Things to do
The most important thing for guests at The Manager’s House is to relax, unwind and have a good break. To think about how this can best be achieved we will start inside The Manager’s House and work outwards.
We try to meet visitors ourselves and make them welcome. So often when we show guests in through what is to be their front door the response is “ooh”, “ah” or even “wow”. At the end of their long journey, the welcoming sight of a traditional living kitchen with a home made cake, fresh flowers and a pot of tea or coffee sets the scene for a relaxing stay.
The Manager’s House is as comfortable as we can make it. It is not a pokey cottage but a proper little house, exactly as drawn by children: double fronted, two up, two down and with a chimney in the middle with wood smoke coming out of it.
We try to meet visitors ourselves and make them welcome. So often when we show guests in through what is to be their front door the response is “ooh”, “ah” or even “wow”. At the end of their long journey, the welcoming sight of a traditional living kitchen with a home made cake, fresh flowers and a pot of tea or coffee sets the scene for a relaxing stay.
The Manager’s House is as comfortable as we can make it. It is not a pokey cottage but a proper little house, exactly as drawn by children: double fronted, two up, two down and with a chimney in the middle with wood smoke coming out of it.
We hope that there are also people at the door and windows with “smiley faces”.
We have resisted the temptation to put more or supplementary beds in the house; we much prefer people to have sufficient space for comfortable living.
However, despite its traditional look, The Manager’s House is fully modernised, convenient and in good repair. Most important is that it is fully central heated, double glazed and well insulated. There is also supplementary electric heating. All guests keep warm, whatever the weather. The Clearview wood stove also provides atmosphere and heat in abundance.
We have had some guests who have adopted “Gratton pace” and hardly stepped outside the house. For those who wish to cook and eat in there are four ovens to choose from!
For those who do at least step out of the house there is a pleasant cottage style garden that catches the morning and afternoon sun. It is safe for children and dogs. There is a hammock between the old apple trees. Gratton is a very green valley; we are surrounded by the sights and sounds of nature and farming. (If I look out of my window as I write this I can see sheep, lambs, highland cattle, poultry, pheasants, llamas, a small stream, green fields, hills, stone walls and trees and a very few scattered stone built properties; there are only six properties in Gratton parish) At night there are stars such as are, sadly, no longer seen from our towns and cities.
Those who wish to could hardly fail to relax and unwind.
However, for many, The Manager’s House provides a comfortable base for their favourite activities. Within a few hundred metres, footpaths go in all directions, and the Peak District National Park provides walking which is world class, ranging from the beautiful dales of the White Peak to the rugged moorlands of the Dark Peak. There is cycling for all abilities and tastes, both on and off road. For the fit experts there is all the challenge that could be asked for, cycling direct from the door. For families and the less fit and able there are the cycling trails along disused railways such as the High Peak, Tissington and the Manifold Valley. Cycle hire is available at these trails. For walking or cycling we always try to provide information and assistance including transport to a start point or collection if needed and, occasionally, rescue for the weary!
We can assist in arranging riding from local stables. During the pheasant season, the Gratton shoot meets at The Cheese Factory on Saturdays and sometimes in the week and we can arrange a day’s shooting (or just beating) for guests. We can help to arrange fly fishing in season.
Canoeing and sailing are available (remember that Ellen MacArthur grew up just over the hill) and we can help to arrange instruction and equipment. Prior notice of your requirements is of course helpful. There is outstanding climbing and caving.
For the less sporty, there are outstanding tourist activities and sights. Gratton is located between the towns of Bakewell, Matlock, Ashbourne and Buxton, each with its own very different characteristics and all interesting tourist destinations. Gratton is conveniently placed for the world famous Chatsworth House, actually a palace. Do not, however, overlook the less well known but (arguably) more beautiful fortified medieval manor house, Haddon Hall. In season visit the world famous Well Dressings. Visit the Buxton Opera House for entertainment and culture. The Lower Derwent Valley provided the cradle of the Industrial Revolution and is now a World Heritage Site. Its mills now provide industrial heritage information centres and some of them also provide “retail therapy.” For the young and young at heart visit the inland resort of Matlock Bath including a cable car ride to the Heights of Abraham. However you may wish to keep it a secret from your children that Alton Towers is less than an hour’s drive from Gratton! However, why should I try to capture all the delights of the Peak District when it is done so much better than I possibly could do in www.visitpeakdistrict.com
At the end of a tiring day, The Manager’s House provides a cosy retreat with unlimited hot water for baths and showers and a relaxing pause before venturing out again for a pub or restaurant meal or just a drink. Do try to visit the nearest pub, The Duke of York in Elton (drinks only, no meals). It is said that the only thing that has changed in the Duke since the Second World War is the price of the beer. In season there will be a welcoming open fire. The Duke is not always open, but when it does open it doesn’t always shut, if you take my meaning. It is just over a mile to walk and it is all uphill. However, it is all downhill for the return and it should be under the stars.
