriously considering another visit next year

  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 need. The welcome pack with milk, fresh bread, home cooked biscuits, coffee etc was also a lovely touch. We also paid for a fire starter kit which was ready for us on arrival. We had our cocker spaniel with us too and he soon made friends with the local animals. The views and being away from any busy, noisy roads made for a very relaxing stay. The owners were away during our stay but they made sure that someone was on hand if we needed anything. There is also plenty to see and do in the surrounding area. We also visited both ilam Park and Bakewell during our stay. More

  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 (it's next to the High Peak trail). The cabin was clean and really well equipped (including lots of toys & games for children). On site there was a little 'farm shop' where you can pick up essentials and a secure lock-up for bikes (which we'll take next time). Our 2 (almost 3) year old loved it - the play area, seeing the tractor at work (it's an active farm) and feeding the animals (chickens, dogs, goats, horses, cows, sheep are all there). Felicity and David are very welcoming hosts - they made us feel very welcome and were great with our son. A very big thumbs up! More

  Stayed last week, from 6th to 13th September in the log cabin called Hipley. This was amazing, it was our first visit but certainly not our last. Gold standard disability... read more facilities for my husband who has Multiple Sclerosis. Can not fault it. It was superb. David and Felicity arranged all the modifications we asked for before we arrived which was excellent. The cabin is amazingly equipped with everything you could want and as a cook, I loved this.With beautiful countryside views and plenty to do near by we had a great week. I cannot recommend them highly enough. The week was amazing, the accommodation superb and we return happy and refreshed. Thank you so much. More

  We love this place. Very wheelchair friendly, really well equipped and comfortable, with easy access by car to lots of places of interest particularly Crich Tramway Village, Chatsworth, Bakewell and... read more Carsington Water. Whatever the time of year it is a great place to stay.

  What can I say?
Absolutely superb!
We have just returned from a family weekend staying in Daisybank cabin and the Skylark pod.
It was our first trip away with my... read more husband who is wheelchair bound and severely disabled and were naturally apprehensive but all worries disappeared from the moment we arrived!
Everything was just perfect for both his needs and the rest of the family travelling with us.
All the equipment we had pre-booked was in place and the cabin itself was brilliantly designed to enable easy wheelchair access to all areas.
As well as being spotlessly clean and comfortable there were so many ‘little touches’ that really made it a ‘home from home’.
We had a fantastic weekend - our only regret being that we hadn’t booked for longer!
Thank you so much Felicity and David for providing such high quality accommodation for ALL your guests - both able bodied and disabled.
We will definitely be back again!
Trisha Cannon

  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 the place. The Skylark pod was excellent, very well equipped for a small space with a lovely welcome pack including milk, bread, cookies and freshly laid eggs.
It was was warm and comfortable inside with enough storage & wall hooks for hanging outerwear. The bathroom was a good size with a large shower.
The kitchen was really well equipped with everything you could possibly need (and more!) for your stay.

We had booked the use of the Swedish hot tub for the evening which was beautiful & hot (having taken many hours of tending to by David to bring it up to optimum temperature) in the windy February weather. We were lucky to get a clear sky so to enjoy the hot tub under the moon and stars on a random Monday night in February was a real treat!

Thank you so much for a wonderful experience, we will definitely visit again! More

  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 fantastic time - so much so, they were reluctant to load into the trailer to come home. I think they wanted to stay!!

The stables and accommodation were very clean and tidy and the paddocks were lovely. The riding around the area was a horse riders dream - we hardly saw a car!

Highly recommend this place for anyone looking for a relaxing weekend.

Rachel and Mike

  Felicity and David made us feel very welcome right from our booking. The pods are well equipped and spotlessly clean. The area is very peaceful with great views and we... read more really liked the direct access on to the high peak trail. We also had lovely neighbors - goats and chickens!

We were welcomed with fresh eggs, homemade bread and cookies which were delicious. We also booked the hot tub experience for the evening which I would recommend - the hot tub is filled with fresh water and the area decorated with candles. It was a clear night and so we had a great view of the stars above.

We both left feeling relaxed and stopped off in Brassington for a pub lunch on the way home! More

  We stayed in the Skylark pod last October (2018) and had a lovely time. There was homemade, rustic goods (bread, biscuits etc) when we arrived. Felicity and David who run... read more the business were very hospitable and even let us borrow their bikes to go exploring! Equally, we felt that they were near enough for help but trusted guests on their beautiful farm. A stunning part of the country and lots of places to explore. The facilities were great and we loved waking up to the horses, ducks and chickens greeting us. So sweet! More

  We stayed for a night in one of the cabins . The cabin was spotless and very well equipped , lots of extra touches were added like fresh eggs and... read more bread . The views around the cabin were breathtaking and it was so peaceful . Felicity was very welcoming and allowed to to have a late check out as no body was due to come into the cabin the day after us which was very appreciated . We would highly recommend a stay here !

  It's been three years since we last visited but once we arrived it certainly didn't feel like it!
We stayed in Hipley again which had had a refurbished wet... read more room which looked very smart! Once again, we had everything we needed on site for my husband who is quadriplegic meaning for a change, we travelled light. A rare occurrence. Hoist, shower chair and a profiling bed all awaiting our arrival. Unfortunately the weather wasn't quite as good as three years ago but we dodges the showers. Felicity and David are fabulous hosts and ensure you have everything you need to make sure your stay is relaxed and stress free. I wouldn't hesitate in recommending a holiday here. The scenery is beautiful and the sky at night.. well it twinkles More

  Loved every minute of our stay, and so did the family and friends that came to stay. Excellent facilities in our cosy Hipley log cabin. By far the best... read more accommodation I have come across as a disabled holiday maker.
David and Felicity are very friendly and helpful hosts, and this part of the Peak District is beautiful. Loved our visit to the pub (Ye Olde Gate) on the other side of the hill, with its excellent food and Pedigree beer!

  Arrived and was shown to our pod, fantastic location and the pod was very good indeed plus we had home made bread and milk and tea and coffee. A... read more fantastic stay and I’m sure we will repeat in the near future. Hoe grange is located in beautiful country side so if you want to chill and relax this is the place to come.

  On arriving at Hoe Grange in a downpour, we doubted if we’d made the right decision to go glamping, but after the warm welcome from David and a quick tour,... read more we settled in to our pod with our dog, Monty. It was so comfortable and well equipped with a bathroom bigger that some hotels we’d stayed in. Thoughtful extras like the homemade bread (still warm) and biscuits plus lovely toiletries really added to the glamping experience. The weather was a little damp but we were quite happy to sit and watch the horses, cows and sheep, or the pigmy goats next to the pod. The farm shop had a lovely selection of local products too. All in all a really wonderful few days in very comfortable surroundings and with good walks on the doorstep. More

  We had a lovely time staying in one of the incredibly well equipped pods. I bought my pony along and we had some great rides on the high peak trail.... read more Everything has been well thought out in the pods and everything is of the highest standard. Wonderfully central for enjoying the surrounding attractions. So peaceful. Will be returning f9r another stay soon.

  We wanted a complete break and some peace and quiet and this was perfect. The caravan was secluded with beautiful views over the countryside. Everything was spotlessly clean and well... read more equipped. I thought we might not have enough room in the little bed but we both had the best nights sleep ever. David and Felicity were helpful and recommended a great walk from the doorstep that they had plotted taking in some local history. Hoe Grange is a working farm and it was lovely seeing the new born lambs and free range chickens wondering around. Perfect weekend and I highly recommend!