New for Spring 2025. Originally built in 1891 as a weekend escape, The Red House is a magnificent Victorian country abode steeped in history and charm. Retaining many of its original features including a former ball room, this elegant property is set within an expansive garden and boasts breath taking views of the open countryside. With space to host up to 30 guests across 13 uniquely decorated bedrooms, The Red House is perfect for large gatherings of family and friends.
Charming bedrooms designed for comfort and flexibility, The Red House boasts 13 spacious and beautifully appointed bedrooms, each radiating its own unique character with 4 of these rooms conveniently located on the ground floor. Every bedroom is thoughtfully styled with contemporary colours, warming fabrics, and some even with preserved original fireplaces, adding to the home’s distinctive character.
To ensure maximum comfort and adaptability, most of the rooms offer flexible sleeping arrangements, allowing the beds to be configured as twins or doubles according to your needs. There are 2 bedrooms that feature bunk beds, making it perfect for families or larger groups.
Each bedroom is complemented by its own private bathroom or en suite, providing the ideal setup for multi-generational families and groups of friends. Enjoy the luxury of personal space and the convenience of modern amenities, all wrapped in a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Open Plan Kitchen/dining Area
A beautifully extended property seamlessly combining historic charm with contemporary living. The original Coach House has been cleverly integrated into the design, creating a home that's as practical as it is characterful. At the heart of this home lies the spacious open plan kitchen/diner, the central hub that connects the two wings of the house.
Designed with both functionality and sociability in mind, this well-equipped kitchen boasts:
Flooded with natural light from its floor to ceiling glass walls, the kitchen opens into a bright and inviting space. The informal dining area, seating up to 12, makes this an ideal spot for early risers to enjoy a peaceful morning coffee or for families tackling breakfast with children. Doors lead out to the patio and garden beyond.
Utility & Boot Room
The Red House is more than just a home; it's a space designed to bring people together while offering all the modern conveniences needed for a comfortable stay. Whether you're hosting a large gathering, enjoying quiet family time, or relaxing after outdoor adventures, this house adapts to your every need.
As you step through the main entrance hallway and make your way to the rear of the house, you'll find yourself in the magnificent formal dining room.
The first feature to capture your attention is the striking fireplace. Adorned with an ornate and intricately carved Hopton stone mantle, this decorative centre piece still proudly displays the crest of its original owner, Reginal Hinton Holman (RHH), offering a nod to the house's rich heritage. While the fireplace is decorative only, its grandeur sets the tone for the room.
Large windows flood the room with natural light, providing views of the beautifully landscaped gardens. The dining room boasts original parquet flooring, adding a timeless charm to the setting. This elegant space is perfect for hosting unforgettable gatherings, accommodating up to 30 guests around the spacious dining tables in flexible layouts. Whether you're planning a formal dinner or a celebratory feast, this room promises to be the heart of your event.
As you enter the property you walk through an impressive oak porch opening into the expansive entrance hall. To your right a sweeping staircase with hand carved banister leads to an open landing with the original stained glass window. Further to your left you enter the garden day room where there is rattan seating and French doors that open out onto the garden terrace with views over the parterre. This room offers a peaceful light and airy quiet space.
The extensive drawing room , once the original ballroom and still featuring the sprung floorboards is a welcoming room with beautiful neo-classical design influence throughout and thoughtfully retaining its character from that era. With stunning original features this grand dual aspect drawing room boasts huge windows that let in so much natural light and French doors to access the gardens too. There is a central impressive log burner with its cosy alcove, a real sunny spot, plenty of soft seating for all 30 guests to all comfortably gather together. A truly impressive room!
Step into the heart of fun in the beautifully restored interconnecting wing of The Red House which was the original Coach House, now home to a spacious ground floor games room. With its charming wooden floors throughout, this inviting space promises endless hours of enjoyment for both the young and the young at heart. Features for you to enjoy:
The games room opens directly onto an enclosed cobbled courtyard. Whether you're playing, relaxing, or just soaking up the atmosphere, this space is designed for laughter in this thoughtfully crafted space!