We hope that there are also people at the door and windows with “smiley faces”.
We have resisted the temptation to put more or supplementary beds in the house; we much prefer people to have sufficient space for comfortable living.
However, despite its traditional look, The Manager’s House is fully modernised, convenient and in good repair. Most important is that it is fully central heated, double glazed and well insulated. There is also supplementary electric heating. All guests keep warm, whatever the weather. The Clearview wood stove also provides atmosphere and heat in abundance.
We have had some guests who have adopted “Gratton pace” and hardly stepped outside the house. For those who wish to cook and eat in there are four ovens to choose from!
For those who do at least step out of the house there is a pleasant cottage style garden that catches the morning and afternoon sun. It is safe for children and dogs. There is a hammock between the old apple trees. Gratton is a very green valley; we are surrounded by the sights and sounds of nature and farming. (If I look out of my window as I write this I can see sheep, lambs, highland cattle, poultry, pheasants, llamas, a small stream, green fields, hills, stone walls and trees and a very few scattered stone built properties; there are only six properties in Gratton parish) At night there are stars such as are, sadly, no longer seen from our towns and cities.
Those who wish to could hardly fail to relax and unwind.
However, for many, The Manager’s House provides a comfortable base for their favourite activities. Within a few hundred metres, footpaths go in all directions, and the Peak District National Park provides walking which is world class, ranging from the beautiful dales of the White Peak to the rugged moorlands of the Dark Peak. There is cycling for all abilities and tastes, both on and off road. For the fit experts there is all the challenge that could be asked for, cycling direct from the door. For families and the less fit and able there are the cycling trails along disused railways such as the High Peak, Tissington and the Manifold Valley. Cycle hire is available at these trails. For walking or cycling we always try to provide information and assistance including transport to a start point or collection if needed and, occasionally, rescue for the weary!
We can assist in arranging riding from local stables. During the pheasant season, the Gratton shoot meets at The Cheese Factory on Saturdays and sometimes in the week and we can arrange a day’s shooting (or just beating) for guests. We can help to arrange fly fishing in season.
Canoeing and sailing are available (remember that Ellen MacArthur grew up just over the hill) and we can help to arrange instruction and equipment. Prior notice of your requirements is of course helpful. There is outstanding climbing and caving.
For the less sporty, there are outstanding tourist activities and sights. Gratton is located between the towns of Bakewell, Matlock, Ashbourne and Buxton, each with its own very different characteristics and all interesting tourist destinations. Gratton is conveniently placed for the world famous Chatsworth House, actually a palace. Do not, however, overlook the less well known but (arguably) more beautiful fortified medieval manor house, Haddon Hall. In season visit the world famous Well Dressings. Visit the Buxton Opera House for entertainment and culture. The Lower Derwent Valley provided the cradle of the Industrial Revolution and is now a World Heritage Site. Its mills now provide industrial heritage information centres and some of them also provide “retail therapy.” For the young and young at heart visit the inland resort of Matlock Bath including a cable car ride to the Heights of Abraham. However you may wish to keep it a secret from your children that Alton Towers is less than an hour’s drive from Gratton! However, why should I try to capture all the delights of the Peak District when it is done so much better than I possibly could do in www.visitpeakdistrict.com
At the end of a tiring day, The Manager’s House provides a cosy retreat with unlimited hot water for baths and showers and a relaxing pause before venturing out again for a pub or restaurant meal or just a drink. Do try to visit the nearest pub, The Duke of York in Elton (drinks only, no meals). It is said that the only thing that has changed in the Duke since the Second World War is the price of the beer. In season there will be a welcoming open fire. The Duke is not always open, but when it does open it doesn’t always shut, if you take my meaning. It is just over a mile to walk and it is all uphill. However, it is all downhill for the return and it should be under the stars.