Elite Traveler HRS 2024

elite traveler HOTELS, RESORTS &SPAS2024 77

Surrounded by 35 acres of gardens and verdant woodland, Wildhive Callow Hall is a dreamy bucolic hideaway in the English countryside

The two-bedroom Den

DINE The Garden Room brings the outside in with its fl oor-to-ceiling glass walls and olive trees festooned with twinkling fairy lights. Laid-back and local is the vibe here — the ingredients are largely from local suppliers, and there’s a kitchen garden (which you can walk through). Changing seasonally, there’s a special ‘best of’ menu that celebrates the seasonal produce. The cocktail menu is exceptional, too — the maple old fashioned is smoky, sweet and smooth, and best enjoyed while sitting next to one of the roaring fi res. There’s also a private dining room that can seat up to 32 guests. But for something extra magical, consider ‘wild dining’ — within the woodland, there’s a wooden table and benches underneath a canopy. The chef will prepare cuisine of your choice while you dine beneath the stars. EXPLORE Be sure to spend time exploring the grounds — depending on the season, you can play croquet on the manicured lawn, bask in the sun in a hidden lounge chair in the gardens, or have a picnic by Bentley Brook. If you’re keen to go further a fi eld, maps are provided in the Coach House (or, guests of The Den will fi nd many maps in the welcome binder) so you can head out on a long hike — there are various routes and durations dependent on your ability. Dutch bikes are available to borrow and electric bikes can be rented — the Tissington Trail is around 13 miles of tracks and runs from the city of Ashbourne to Parsley Hall. By Samantha Coles From $260 per night. Contact callowhall@ wildhive.uk, +44 133 530 0900, wildhive.uk

absolutely delightful two-bedroom hideaway among the trees. Rustic, warm and welcoming, The Den is fully self-contained with a full kitchen, dining area, living space and two bathrooms. There’s a wraparound terrace with an alfresco dining space and a lounge area, along with an outdoor copper bathtub. Much like the rest of the hotel, the beauty is in the details — there are boot racks outside the door with potted plants of fuchsias, and inside there are framed illustrations of the same fl owers. Rhubarb had a toy, blanket and a cozy bed waiting for her (although she chose to hog the king-size bed in one of the guest rooms). Come morning, a charming hamper full of local goodies (including honey direct from the hall’s very own aviary) comes delivered right to The Den’s door, so you can enjoy the bounty out on the wraparound deck — exquisitely peaceful, the only sounds you’ll hear are the gentle rustling of the leaves and the chirp of birdsong.

WILDHIVE CALLOW HALL DERBYSHIRE, ENGLAND Surrounded by 35 acres of gardens and verdant woodland, Wildhive Callow Hall is a bucolic hideaway in the English countryside, found in Derbyshire just at the edge of the Peak District. The hotel consists of a stately Victorian country house (during my visit in the fall, it was covered with red leaves), a coach house where the spa and sauna are located, a glass-walled restaurant and bar, and the treehouses dotted throughout the ancient forest. Inside the main house, the decor is decidedly homelike with charming touches that bring a sense of place — think: bespoke wallpaper depicting the hall and its surrounding landscape in a dreamy 18th-century style, framed illustrations of the local fl ora and fauna, and crackling fi res just begging to be cozied up next to with a good book. The vibe is friendly and relaxed and truly feels like a home — during my visit, I assumed it was quiet but was told the hotel was at 90% capacity, which was very surprising considering how attentive everysta ff member was. STAY There are 15 bedrooms in the house, all designed by Isabella Worsley, and each one has its own eclectically stylish character. Take a short walk (or an even shorter golf cart ride) into the forest to fi nd the gorgeous treehouses, which are all dog-friendly. I stayed in The Den (along with my pampered labrador, Rhubarb) — an

Alfresco dining