Step out from one of the many doors of this exquisite property and into the vast, beautifully designed gardens. The first thing to greet you is a paved seating area, complete with outdoor furniture that comfortably seats up to 30 guests—a perfect setting if you are lucky to get a balmy summer evening to dine outside,
Just beyond the terrace, you'll find a meticulously maintained parterre, a formal garden featuring small hedges separated by gravel paths. This charming feature is said to resemble a map of the UK—a delightful detail that adds a touch of grandeur.
A level lawn, once a grass tennis court, stretches further into the garden, surrounded by herbaceous borders, mature trees and additional grassed areas. It’s an idyllic natural playground for children, where games of hide-and-seek come alive.
The gardens open up to views of the surrounding countryside to the rear. A public footpath nearby provides access to a scenic trail alongside the local railway line, ideal for cycling towards Rowsley or Matlock. For a more leisurely option, stroll through the fields to reach the nearby pub The Square and Compass.
The garden is enclosed with a combination of fences, hedges, and walls. However, for those with adventurous dogs or kids, supervision is essential, as small gaps might tempt the most cunning escape artists.
For parking facilities, as you approach The Red House, you turn onto a small lane. Parking is at the front of the property and can accommodate 10 cars. There is also parking on the lane. The property features 3 electric vehicle charging points.
Our standard arrival and departure times are:
Please do respect these times as they are in place to allow the housekeeping teams enough time to thoroughly clean the property before and after your stay
Please remove dirty and high heeled shoes on entry
Please do not bring any candles, tea lights or incense sticks to the property as they are not allowed
Fireworks, Chinese lanterns or drones are not allowed
No smoking or vaping inside the property. Vaping can trigger the fire alarms
We ask that any outside socialising be brought inside by 10pm. We kindly ask that neighbours and local residents are not disturbed at any time, for more information please see our Noise and Behaviour Policy
No glitter please as even the most eco friendly kind is impossible to remove from the soft furnishings and hard wearing floors
If you wish to decorate the interior of the property, please use an adhesive that is suitable and won't leave marks on the walls or damage the paint when removed
No Karaoke machines of any type or PA system
Due to the risk of fire from thermal runaway the charging of electric bikes, scooters, hoverboards and similar devices are strictly prohibited inside any properties
There are animals in the neighbouring fields at the bottom of the garden under no circumstances should you feed the goats (or any other animals that may be in there). Feeding them human food can make them sick. Please do not climb the wall.
If you are looking for a holiday cottage that is accessible for everyone we have a wealth of properties that are suitable for guests with varied access needs. Many of our properties are situated in rural locations, offering peaceful settings that would be suitable for guests with autism & learning difficulties.
Originally built as a weekend retreat for Reginald Hinton Holman, a Manchester based engineer, in 1891 - and still retaining monograms bearing his initials and crest the Red House is the epitome of an Arts and Crafts home. The formal dining room has a handsome original carved Hopton stone mantle bearing the crest of the original owner.
It is believed the name is a nod to the significant influence of William Morris in its design - copying the name of his much loved Red House in Bexleyheath, London. In 1911, the property passed to a local GP, Dr William Sharpe, who clearly also had a taste for the grand - building the west wing of the house including a sprung floor ballroom which is heavily influenced by the neo-classical. This is now a grand drawing room, undoubtedly providing the most perfect backdrop for family gatherings.
In 1944, the house was put up for auction by his daughter and Captain William Smith, who owned a quarrying company, sent his factor to buy the house as a surprise gift for his wife. The family lived for many happy years in the Red House. Captain Smith, renowned for his hospitality, welcomed every villager to the home at midnight on New Years Eve as long as he or she brought a piece of coal! The rear garden is particularly attractive, private, with a large south facing terrace, extensive parterre, a flat lawn which was once a grass tennis court, herbaceous borders, mature trees and numerous shrubs.
The Red House is located off the main road in the village of Darley Dale, which is a short distance from the towns of Matlock and Bakewell, where there is an abundance of shops, cafes and restaurants and a great park.
You are also a short drive to Chatsworth House, which is a fabulous day out for all the family; there is a children's play area, plus a farmyard where they can enjoy meeting the newly born arrivals, rare breeds and farm animals, a family favourite! Access to the 1000-acre parkland, garden and house is a must too, so take a picnic and enjoy this stately house on its impressive grounds. Alternatively, head to Rowsley and check out their latest food offering, Chatsworth Kitchen.
