The Cavendish Hotel

Rooms

The 28 rooms range from Cosy - the smallest but still generously sized - to the two-storey Townhouse Suite. They're split across two wings in the main hotel and the old Coach House. Those in the main hotel have the best views across the estate, looking out over the garden all the way to the hills on the horizon.  

No matter which wing or room you choose, you can expect gorgeous country-chic style, sumptuous armchairs and beds (some are four-posters), and thoughtful details like magazines and guides to flick through and homemade biscuits to have with a brew. I stayed in Burlington, a Spacious Double; it was roomy, peaceful and toasty warm, perfect for a sound night's sleep – and it didn't hurt that the bed was ginormous.

Bathrooms are lovely, with zellig tiles and panelled walls, and feature bathrobes, extra fluffy cotton towels and Chatsworth toiletries that smell heavenly. Most rooms have a shower over a bath, but a couple of rooms in the main hotel have walk-in showers, and two in the Coach House are fully wheelchair accessible. 

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Central heating
• Coffee / tea making
• Cots available
• Fan
• Hairdryer
• Iron
• Minibar
• Radio
• Satellite TV
• Toiletries
• WiFi

Eating

Food is at the heart of The Cavendish Hotel. There are two restaurants serving lunch and dinner, one for relaxed British fare, the other for elevated fine dining. 

The star of the show is The Gallery Restaurant, awarded 3 AA Rosettes for its carefully curated menu showcasing the very best of Peak District produce. I had mouthwateringly tasty halibut with leek and potato gratin in a roast bone sauce, followed by a caramelised apple encased in a vanilla crème swirl and served with stem ginger ice cream. Delicious! There are only four options per course, so let the team know in advance if you have any dietary needs.

For a more laidback experience, The Garden Room serves up timeless favourites like steak and ale pie, beer-battered haddock and butternut squash risotto in a light-filled space inspired by Chatsworth's glasshouses. The windows reveal gorgeous views of the estate and open onto a terrace, perfect for an alfresco lunch or chilled glass of wine in the summer. 

An à la carte breakfast is served in The Gallery each morning, making it feel like quite the occasion. You can choose from light dishes like porridge, granola and pastries, or something more substantial, such as a full cooked breakfast, grilled kippers, and eggs royale. Or if you're feeling indecisive, you can plump for an assortment of the two (for an extra fee). Coffee, tea, juice and a tray of toast are brought to the table as standard.  

Guests can enjoy afternoon tea in either restaurant, and the cosy corner bar and lounge is a welcoming spot to grab a drink pre- or post-dinner. 

Features include:

• Afternoon tea
• Bar
• Breakfast
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby
• Room service

Activities

• Explore the Chatsworth Estate. Walk across the fields from the hotel, or it's a 5-minute drive to the house. As a guest, you get discounted entry to the house and gardens, or roam the many glorious acres of parkland for free, plus you can access the health and fitness club which includes a 15m pool, gym and offers classes and treatments 
• Throughout the year, Chatsworth hosts a wide range of events, markets, and activities for all ages. Their Christmas markets are lovely and always very popular. Check their website to see what's on during your stay
• If you're a stately home aficionado, the beautifully preserved and much-filmed Haddon Hall sits on the opposite side of the estate, a scenic 7-mile drive away
• You're perfectly placed for walking in the beautiful Peak District, Britain's first national park. Details of the best local walks are found in the rooms, and the well-known Pennine Way and Bakewell-Monsal Head trail both start nearby
• Visit ancient villages and charming market towns such as Bakewell and Buxton. Eyam (4 miles away) is particularly pretty and is famous for its 1665 plague outbreak, when villagers quarantined themselves to prevent the disease spreading
• Head a few miles down the A6 to the Derwent Valley, birthplace of the industrial revolution and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The village of Cromford is home to the world’s first water-powered cotton mill, built by Sir Richard Arkwright in 1771
• Play a round of golf at the 9-hole Bakewell Golf Club (10 minutes away) – it has lovely views

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Golf
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Museums / galleries
• Shopping / markets
• Spa treatments
• Swimming
• Walking
• Well being

Kids

Families are welcome here, but the atmosphere is calm and sophisticated, so parents with little ones might feel out of place. Teens who enjoy history and hiking will find plenty to do, but most will find it too quiet. 

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

There's one Cosy Double room with bunk beds for kids, and a couple of rooms can interconnect. 

Cots Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The Cavendish Hotel is in the pretty village of Baslow in the Peak District, Derbyshire. It's close to the market town of Bakewell and sits on the edge of the Chatsworth Estate. It's within an hour's reach of Sheffield, Nottingham and Derby, and a 1.5 hour drive from Manchester. 

By Air:
Manchester and East Midlands airports are 30-40 miles away, both with links to Europe and beyond. 

From the Airport
You can hire a car (see below) or, from Manchester airport, catch an indirect train to Chesterfield.

By Train:
Chesterfield station is 20 minutes from Baslow, with mainline train services from London and many other major UK cities. See Seat 61 for more details. You can take a taxi from the station to the hotel; reception can provide a list of recommended local taxi companies.

By Car:
Junction 29 of the M1 (Chesterfield) is approximately 25 minutes from Baslow. If you want to hire a car, see our car rental recommendations. There are outdoor plugs in the car park for guests to charge electric cars if they bring their own leads.