Browse some of the hottest cottages near Matlock, including dog-friendly and family-friendly options.
Matlock wears many guises: a market town, a spa town, a foodie haven and finally, a key gateway into the slopes of the Peak District National Park.
Located in the southeast of the Peak District National Park in Derbyshire, England, Matlock was a spa destination specialising in hydrotherapy in its 19th-century heyday. Since then, it has become almost synonymous with bustling market days, steam train trips on the Peak Rail and a peaceful riverside location ideal for simple relaxation.
Base yourself in the bustling town of Matlock in the Derwent Valley to open up a world of Peak District adventures, whether that’s hiking over the Heights of Abraham Gorge in the Derbyshire village of Matlock Bath, gliding along the High Peak Trail on a bicycle or picnicking in the romantic grounds of Chatsworth House. The surrounding Derwent Valley and its historic cotton mills are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, adding to the romance of the destination. Whether you spend your time in the Derbyshire Dales or taking in Matlock’s lovely local walks, Victorian buildings and the river Derwent, cottages in the Peak District are the perfect base.
10 Cottages Near Matlock for Your Dream Self-Catering Holiday:
1. Eastview (Matlock, Peak District National Park)
2. Riber View (Matlock, Peak District National Park)
3. 69 Wellington Street (Matlock, Peak District National Park)
4. Otter’s Retreat (Macclesfield, Peak District National Park)
5. 3 Sunnyside Terrace (Matlock, Peak District National Park)
6. 8 Tawney House (Matlock, Peak District National Park)
7. Arlington House (Matlock, Peak District National Park)
8. 34 Church Street (Matlock, Peak District National Park)
9. Shepherd’s Crook (Macclesfield, Peak District National Park)
10. Kirkham House (Matlock Bath, Peak District National Park)
Eastview
Location: Matlock, Peak District National Park
Best for: A six-person holiday cottage in Matlock with a designated chef
With a designated chef and a peaceful front courtyard equipped with a summerhouse, Eastview is a cosy introduction to the Derbyshire Dales. The location is absolutely beautiful too, positioned just a short walk from Bentley Brook on the outskirts of Matlock and a short drive from Matlock Bath. Being based directly in the market town has its perks: namely, easy access to inventive eateries and the town’s weekly market, as well as easy access to family-friendly Peak District attractions such as Matlock Farm Park or the Hilltop Estate, which is connected to the town by cable cars.
Equipped with three bedrooms, Eastview easily fits a family of six. Spend a lazy evening in the grand sitting room, allowing the chef to do the honours of cooking, or gather around the seating in the outdoor space. It’s likely you’ll spend lots of time outdoors, whether it’s dealing out playing cards in the summerhouse or taking an afternoon aperitif around the round, wooden table.
Facilities: Pint-sized family members are well-catered to at Eastview, as the property has a highchair and a cot available. Bike storage and off-road parking mean that the beautiful countryside is your oyster, whether you’re driving to a local Peak District trailhead or setting off down country lanes on two wheels. There’s a fully equipped kitchen provided, making it easy for you to put together a pretty picnic for lunchtime. The kitchen includes equipment such as an electric oven and a gas hob, a microwave, a fridge-freezer, a washing machine and a dishwasher. Pair these handy facilities with a minimalistic, soft aesthetic and mahogany-style furniture with plenty of character, and you have a fantastic Matlock getaway in store.
Riber View
Location: Matlock, Peak District National Park
Best for: A traditional stone cottage with views over the Derbyshire Dales
When you envision a cottage getaway, is it a compact, stone cottage that springs to mind? If so, Riber View will most definitely meet your expectations. The long, narrow backyard has a picket fence overlooking the Derbyshire Dales, and the holiday home has a traditional atmosphere overall. The classic theme continues into the interior, where there are beds backed by exposed stone walls and a living room with a large fireplace dedicated to a woodburning stove.
The two-bedroom cottage is dog friendly too, meaning that your dog can curl up on the mat by your feet in the evening. They’re just as likely to appreciate the lovely location as the humans. The surrounding area is packed with country trails, and the centre of Matlock, with all of its amenities and historical sites, is within easy walking distance of the cottage. Take the short walk to the Bentley Brook Brewery, and cheers to your quaint cottage holiday over a locally-brewed beer, perhaps.