There are walks from the property's door for those who like to explore on foot, and you can venture on to the beautiful Chatsworth Estate or Stanton Moor to view the Nine Ladies Stone Circle.
The address of the property is:
The Red House, Old Road, Darley Dale, Matlock. DE4 2ER
Use what3words to take you to the entrance of the property: ///sector.luck.pacifist
Directions by car from Bakewell (7 miles) 14 minutes
Should you miss the first unmarked turning then do not worry as there is another one a few metres along on your left signposted for the carriage rides, turn left here and then immediately left again and Red House will be on your right.
Enjoy your stay!
To view or download the floorplan for this property click the button below
The following comments are taken straight from the guestbook we keep for The Red House. Verbatim.
We just wanted to say then how fantastic our stay was. As you know, we got married at Chesterfield Town Hall on Saturday morning and came back to the house to celebrate. We were blessed with good weather which meant we barely went into the drawing and garden rooms, instead spending most of the time outside in the huge garden, taking in those amazing views. The house is just stunning, with such beautiful rooms and so much space for everyone to relax in and mix. All of our guests were so impressed with it - so much so you may get some future bookings! We had food provided by Scoff on Saturday lunchtime, which I can't recommend highly enough and all in all it far exceeded our expectations. It was a wonderful weekend in a very special house, so thank you all.
We had a lovely time at the house - it is certainly beautiful.
Thanks so much. We had a great weekend
If you have comments you'd like to leave then please get in touch. We love to hear all feedback - good or bad.
10 minutes away is the popular attraction of Gulliver's Kingdom, great for children aged between 2 - 13 years, you can easily spend a full day exploring the site and enjoying the numerous rides available. Set on the hillside of Matlock Bath the location itself boasts great views. You have various themed areas within the park, from Western World, Pirates Play Area, Lost World of Dinosaurs and a log flume. Why not bring your own picnic or eat at the various eating spots throughout.
Click here for a link to Gulliver's Kingdom.
A couple of minutes away from Gulliver's Kingdom are The Heights or Abraham, a cable car ride taking you high above the valley letting you enjoy the stunning views. At the summit you can enter the 2 caves, Masson and Rutland Cavern, experience the day in the life of a 17th century miner from the guided tours available. There are also two play areas with slides, climbing walls, rope walks and a range of activities to keep you active all day.
Click here for a link to The Heights of Abraham.
No visit to the Peak District would be complete without visiting the fabulous Chatsworth House. At Chatsworth there is something to do for every member of the family. The Farmyard and Adventure playground is a brilliant day out for children of all ages - with animal handling, milking demonstrations and daily activities, plus a woodland adventure playground. Then there is obviously the house itself, steeped with history it’s one of Britain’s greatest stately homes and has been passed down through the generations of the Cavendish family. If staying with us in November / December many of the rooms in the house are beautifully decorated. The gardens are equally as impressive as the house, over 100 acres as well as all the beautiful flowers and plants, there are giant water features and sculptures dotted around. Again suitable for all the family, with the maze, the garden trails, and the famous water cascade to keep the little ones occupied.
Click here for a link to Chatsworth House and Park.
Open all year round this is a great day out for all the family. There are lots of animals to see and the children can enjoy feeding and petting the smaller animals. There is a Trekking Centre and Riding School for all abilities, with short pony rides on most days too. Why not take a well earned break in the café and sit and have a catch up with what you've done so far over a cup of tea, cake and snacks. There is a great indoor play area and also an adventure playground outdoors. You can easily spend a day here.
Click here for a link to Matlock Farm Park.
If the weather is not so good outdoors then this is a great place for the younger children (under 11) to let off steam. Little Monkeys offers an area for toddlers and a larger play area for the older children in your group. Climbing / hiding / sliding is all readily available - so come with plenty of energy! There is a great little café for the adults to sit and chat, whilst enjoying a selection of hot and cold snacks and cups of tea.
Click here for a link to Little Monkeys Play Centre.
