Wildhive Callow Hall, Peak District: A Two-Night Stay
May has been such a wonderful month so far, filled with lots of short but wholesome trips, and I’m excited to share them all properly here on the blog (including lots of photos!) The month began with a stay at a hotel that had been on my list for quite a while now — Wildhive Callow Hall, a beautifully designed countryside hotel just on the edge of the Peak District.
My stay was very kindly gifted but, as always, all opinions are my own. There was no obligation for me to share this blog post, but I genuinely loved my experience and am excited to include the post as part of my new series of UK adventures that can be enjoyed without a car.
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Getting to Wildhive Callow Hall
I love when hotels are accessible by public transport, so this was a big tick for me! Despite the hotel feeling tucked away in the countryside, it’s actually surprisingly easy to reach without a car.
To get to Wildhive Callow Hall by train, we travelled from London St. Pancras to Derby station, which took about 1.5 hours. From there, you can either catch the bus to Ashbourne town (around 30 minutes) followed by a 15-20 min walk to the hotel, or take a short taxi from Ashbourne instead. Alternatively, you can arrange a direct taxi from Derby Station to the hotel, which is what we opted for. The journey took around 30 minutes and cost £30 when pre-booking with Albatross Cars.
Overall, the full journey from London took just over two hours, which makes Wildhive Callow Hall a really ideal option for a countryside escape without needing to drive.
Things to know about your stay at Wildhive Callow Hall
From the moment you arrive at Callow Hall, you feel a real sense of calm. The estate itself is set on 35 acres of woodland, gardens and wildflower meadows, so even staying close to the hotel still feels like an escape into nature. The Peak District hotel is made up of the main house, woodland “hives” and larger woodland treehouses so you have plenty of options on where to stay. We were kindly gifted a stay in a woodland hive so I’ve focused the rest of the review mainly on that experience:
The woodland accommodation is just a short walk (or buggy if you prefer) from the house. They sleep up to 2 people and are secluded woodland bedrooms offering a calm escape, with all the comforts you need for a cosy stay.
You'll find a king-size bed, ensuite rainfall shower, a clever cupboard housing a small kitchenette including stove, fridge and basic crockery.
Each Hive also has an outdoor seating area on your very own deck, which was definitely my favourite space. You feel fully immersed in the trees it’s the perfect place to sit with a coffee, read a book or simply listen to the birdsong around you. You can even order a breakfast hamper to enjoy outside in the mornings too (although I personally thought the cooked breakfast in the restaurant was a lot better).
There is an on-site restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, making it easy to spend most of your time at the hotel if you want a proper switch-off kind of stay. The one downside of the restaurant is they offered limited vegetarian options. Alternatively, you can do a short walk to Ashbourne where there are plenty more options for cafes and restaurants.
Once you’re at the hotel, you can start exploring straight from the hotel. You can do walking or cycling trails straight from the hotel, making it a great base for your Peak District stay!
Things to do near Wildhive Callow Hall
Even if you have a short stay or are travelling without a car, there is plenty you can do:
Explore the hotel estate and wander through the meadows
Grab a coffee or a drink and sit in the hotel’s cosy snug or the outdoor terrace - both have gorgeous views of the countryside and rolling hills
There are plenty of walking and cycling trails you can do straight from the hotel. You can find ideas for trails on AllTrails - for example, we chose to do part of the “Ashbourne North Circular”, a moderate level walk that explores the Derbyshire countryside. You start on the Tissington Trail, with some gentle elevation through the fields, before passing a small village called Mapleton, on your way back to Ashbourne.
The hotel also has a wellness space with treatments, yoga classes and a sauna, which adds to the whole slow countryside escape feeling although this was under renovation during our stay.
If you do plan to stay with a car, you can explore further in the Peak District too. A few ideas include visiting Bakewell, Chatsworth House and Estate or Peak Village for outlet shopping.
If you’re looking for a romantic UK stay, an easy countryside escape from London, or you just love boutique hotels and slow travel, Wildhive Callow Hall is a great option. It’s also ideal if you want easy access to Peak District walks without needing a car, while still feeling completely immersed in nature. It’s the kind of place that encourages you to slow down, switch off and properly enjoy your surroundings!
If you are looking for more UK travel inspiration, follow along on Instagram and TikTok where I share more regularly.
Thanks for reading,
T.
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