Facilities: Riber View may be a pretty Victorian cottage, but it isn’t at all short on mod cons. The spacious rooms have plush beds, and this includes the super kingsize bedroom, which also has a stone wall, views over Riber Castle and an en suite accessible by steps. The open-plan kitchen has all you’ll need for easy or complex eats, including an electric oven and hob, a fridge-freezer, dishwasher and a TV with Freeview. Stoke the woodburner when you retire to the living room, and warm your cockles by the fire.
69 Wellington Street
Location: Matlock, Peak District National Park
Best for: A dog-friendly Victorian holiday home
Homely, dog-friendly and based on the outskirts of Matlock, 69 Wellington Street is one of those holiday cottages that’s likely to get snatched up quickly. As a semi-detached Victorian home, 69 Wellington has a set of spacious bedrooms, including bay windows and fireplaces in some of the rooms and the bathroom. The property has an old-world feel. However, this is paired seamlessly with modern comforts such as a double gas oven, a walk-in shower, a study and a courtyard.
The cherry on top? Beauty spots are not far away from 69 Wellington Street. Based in the north of Matlock, the holiday home is an easy five-minute drive from the Derbyshire village of Matlock Bath. The grand Chatsworth House, which is one of the Peak District’s grandest and most historical attractions, is also accessible within 20 minutes’ drive of the property. In keeping with the home’s dog-friendly status, there is also easy access to a multitude of Peak District trails over old railway lines, deep-cut valleys and dales.
Facilities: 69 Wellington Street matches stunning scenery with a wide range of home comforts. This begins with the four bedrooms, which have views over the hills around Matlock, and continues into its range of family-friendly facilities. Children are accommodated with an Xbox 360 console, travel cot, highchair and a stairgate. The kingsize bedroom has its own ensuite shower, helping to avoid any unnecessary queues first thing in the morning. Out of the window, the views that might accompany your morning cuppa include Matlock and Riber Castle.
Otter’s Retreat
Location: Macclesfield, Peak District National Park
Best for: A family-friendly retreat surrounded by 30 acres of private rural grounds
Matlock and Matlock Bath both make excellent bases for getaways in the Peak District. One cottage that might help you make your big break into the slopes is Otter’s Retreat. The lovely cottage is based between Wincle and Danebridge and is set within 30 acres of private rural grounds, which feature a river and plenty of picnicking spots. As a base in the west of the national park, the retreat is ideally located for visiting Buxton and Poole’s Cavern, as well as tackling the Tissington Trail over old railway tunnels and past the pretty Chee Dale.
If one of your non-negotiable holiday activities is biking over designated trails and hilly country lanes in the Peak District, the property has a large bike storage area. So, rise and shine with a mug of coffee brewed using the coffee machine, and then wake yourself up with a quick stroll around the owner’s grounds. Stop by the local family-friendly pub or a local brewery for a midday activity, before heading onto Buxton, Bakewell or Matlock. The latter, Matlock, is under a 50 minutes’ drive away.
Facilities: If you’re visiting the Peak District with a family of three or four, this two-bedroom cottage will do the trick for a relaxing Peak District break. Small families can tuck into a cooked breakfast on the patio. You may decide to save the brick-built barbecue for later in the evening, or pop a few sausages on the grill first thing. The bedrooms have stunning views over the Wincle countryside, while the sitting area is placed around a huge inglenook fireplace with a cosy logburner. If you’re planning a good-quality games evening, the dining room is fitted out with a large table and benches, where games are handily already provided. Some of the best features in the kitchen include a coffee machine, radio, kettle and built-in microwave too.
3 Sunnyside Terrace
Location: Matlock, Peak District National Park
Best for: A Matlock cottage with a hot tub
Take time out in the semi-detached Matlock home called 3 Sunnyside Terrace. Mornings are definitely delivered sunny side up at this property. There’s a roomy garden, which has a hot tub for anyone wanting to undertake a morning soak, and there’s also a set of walking trails available directly from the doorstep with views over the green Matlock basin. There’s nothing missing from the lovely cottage for those who have been searching for an authentic holiday cottage. The original beams remain in the property, and there are exposed stone walls in the bathroom, the conservatory and the living room.