Masson Mills at Matlock Bath are the best preserved example of an Arkwright Cotton Mill, built by Sir Richard Arkwright in 1783, this working textile museum takes you right back to the genuine atmosphere of how life was working in the mill. Visitors can experience the sights and smells of the mill in all its glory whilst viewing the various rooms such as the bobbin room, the weaving shed and watch some of the oldest working looms still in operation.
Click here for a link to further information on Masson Mill
Peak Rail is a preserved railway line which operates a steam and heritage diesel service for visitors. It is a lovely way to see the Derbyshire countryside and you get a real feeling of travelling back in time. This preserved railway line is 4 miles in length and trains run from Rowsley South to Matlock station with the option of stopping at Darley Dale station. The railway operates special events as well as the normal timetabled services. These include ‘Santa Specials’ for children and families, and the ‘Warring Forties’ event, with battle re-enactments of World War Two skirmishes involving military vehicles and re-enactors on the site; Diesel Galas; and local music festivals. A restaurant service called "The Palatine" operates on given days throughout the season, whilst at Darley Dale there is a museum of the line's local history. On your doorstep too.
Click here for a link to further information on Peak Rail
An award-winning tramway museum, buy a ticket and take unlimited trams rides all day long a mile long track with various stops including the period village scene, where you can step back in time and along the recreated street. Enjoy a drink in the recreated 'Red Lion Pub' or explore one of the exhibitions in the recreated 'Derby Assembly Rooms'. The woodland walk and sculpture trail is great for stretching the legs and to take in some amazing views over the Amber Valley. Children will also enjoy the indoor and outdoor play areas
Click here for more information on Crich Tramway Village
Located in Matlock, only a 15 minute drive away this is a great day out for all the family, a corporate stay or if you are celebrating a special occasion. Offering Climbing / Rafting / Mountain Biking/ Tubing and Stand Up Paddle Boarding it's a great way to fill one of your days stay. Get to know the stunning surrounding area by floating down the River Derwent or climbing the many crags that The Peak District has to offer. Advisable to book the activities you may be interested in.
Click here for more information on Rapid Horizons
The private residence of Lord and Lady Edward Manners is perfectly positioned in the Peak District in the valley of the River Wye. With its stunning Medieval banqueting hall, displaying a tapestry gifted by Henry VIII. The house offers an unique view of English life with this stunning building still having it's beautiful original charm and history.
A basic weekend supply of the following essentials are supplied (as there are no staff on site if you run out you will have to replace):
Hand soap
Loo rolls (1 x on the holder and 1 spare per bathroom)
Washing up liquid
Cling film, kitchen foil
A few dishwasher tablets to get you started
Tea towels
Oven Mitts
Dish cloth and pan scrubber
Basic cleaning materials
Utilities - Electric, gas, heating and hot water
Useful Information
2 x Ikea high chairs with trays (if requested)
2 x Travel Cots- We provide basic travel cot's that comply with BSI. Please note that due to health and safety reasons, you will need to bring cot linen and any extra padding you require over and above the lightly padded standard base that is supplied by the manufacturer, we do not supply a mattress.
Hair dryers (if requested) there are 6 available at the property
Fresh linen with beds made up upon arrival
Fresh towels - hand towels in the ensuites or bathrooms plus a bath towel per guest
Log burner in the drawing room. Complimentary basket of logs supplied upon arrival. Due to health and safety we cannot supply fire lighters or matches so please bring your own.
