Staycation review: Wildhive Callow Hall, Derbyshire's hidden gem

Occupying over 35 acres south of the Peak District, and so perfectly positioned for exploring one of the UK’s most treasured national parks with its dramatic vistas of rolling hills and limestone valleys, Wildhive at Callow Hall offers more than just 19th-century grandeur.

While the area and hotel exteriors may outwardly give you a taste of Jane Austen’s Regency era—Mr. Darcy’s Pemberley pad was, after all, inspired by Chatsworth House up the road—the sprawling grounds and vibe here are more a nod to the swanky countryside credentials of Soho Farmhouse and The Fish (both in the Cotswolds), but without the waiting lists and perfectly in keeping with Wildhive’s own laid-back signature swagger. 

You’re in striking distance for vintage and antiques hunting in Ashbourne, the famous stepping stones at Dovedale (12 minutes away) and the area’s most prestigious attraction, Chatsworth House lies only a 40-minute drive away. 

The Tissington Trail - a completely flat and smooth 13-mile-long path set on a former railway line - runs directly past the hotel and invites you to hike or cycle through some of the UK’s most breathtaking scenery and into the village of Tissington itself.

Getting here is a cinch too: a 35-minute train takes you from Birmingham to Derby before you hop into a taxi to reach the hotel and if driving, you’ll pass verdant fields on the A52 and A515 (watch out for some of those hairpin bends).   

FIRST IMPRESSIONS  

 Built in the 1850s by a local magistrate and acquired by hotel group, Wildhive, just after 2020, as you roll into Callow Hall near Ashbourne  - a  village so picturesque it might as well be painted on a teapot - you’re sweetly rewarded by views of the Derbyshire dales and rich carpets of bluebells before an ancient Cedar tree-lined driveway and the Ivy-clad Victorian Gothic house appears standing proudly before you with its austere stone facade and mullioned windows. 

A magnet for the trendy and fabulous, you’re looking at both off-the-beaten track luxury and eclectic Saltburn levels of cool alongside lush landscapes and gently flowing streams that look like they’ve been lifted straight from a postcard. 

Having undergone an entire £7m renovation over three years, Callow Hall is the kind of wilderness retreat that’ll have you rambling in the forest then sipping on cocktails inside a walled garden or on squishy Chesterfields under vaulted ceilings and next to a grand open fireplace.  

Isabella Worsley (who previously worked with Kit Kemp of Firmdale Hotels fame) is behind bringing the grade II listed interiors bang up to date with muted mossy greens, clashing candy stripes and whimsical prints on upholstery and bespoke wallpapers illustrating whimsical scenes of the surrounding Derbyshire landscape are by Melissa White.

You’ll find the urge to covet pressed wildflower displays from Jam Jar flowers and scallop-edged lampshades By Matilda Goad irresistible, and marvel in hallways and walls chock full of expressive artworks courtesy of British artists such as Jonathan Schofield, Alba Hodsoll and Sarah Graham.  

There’s bundles of space to entertain yourselves outdoors too, whether with games of croquet on the lawn or during a communal BBQ at a long wooden table with low seating under canopies of trees and pretty string lanterns overhead.

A fire pit keeps you toasty when the sun tootles off and the moon makes its grand evening appearance. In the morning, unpack your hiking boots or borrow a pair of Hunters from the Coach House and get wandering the gardens (don’t  worry about clothes getting a little wet either; there’s a handy drying room under the house cellar which was once used a storage space for archives by the British War Department during World War II).

For adventurous souls, Callow Hall offers complimentary mountain and shopper bike hire - including electric versions for those who prefer a bit of a boost - for glorious rides on the Tissington Trail which starts just outside the hotel entrance.  

The light-filled library room inside the house is where you’ll find shelves brimming with fiction and non-fiction chart toppers as well as travel books about the Peak District that will have you daydreaming about grand adventures through the rolling hills and of nearby opulent pads like Chatsworth.

Once you’ve grabbed your stack of literary loot, make your way to the garden’s   cushioned sun loungers; they’re strategically scattered across the lawn to offer amazing views of the green billowing landscapes and are perfectly angled to catch every ray of sunshine during the summer.   