3 Sunnyside Terrace is situated a short walk from the centre of Matlock, so it’s tucked out of the action but still within walking distance of local amenities such as shops, eateries and Hall Leys Park. If that’s not enough entertainment already, the cottage is also a short drive from family-friendly attractions such as Gulliver’s Kingdom, the Matlock Bath Aquarium and the lovely garden and grounds at Chatsworth House.
Facilities: Rise and shine with a full breakfast prepared in the kitchen diner. There’s a dishwasher and a washing machine, so you can skip scrubbing up dishes or dirty garments. In the sitting room, switch on the smart TV to quickly catch up on one of your favourite television programmes before tackling a local trail: the Lovers’ Walks along the river Derwent, perhaps? No matter how far your limbs take you, you’ll have the pleasure of retreating into the outdoor hot tub upon your return. Tucked under a wooden shelter, the hot tub is accessible whatever the weather. Afterwards, you’ll be just as cosy beside the woodburning stove in the living room as you were in the hot bubbles.
8 Tawney House
Location: Matlock, Peak District National Park
Best for: A central Matlock apartment with an outdoor terrace
A short stroll from the River Derwent, 8 Tawney House is a bright and airy apartment well-situated for visiting Matlock, Bakewell, Carsington Water, Chatsworth House and a host of other acclaimed Peak District locations. Located on the first floor, the flat has views of Riber Castle and Matlock’s church. They’re best taken in from the outdoor terrace, which is a sun trap decked out with rattan furniture and a glass-topped rattan table.
The stairs from the courtyard descend down to the parking area, so pack the car full of any hiking gear you might need before taking on local Peak District trails such as Stanage Edge, Mam Tor and The Limestone Way. There are country pubs, restaurants and shops within walking distance of the family-friendly apartment, making it easy to find somewhere down-to-earth or country-themed to eat out.
Facilities: Take up the off-road parking space outside of 8 Tawney House, and bundle the family of four into the two-bedroom cottage. The beds at your disposal include a double and a small single with a pull-out bed. A roomy modern kitchen is fully equipped with a gas hob, electric oven, microwave, fridge, freezer and dishwasher, along with a set of books, games and DVDs should you need some simple entertainment in the evening.
Arlington House
Location: Matlock, Peak District National Park
Best for: A large holiday home with a steam room and games room
Arlington House is ideal for those who are in need of a large holiday home in the Peak District. There are four floors across the six-bedroom cottage, which means that groups of 16 are well-catered to, whether they’re arriving for a long or a short break in Matlock. That could be the whole family, work friends or a big reunion for extended friends involving dining on local Peak District produce, hiking or visiting caves, dales and gorges. As a Victorian townhouse with a patio, a games room and a huge, well-equipped kitchen, there’s little missing to entertain large groups.
It’s very unusual to find such a roomy cottage in the centre of Matlock. The Loft theatre is just a few minutes’ stroll away from the property, along with the Hall Leys Park perched on the river Derwent and a series of quaint tea rooms, shops and waterside bars. Take the cable car over the Derwent Valley and up to the Heights of Abraham, a hilltop park with fossils, caves and hiking trails.
Facilities: With a spa town as your base, relaxing should be easy enough on Arlington House’s patio terrace, which has a picnic bench, a wooden table and chairs and a steam room. The open-plan games room is just as handy, equipped with a pool table and table football as well as a small kitchen unit ready for quick drinks or cocktails. Naturally, the full-sized kitchen has a full set of appliances fit for a feast, including an electric range cooker, a dishwasher and a fridge. There are nine bathrooms shared between the eight bedrooms too.
34 Church Street
Location: Matlock, Peak District National Park
Best for: A cosy stone-built cottage in southeast Matlock
Located in the southeast of Matlock, 34 Church Street is a stone-built cottage which practically oozes with charm. It has two bedrooms and one bathroom, accommodating a total of three people. The cottage is packed with creature comforts such as a woodburner, wifi and a gravelled garden which slopes down towards a river. Just as you’d expect from a stone-built end-terrace cottage in Matlock, the original exposed walls are still intact, along with atmospheric overhead beams.
