Wildhive Callow Hall review: a fairy tale stay in the Peak District

Wildhive Callow Hall is a refreshing, bold take on the classic, luxury country house hotel. The modernity comes not just from the mod cons, but from the “Hives” and treehouses that sit among the woods beside the main building. It gives the whole place an otherworldly, fairy tale, magical feel and sets the tone for a weekend of escapism in a home-away-from-home.

Located in the Derbyshire countryside, Callow Hall sits just south of the Peak District. It’s a grand, stone pile from the outside, accessed via a gorgeous, impressive tree-lined drive.

Behind its imposing, oversized wooden front door lies a sumptuous and classy interior designed by Isabella Worsley. Flooring is a mix of ancient stone slabs, wood and modern, stylish wool carpets. Shelves of old books line the walls next to beautiful pressed flower prints, alongside bright, framed woven African fans. And outsized bold, Warhol-esque prints of flowers sit alongside old mezzotints of long-forgotten farmhouses.

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Rooms and Hives

There are 15 rooms in the main building at Callow Hall, tiered into “fabulous”, “lovely” and “cosy”. A striking, wide stairway leads up to them with a spectacular slatted bay window with views across the rolling fields and beyond.

The property has been sensitively modernised, retaining lots of that old country grandeur. Rooms are designed around comfort – huge beds with white linens and organic, floral herringbone bedheads in those deep hues of burgundy and emerald that speak of English houses. And large windows that have wonderful views of the woods and hills.

In “the wild”, there are 11 one-bedroom “Hives” and two self-contained two-bedroom treehouses. Unique and playful retreats, the Hives are subtle wooden buildings dotted throughout the wooded area next to the main house, around a meandering tree-lined path. They have big, sweeping decks which are ideal for an al fresco breakfast and to admire all that nature has to offer. They’re rustic but comfortable with all the mod cons and serviced by buggies.

Eating and drinking

A scene-stealing glasshouse has been built onto one side of the main building. A sensitive melding of old and new, The Garden Room is a hybrid-indoor/outdoor space with spectacular views out across the lush Derbyshire countryside.

We visited this carefully curated space in early June when the grass was green and trees were full of leaves. And it would be just as memorable and dramatic to sit inside this conservatory-de-luxe, wrapped in a blanket, and stare out across the snowy wilds of winter.

Food is locally sourced and name drops lots of suppliers; it sits comfortably in that space of modern British cooking which subtly pulls from the Med. You’ll find starters like grilled peaches with burrata, and pistachios and local honey alongside heartier, more traditional fare like a Derbyshire lamb mixed grill with mint butter and salsa verde potatoes.

Overall the food is dynamic and exciting, but perhaps a little too complex in places with a lot happening on plates resulting in the occasional long wait for a dish. That said, the service that accompanies it is always smiling and friendly.

Things to do

The nearby town of Ashbourne is an antique hunter’s dream – there are shops upon shops. In fact, this whole area has plenty. Matlock is famous, but for our money, the best nearby is Heanor Antiques Centre, a little drive away in the town of Heanor. Here you will find four floors of nooks and crannies and endless treasures to suit all tastes and all budgets.

Callow Hall’s location means you can enjoy everything the Peak District has to offer – whether it’s sampling a traditional Bakewell pudding in Bakewell (it’s not a Bakewell tart, you will be told), going for long walks or bike rides or visiting any of the lovely pubs.

The hotel has e-bikes available for guests to borrow. This makes life easy and ensures you can get that little bit further afield. If you can, get to The Packhorse Inn in Bakewell – a traditional stone pub that was originally miners’ cottages. Beautiful flagstones, low ceilings and well-worn wood coupled with dark walls make it an atmospheric spot. If the weather’s good, it’s got a real suntrap of a garden hidden away at the back.

William Leigh was a guest of Wildhive Callow Hall. Cosy Rooms start from £214 per night, on a room-only basis. Ashbourne, Derbyshire DE6 2AA; wildhive.uk