Take a peak (From The Northern Echo)

Travel Review: Peak Edge Hotel, Derbyshire

4:05pm Friday 6th January 2012 in Reviews By David Roberts, Chief Reporter (Darlington)

David Roberts enjoys a stay – although not quite in Mr Darcy-style – in the Derbyshire National Park.

AS we rode down the drive to Chatsworth House, we couldn’t help but feel like characters from a Jane Austen novel. It is no surprise that the seat of the Dukes of Devonshire has earned its reputation as one of the most iconic stately homes in the country.

Our leisured approach meant that we were able to get a much better appreciation of the majestic frontage of the building which, in more than one production, has been used as the location for the fictionall Pemberley, home of Austen’s most famous character, Mr Darcy.

My arrival, it must be said, was not quite as breathtaking as Colin Firth’s.

I was red-faced and mud-splattered, but there was to be no stripping down and diving into the lake.

We had made our way over to Chatsworth from the Peak Edge Hotel via an exhilarating off-road cycle ride. The adrenalin-fuelled downhill route was a stark contrast to our serene tour of the stately home, which contains one of the country’s largest art collections.

Thankfully, we were chauffeured back to the hotel, so there was no need for a gruelling uphill journey on the return leg.

The visit to Chatsworth was one of several highpoints of our stay at the Peak Edge Hotel. The family-run hotel lies only a few miles outside of the market town of Chesterfield and is perfectly situated for exploring the Peak District. This national park has to be one of the the most underrated in the country, having all of the natural beauty of the Lake District, but without the commercialism or the tourist hordes.

The Peak Edge has only been open for a year, but owners Damian and Jo Dugdale have worked hard to make the hotel feel like it is as firmly established in the Derbyshire countryside as neighbouring Chatsworth.

Little touches, such as the guest suites being named after places which are important to them give an indication of the level of their personal involvement in the hotel.

The pair have ensured that each of the 27 rooms is finished to the highest standards. Fittings such as a 46in flat screen TV and some of the comfiest king-size beds you will ever sleep on are standard. Many of the rooms also come with free-standing baths and “rainfall” showers.

Guests can unwind in the adjoining Red Lion Bar and Bistro, the oldest part of the hotel and a former 16th Century coaching inn.

The Red Lion, which was recently awarded Gastro Pub of the Year at the 2011 Derbyshire Food and Drink Awards, is perhaps another part of the hotel which gives you a clue to Damian and Jo’s emotional attachment to the business.

IT is immediately evident when you talk to Damian how passionate he is about food and this is reflected in the menu at the Red Lion.

Sustainability is key. Nearly everything is sourced from what he calls “The Garden that is Derbyshire”.

Many of the ingredients are from the restaurant’s back garden, where a large allotment supplies the kitchens.

Earlier, when we arrived at the hotel, we were greeted with a glass of sparkling wine grown from a vineyard, not in France, Spain or Italy, but at nearby Renishaw Hall, only a few miles up the road in Derbyshire.

You can’t really beat that for reducing food miles. To my palate, which is admittedly rather inexperienced when it comes to quality champagnes, it was easily as good as any French vintage. I wasn’t alone, as all of my fellow guests thought it equally fine.

The menu at the Red Lion is based on traditional British cuisine. There is a good choice of seafood, which is brought in fresh from Anglesey.

Game also features and I was lucky enough to try pigeon breasts cooked with pancetta and salad which were some of the most delicious I have tasted. The surf and turf, of beautifully cooked steak with juicy garlic king prawns, is also to be recommended.

We ended our visit by looking round Chesterfield – the crooked spire has to be seen to be believed.

We then headed back to the North- East via Sheffield, easily one of the most cosmopolitan and vibrant cities in the country.

In all, a fantastic weekend in an area of the country which is too often overlooked and one which is certainly to be recommended.