Roll your bicycles out of the locked storage shed, and pedal into the historic town centre. You might want to cycle all the way to Carsington Water or take the quick 10-minute pedal down to Matlock Bath. Without wheels, you could take a hike to the Lumsdale Waterfall or embark on a pub tour to sample the town’s local real ales. Whether you’re tipsy or tired upon your return, there’s a comfy rainfall shower and cosy bedrooms to unwind in.
Facilities: If you’re planning a meal fit for a feast, waste no time getting acquainted with the fully-equipped kitchen facilities at 34 Church Street. Facilities at your disposal include an electric oven and gas hob, microwave, fridge, freezer and a washing machine. In terms of tech, the cottage has two smart TVs with Freeview, a DVD player and wifi – more than enough for just a family of three. There’s roadside parking, another huge benefit for a cottage based in such a busy Peak District town. You might spend a large portion of your time, however, in the sheltered garden. The raised terrace is surrounded by green trees, and there’s a brook slithering past the bottom of the garden.
Shepherd’s Crook
Location: Macclesfield, Peak District National Park
Best for: A self-catering shepherd’s hut in a bluebell wood
Sometimes you want something a little different than a standard holiday cottage. Shepherd’s Crook is just that: a self-catering shepherd’s hut set in a bluebell wood with its own summerhouse, barbecue and firepit. Based in Wincle in the southwest of the national park, it’s located a 50-minute drive from Matlock, and it’s very well-situated for hikes over The Roaches, Bearstone Rock and the Blake Mere Mermaid Pool.
Buxton is also a 20-minute drive from Shepherd’s Crook, so your biggest dilemma might be whether to tuck into the produce in the town’s tearooms and country inns or to set about sizzling sausages over the barbecue and firepit provided at your base. As holiday cottages in the Peak District National Park go, Shepherd’s Crook is particularly peaceful. The shepherd’s hut has a bluebell wood to itself and views over the Roaches and the Dane Valley.
Facilities: Take a glass of tipple to the summerhouse, ready to watch nature’s daily light show over the Dane Valley. There’s an ensuite bathroom with a shower if you need to freshen up before dinner, and if you’re not feeling like a flame-grilled dinner one evening, there’s also a small kitchen with a built-in microwave oven, hob and fridge to fall back on. You could even spread out a picnic blanket over the grass – that’s if you haven’t already plated up something on the outdoor furniture, which has a parasol for cover in case of a light shower.
Kirkham House
Location: Matlock Bath, Peak District National Park
Best for: A pet-friendly Victorian townhouse in Matlock Bath
Tucked off the side of a cosy Matlock Bath street, Kirkham House is a pet-friendly Victorian townhouse suitable for eight people. The four-bedroom property is located just across from the village’s north parade, and it has a south-facing terrace slotted onto a slope with views over the town from the outdoor dining table. The hot tub is the icing on the cake, as all eight guests can take turns enjoying the warm, relaxing waters following their days out exploring the Peak District.
The setting of Kirkham House is just as attractive as the townhouse itself. Matlock Bath was one of the first tourist destinations in the Peak District, dubbed ‘little Switzerland’ by the poet Lord Byron. Things to do include taking a cable car to the Heights of Abraham, hiking around Minninglow or having a family-friendly day out at Gulliver’s Kingdom.
Facilities: Despite being off a small side road and just moments away from Matlock Bath’s north parade, Kirkham House has a private garage with room for one medium-sized family car. Unload any shopping into the slim, dainty kitchen, which has a Sonos sound system for those who like to blast feel-good songs while they’re doing the cooking. The three double bedrooms share a bathroom, where there’s the option of taking a bath or using the walk-in shower. There’s also an en suite attached to the stand-alone studio, which is equipped with a bunk bed ideal for teens. Whether you’re dining alfresco or gathering around the corner sofa and the smart TV in the open-plan living space, there are plenty of ways to spend real quality time with your family.
Book Your Next Unforgettable Getaway with Breakfree Holidays
If none of the above properties are quite your cup of tea, or you’re still deciding where exactly to base yourself, Breakfree Holidays has a wide selection of cottages in the Peak District for you to explore. There are options suitable for families, dog owners and larger groups. Don’t let the moment pass you by. Start making more amazing memories with Breakfree Holidays today!
Some of the images in this blog post have been provided by Sykes Cottages.