The Causeway

Families and couples after a Peak District base will find The Causeway useful—a four-bedroom cottage in the heart of Eyam, where independent shops, tea rooms and a pub are all within yards. Dating back four centuries, the stone building has period features including beamed ceilings and a working multi-fuel stove. One well-behaved dog stays free. The property is yours alone, with parking on the road outside.

Downstairs holds a living room with TV and DVD player, plus a separate kitchen/dining room where you can cook properly or keep meals simple. A toilet completes the ground floor. Upstairs, two bedrooms—one with a double bed, one with two singles—share a bathroom with bath and shower. Essentials like heating, electricity, bed linen, towels and wifi are covered; a travel cot and highchair are available if needed. The small courtyard has garden furniture and a barbecue, though there's a single step down into it.

The Hope Valley and Derwent Valley countryside is on the doorstep for walking or cycling. Bakewell and Buxton lie within 30 minutes' drive, and various historic estates including Chatsworth and Haddon Hall are accessible for day trips. Smoking is not permitted inside.