And fear not - if you’ve forgotten to pack the sunscreen as the hotel is only too happy to provide bottles.  

SUITE DREAMS  

The main house has 15 bedrooms which come in tiers of ‘Fabulous’, ‘Lovely’ and ‘Cosy’, and those who fancy venturing ‘into the wild’ can snag one of 11 ‘hives’ (AKA boutique one-bedroomed treehouses) dotted high up in the hills and built in amongst the trees in the forest behind the main house.

You’re welcome to hike up the hill to access these playful abodes on foot, but most guests rely on the wonderful concierge team’s golf buggy service which you can access on speed-dial from in-room phones. 

The super lucky can check into one of the two-bedroomed treehouses (though this will have to be booked in advance as they are hugely in demand all year round) which come with alfresco roll top bathtubs.  

 Otherwise, head to the equally wonderful wooden cabins which all come with wraparound decks (with marshmallows available from reception for toasting on open grills under the stars). All have flat screen Smart TVs and Nespresso coffee machines in   open plan living/bedroom areas  with mini kitchenettes (dubbed as ‘Chef’s Cupboards’) equipped with sinks, microwaves, fridges cutlery, crockery and glassware.  

Mini bar freebies include delicious Woodland Mushroom and Wild Garlic crisps by Two Farmers which come in recyclable packaging as well as locally made and ridiculously addictive honeycomb and chocolate snacks.  

Our sanctuary for the weekend is the Thistle suite hive - an eco-conscious cabin made using sustainable wood and recycled and locally sourced materials and which offers a divinely  immersive experience inside the surrounding  woodland.  

Minimalist interiors including wood floors and panels on walls and doors, furniture such as shoe consoles and wardrobes in soothing almond, walnut and oak tones all accentuate the feeling of being in the great outdoors with vast ceilings, stone colour natural fabric blackout curtains and artistic lamps providing mood lighting.  

The homestead-style windows are beautiful with Little House on The Prairie whitewashed wood and floral and folklorish stencilled motifs by artist Tess Newall whose inspiration comes from Swedish folklore.

It’s cottage core to the max and all the natural materials are  designed specifically to not detract from nature’s vistas outside. A wooden-frame king bed with fabric headboard and geometric woollen throws and cushions adds some contrasting visuals to the luxuriously feathery down pillows and sumptuous duvets dressed in crisp white cotton too. 

You’ll find the urge to sing loudly in the overhead monsoon wet-room showers with the vintage Robert’s radio on max volume irresistible; especially once you’ve lathered up with all the lovely 100 Acre scented bathing goodies.  

DINNER  

The library is the perfect spot to warm up with a chilled glass of Pol Roger champagne (Wildhive is sponsored by the brand and sits alongside only Gleneagles and The Ritz in the UK to have secured a partnership with the elite drinks house). 

The dark wood and vintage decor may make you feel like an extra from a scene in a brooding period drama but just when you think you’ve got the place pegged, you’re called into dinner in the glass box extension brasserie, where it’s like stepping into something straight out of a CS Lewis novel.  

The Garden House restaurant, with its living grass roof and glass walls, is a bright, contemporary space where wicker pendant lights hang from the ceilings, casting light on gorgeous potted olive trees and herbs in terracotta pots that spruce up the tables. 

Inspired by executive Chef David Bukowicki's travels up and down the British Isles and internationally,  he and head chef Tom Burton serve up a stellar menu that celebrates seasonal British produce sourced from the hotel’s own beautiful kitchen garden (a veritable sun-trap if we ever saw one) and exclusively from local suppliers and farmers, such Smith Hall Farm for pork and beef.  

These meticulous standards extend to plates where freshly baked olive bread and sourdough is served hot with lashings of local and flavoursome butter and starters of Venison Carpaccio (delicately sliced and perfectly seasoned) and smoked eel pate  melt in your mouth.

Mains of Miso and Sesame Crusted Tuna or succulent Derbyshire rump lamb offer heaps of umami while being presented beautifully too.

