Bay Tree Lodge

Couples and small families will find Bay Tree Lodge works well as a base for a few nights away. The property sleeps four across two bedrooms—a king in the main room and two singles in the second—each with its own ensuite bathroom. Everything sits on the ground floor, arranged around a central open-plan kitchen, living and dining space with doors onto a veranda overlooking the marina. The kitchen is fully equipped for self-catering, and heating, electricity, bed linen, towels and wifi are all included.

The lodge occupies a plot at Mercia Marina, where the Boardwalk—a raised wooden walkway lined with independent shops, bars and restaurants—runs along the water's edge. From here you can watch narrowboats, wildlife and the day unfold without leaving the promenade. The immediate area suits those who want to stay put rather than drive; a sensory garden sits at the far end of the Boardwalk, and Derby and its villages lie a short distance beyond. Parking on site covers two cars, and there is an electric vehicle charging point. No smoking is permitted inside.