Christmas - throughout December the property will have a Christmas Tree decorated with a set of lights
Sandstorm radio in the garden room
Cloakroom under the main staircase with plenty of hooks and storage baskets, further boot room to the left of the main entrance too
For the safety and well-being of all our guests, we kindly ask that you bring any personal first aid supplies you may need, as first aid kits are not provided in our properties
Dining table that can seat 30 using either chairs or benches
Free wi-fi
2 large TV's one in the drawing room and one in the games room
Blue tooth speaker
Cooking & Dining
Hotpoint Aga, with 4 combi duo induction hobs and 4 electric cooking chambers
Microwave
Further built in microwave
2 x full size dishwashers
Bosch full height fridge with 6 shelves and 1 salad compartment
Further Belling Aga with 5 induction hobs and 4 electric oven compartments
Full height fridge freezer with 4 shelf fridge plus 2 drawers and 3 deep freezer shelves plus 2 drawers
Island with built in sink and 4 stools
4 x 4 slice toasters
4 x kettles
4 x large cafetieres
5 x Teapots
Large quantity of mugs and tea cups
Varying sized trays
Kenwood hand mixer
3 x large cooking trays ideal for Christmas Turkeys etc
Round and oblong Pyrex dishes
3 x large stainless steel casserole dishes
Large serving dishes
Plenty of plastic trays
Wok, frying pans, varying sized pans
Assortment of tupperware
Great assortment of cutlery, and crockery, including plastic items for children
2 x large salad bowls
Glass mixing bowls
Various utensils, including, corkscrew, garlic press, tin opener, spatulas, kitchen knives
Glassware: including Prosecco, pint, water, red and white wine, tumblers, easily 40+ of each
Crockery: dinner plates, side plates, dessert bowls
Graters, Colanders
Utility Room
2 x clothes airers
2 x ironing boards plus 2 irons (stored in the cupboards)
Washing machine and separate Tumble dryer
Hoover
Mop and bucket
Additional sink area
Further Full height Fridge freezer with 4 shelf fridge plus 2 drawers and 3 deep shelves freezer space plus 2 drawers
Access to the recycling and waste bin area
Games Room
Pool Table
Table tennis
Table football
Large Smart TV
Seating area
Piano
Access to small courtyard with picnic bench
Parking
There is space for at least 10 cars using the hardstanding spaces in front of the house and also the gravel. Further parking can be on the lane in front of the property but please tuck under the property wall so not to block any access for other passing vehicles.
3 x 22kw EV charging stations, attached to the front of the property
For reasons of both safety and property insurance, under no circumstances should you use the domestic plug sockets to charge any other electric vehicle. Our domestic supply in the property does not have the capacity or set up to support EV charging
Outdoor Space
Paved terrace running the length of the main house approx 28mtr x 5mtr
4 x 8 seater picnic benches on the patio seating 30 comfortably
Comfortable seating around the garden with some cushions available in the shed in the orchard area
Beautifully maintained Parterre, a formal garden featuring manicured small hedging separated with gravel, said to resemble a map of the UK
Large level lawn, once used as a grass tennis court, perfect for ball games
A further orchard area with established trees and planting making it a perfect area for a spot of hide and seek
The whole garden is enclosed with either hedging or stone walls but we do ask that dogs are not left unattended as they might find that small gap in the hedges to wiggle themselves through.
Far reaching views across the valley
Small courtyard leading from the games room approx 7mtr x 6mtr with picnic bench
Stone BBQ- we do ask you to please supply your own charcoal and lighting equipment as we cannot supply this we are afraid
Property Quirks
Staircase from bedroom 13 lead to the ground floor, the stairs are quite steep & narrow, there is a door that can be locked from the bedroom side
Bedroom 13 has a sloping door so reduced head height so please mind you head
The corridor leading to bedrooms 11, 12 & 13 does slope which reduces the head height on one side
Bedroom 2 has 3 steps up to the en suite and there are 3 steps down to this bedroom too
Bedroom 7 on the ground floor has a private but compact bathroom across the hallway in a couple of sections, wash basin and toilet then shower room
Bedroom 10 has a slight raised threshold at its doorway
There are steps down from the main patio to the garden and also in the small courtyard so take care when wet
The only working log burner in the property is in the Drawing room all others are decorative only
There are concertina doors on the bunk room in bedroom 2 so please be careful when opening and shutting
All bedrooms are fitted with thumb locks and are also numbered for your convenience
There are a couple of steps in the hallway leading from the kitchen to the additional wing
Dogs
We allow 4 dogs at the property and do charge an additional £30 per dog and they need to be booked on the booking prior to arrival
We do ask all dogs to be kept out of bedrooms and off the furnishings
Please clear all dog litter from the grounds prior to leaving
The garden boundary is either stone wall or hedging so fairly secure however never leave your dog unattended as they may find a sneaky gap to wriggle through
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi is free of charge and gives good coverage throughout the property, however because it is a beautiful location with open countryside sometimes there may be intermittent signal interruptions which is out of our control. We also cannot guarantee full coverage is there are technical issues in the area which again are out of our control.