For an indulgent finish, try the Pimm’s Summer Pudding, paired with a refreshing cucumber sorbet or the Dark Chocolate Fondant with salted caramel ice cream for dessert - you won’t regret it.  

A real headlining part of Callow Hall’s dining scene is the dynamic ‘best of’ season menu.

This takes into account that month’s best British produce and during the summer, includes a spectacle of outdoor BBQ cooking on special ‘Grill Night’ events - hands down one of our most memorable British meals this year.  

Outdoor, tall, clear glass chillers showcase the meats and seafoods on offer while a DJ spins Fleetwood Mac, Donna Summer and Ibiza chill out classics for a magical ‘feel-like-you’re abroad’ summer evening. 

Dine indoors with the restaurant’s glass doors flung open or al fresco on the terrace overlooking the hills and forest, to devour mains of Half Native Lobster, Teriyaki grilled tofu and Packington Pork T-bone with BBQ corn on the cob, charred Tenderstem broccoli and Bullion chocolate s’mores.   

General manager, Jeremy Whitworth, heads a sharply dressed staff (many with years of experience at other top UK establishments such as the five star Montagu Arms in The New Forest) who besides possessing an up-to-the-minute knowledge of the local area and helping with luggage also serve up the most original cocktails and get to know you by name.  

The full Derbyshire cooked breakfast is a must with its sausages from The Pig Paddock, accompanied by Derbyshire oat cakes, heritage tomatoes, field mushrooms and poached eggs and you can satisfy a sweet tooth with a freshly made stack of pancakes slathered in maple syrup or honey collected from the hotel’s own onsite hives.

Wash it all down with an immune shot made from fresh tumeric, ginger and you’ll be more than set for hiking and biking all those doorstep peaks and trails.  

SPA  

Take a walk back down the drive or down the small stone steps at the end of the kitchen garden and you’ll find The Coach House - a separate and tranquil crop of outbuildings with its own shaded outdoors courtyard complete with tables and chairs (and where drinks can be brought out to you), a map room complete with maps of local trails, walking sticks, wellies as well as those bikes and e-bikes with helmets all complimentary to borrow.  

Then take your pick from a variety of mood boosting rubs, scrubs and pampering options from the extensive treatment menu in the spa (the Honeycomb massage delivered by expert therapists is perfect for soothing aching limbs as is the CBD oil treatments). For a touch of indulgence, the anti-aging Bees Knees facials using products from botanical beauty brands 100 Acres and The Natural Spa Factory will have you looking - and feeling - 10 years younger.  

If you’re after a deeper health reboot, head to the wooden infrared sauna for a destress and overcome your fears with a refreshing and invigorating outdoor cold water plunge shower which operates via an old-fashioned pull metal chain and offers stunning views of the hillside.

A sleek, hi-tech gym is equipped with excellent fitness machines featuring monitors and gadgets galore and it’s here you’ll head for quick HIIT sessions.  

For yoga lovers, there’s an entirely separate wellness studio and space available in the courtyard with both floor-to-ceiling glass doors that open wide during the summer to allow the birdsong from the trees outside to fill the air and regular classes available for hotel guests. There’s also the option to book 1-2-1 sessions with a resident instructor.  

WHAT TO DO  

TISSINGDON TRAIL 

The Tissington Trail, a 13-mile flat and smooth path on a former railway line managed by The Peak District National Park, is perfect for walking and cycling. Starting about three minutes on foot from Wildhive at Callow Hall, it winds through picturesque villages, open fields, and woodlands while conjuring up breathtaking views of the Peak District. The trail leads to the historic village of Tissington, renowned for its 17th-century Tissington Hall and traditional well dressings.  

HOW TO BOOK 

Wildhive Callow Hall, Mappleton, Ashbourne, Derbyshire DE6 2AA. Tel 01335 300900 or email  [email protected] 

For more help on planning your visit to Wildhive at Callow Hall and the Peak District, including its various attractions and trails, head to https://www.visitpeakdistrict.com or call 01629 816558.