The Peacock at Rowsley

Rooms

The 15 charming bedrooms vary in size and shape, as befits a 400-year-old building, but all mix antique furniture inherited from Haddon Hall and Belvoir Castle with vivid splashes of colour - perhaps a feature wall in plum or teal, plush velvet armchairs upholstered in magenta, pistachio or burnt orange, or a headboard covered in Ralph Lauren tweed. The beds are big and comfy (although perhaps a little too soft for some), and details abound: lambswool rugs, fluffy cushions, potted orchids, framed portraits. Some rooms also have fireplaces, and those on the top floor have wonderful beams.

There are discreet modern amenities in the form of flat-screen TVs, air-con and good WiFi. You also get tea- and coffee-making kit, hairdryers and a turndown service. Bathrooms are small, but they’re decked out in sleek grey marble, with good lighting, bathrobes, slippers and Penhaligon toiletries; some have walk-in showers, others a tub with an overhead shower.

Standard Doubles have kingsize beds and just enough space to spread out in comfort. Paying a bit more for a Superior Double will get you a super-kingsize bed or a twin room - on our most recent visit we stayed in one these, Room 7, and loved the view of the flower-filled garden at the back of the hotel. There are also a couple of Junior Suites with carved four-poster beds (ideal for special occasions), plus handy single rooms for solo travellers. Top of the range is the Suite, which has a spacious kingsize bedroom, a separate lounge with a sofabed, and an ensuite with a bathtub and walk-in shower.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Central heating
• Coffee / tea making
• Cots available
• Hairdryer
• In-room treatments available
• Radio
• Slippers
• Toiletries
• TV
• WiFi

Eating

Dinner, offered daily except Sunday & Monday, is one of the highlights of any stay here. We loved the combination of its historical setting (complete with sparkling candles and attentive service) alongside an unfussy but delicious cuisine that mixes British ingredients with quirky international influences. There are innovative vegetarian options and a comprehensive wine list, too: it's no surprise that they have garnered 3 AA rosettes.

You can choose between the flexibility of a la carte or the sheer indulgence of a 9-course tasting menu. In both cases, standout dishes include the granola and goat curd mousse starter; the Haddon Estate venison served with Jerusalem artichokes, kale and pommes dauphine in a chocolate (yes, chocolate) sauce; and their signature dessert, a baked Mauritian sugar tart with pears and stem ginger.

Before or after dinner, head to the convivial bar, with its cosy fire, copper counter and a ceramic-tiled Peacock on one wall. It’s often packed with locals, and there are plenty of local ales and fine digestifs to taste.

An extensive breakfast buffet includes pastries, cold meats, cheeses, fruit, yoghurt, juices, cereals, waffles, plus cooked options for an extra charge: perhaps scrambled eggs with salmon, or a traditional Full English. And, if you’re feeling lazy, you can order breakfast in bed until 10.30am.

Features include:

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Room service
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• The Peacock is famous for its 7-mile stretch of fly-fishing along the Wye and Derwent, which attract anglers from all over for their rare wild rainbow trout and unique brown trout. Day tickets and rods are available, and the Haddon Estate's head river-keeper can offer advice
  
• You're perfectly placed for walking in the beautiful Peak District, Britain's first national park. Numerous guided routes are available from reception, and the well-known Pennine Way and Bakewell-Monsal Head trail both start nearby
  
• Head to some of Britain’s finest stately homes – the beautifully preserved and much-filmed Haddon Hall is a mile away; while nearby Chatsworth is surrounded by stunning parkland
  
• Explore ancient villages and charming market towns such as Bakewell and Buxton. Eyam (6 miles away) is particularly pretty and is famous for its 1665 plague outbreak, when villagers quarantined themselves to prevent the disease spreading
  
• Hop on the restored steam train which puffs its way from Rowsley to the county town (and Victorian spa resort) of Matlock
  
• Head a few miles down the A6 to the Derwent Valley, birthplace of the industrial revolution and now a UNESCO World Heritage site. The village of Cromford is home to the world’s first water-powered cotton mill, built by Sir Richard Arkwright in 1771
  
• This is a great area for gourmands, with no fewer than 4 rosettes within 7 miles; Baslow Hall, which has a Michelin star, is a 15-minute drive. Local produce includes the famous Bakewell Tart and Hartington Stilton
  
• If you feel inspired by the Derbyshire landscape, art classes with a local painter can be arranged on request
  
• Play a round of golf at the 9-hole Bakewell Golf Course (10 minutes away) - it has lovely views
  
• There are all sorts of adventure activities to enjoy nearby, too - cycling (bikes are available for hire), horse riding, hot-air ballooning, rock climbing, sailing, pot-holing

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Art classes
• Birdwatching
• Climbing
• Cycling
• Fishing
• Golf
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Horse riding
• Hot air ballooning
• Kayaking
• Mountain biking
• Museums / galleries
• Sailing
• Shopping / markets

Kids

Children of all ages are welcome from Sunday to Thursday, but on Fridays and Saturdays The Peacock is more of a relaxing, grown-up retreat, and only those over the age of 10 are allowed. Extra beds and baby cots are available in the larger rooms for an additional charge, and the Junior Suite has a sofabed in its lounge. There is no menu for kids.

Family friendly accommodation:

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The Peacock is in the small village of Rowsley, halfway between the towns of Matlock and Bakewell, in the Peak District, Derbyshire. It's on the main A6, an hour's drive from Sheffield, Manchester, Nottingham and Derby, with excellent transport links by road and rail.

By Air:
East Midlands and Manchester airports are both 64km (40 miles) away, with links to Europe and beyond. For a list of airlines serving them, click on the links below.

From the Airport
You can hire a car (see below) or, from Manchester airport, catch an indirect train to Chesterfield.

By Train:
Chesterfield station is 20 minutes from Rowsley, with mainline train services from London and many other major UK cities. There is also a station at Matlock, 10 minutes away, with services from Derby and Nottingham. See Seat 61 for more details. You can take a taxi from either station to the hotel, and reception can provide a local bus pass for getting around once you've arrived.

By Car:
Junction 29 of the M1 (Chesterfield) is approximately 20 minutes from Rowsley. If you want to hire a car, see our car rental recommendations. There are outdoor plugs in the car park for guests to charge cars if they bring their own leads.

Detailed directions will be sent when you book through i-escape.com

More on getting to the UK and getting around.