Do not hesitate to contact us. We are an expert team and we are always happy to talk to you.
01694 723600
You matter to us & we promise to provide you with a superb walking & social holiday, tailored specifically to your needs. We provide walking holidays for walkers & as walkers ourselves, we appreciate & understand the requirements of a walking holiday.
Fabulous rolling hills and beautiful dales – the Derbyshire Dales in the Peak District area is great walking country, with it’s lovely rivers and limestone uplands. Our guided walking for solos programme is designed to give the walker the best of this white peak country – and we have chosen some lovely scenic walks for you. The walking is moderate – some climbing but never severe.
We specialise in solos and singles guided walking holidays in stunning areas in the UK and Europe. We also design bespoke holidays for special groups.
Our base for this holiday is close to Dovedale in the heart of the Peak District.- one of the iconic Derbyshire dales. We stay at the Newton House Hotel – situated on the main Ashbourne- Buxton road just above the delightful River Dove at Milldale. Accommodation is single en suite rooms – no sharing. Rooms have flat screen TVs as well as tea / coffee making facilities.
We eat evening dinner in the hotels restaurant – three courses. Dress code is smart casual.
We have lunch at one of Derbyshire’s lovely country pubs.
We offer you the opportunity to stay additional nights, and many people extend their weekend as they wish. Just reserve what nights you need.
There are other walking holiday companies that cover the countryside but we believe we offer the best value for many reasons….
Road
The best way is to head for Derby, then the A52 for Ashbourne. Here you take the A515 for Buxton, and 5 miles along this road, the hotel is located on the right hand side.
Rail
The nearest station is Buxton – there is a regular bus service from the station to Ashbourne (Bus no 442) Mon – Sat only. Buses run at 25 minutes past every hour. This bus stops outside Newton House Hotel.
(Walking starts at 2.30pm on the Monday and finish around 1.30pm on the Friday so wherever possible, make sure your train times fit in with this schedule.)
The Derbyshire Dales and Peak District – lovely river valleys and lofty moorland scenery- walking paths are superb here. There are also lovely villages, built in limestone all across the area, featuring famous stone boundary walls criss crossing the fields.
Four and a half days walking in the dales of Derbyshire. The dales dazzle in the sunlight, clean water running over limestone ground, with trout swimming happily.
What could be better.?
Our first walk is 4-5 miles long on day one afternoon starting at 2.30pm, a roughly two hour “get to know you “walk, with a cuppa at the end. If you cannot make that walk, then we meet in the evening of day one, at 7.00 pm, for a three-course dinner and a discussion on what we are doing during the week,. The hotel has a bar, and your fellow walkers often gather there for a pre-dinner drink prior to sitting down for dinner.
All full day walks are approximately 9-10 miles/14-16 km and we aim to back at the hotel by 4.00pm.
The walks are chosen to show you a varied selection of the Derbyshire Dales countryside, and we walk out from the hotel in a different direction each day. We have a selection of walks that our leaders can choose from, and mostly we walk straight from the hotel, although on occasion, we may use a minibus. This will allow us to reach a drop-off location for a linear walk back to the hotel, or to allow us to walk in an area further afield. Some of these more distant locations may include Youlgrave, Bradford Dale, and historic Lathkill Dale. Walks may be altered occasionally, due to weather conditions
We walk at a steady pace and don’t rush, there’s too much to see and admire. Timing can change, depending on weather conditions, or the walking ability of the group, although we try to maintain our estimated arrival time at pubs, and returns to the hotel.
During the walks, we use footpaths and bridleways, although we may have to walk short distances on country lanes. Derbyshire has a good selection of stiles that allow passage over the beautiful dry-stone walls and are of various shapes and sizes. Grades are moderate and we walk at a pace designed to allow you to enjoy the walk, and maybe snap the occasional photograph. As always, we recommend suitable walking footwear, preferably boots, as the terrain can be very varied.
A brilliant way to get a feel of walking if you are new to it- the rolling landscape and river valleys have a few slopes but all are taken at s steady pace- and we wont race off if you are initially a little slow.
Exclusions
Although our leaders are well trained and experienced in dealing with different capabilities of our walking clients, if they have any concerns about any clients ability or suitability to undertake safely any walking activity we plan or they feel that participation of an individual may affect the groups safety and cohesion, then they have full permission to exclude that client from an activity.
They will try at all times to provide an alternative suggested activity, though this may involve the client in additional local cost.
We rarely have to enforce this above recommendation, but it is a sensible and necessary protection for the individual client, the group and the leaders.
Exclusions
Although our leaders are well trained and experienced in dealing with different capabilities of our walking clients, if they have any concerns about any clients ability or suitability to undertake safely any walking activity we plan or they feel that participation of an individual may affect the groups safety and cohesion, then they have full permission to exclude that client from an activity.
They will try at all times to provide an alternative suggested activity, though this may involve the client in additional local cost.
We rarely have to enforce this above recommendation, but it is a sensible and necessary protection for the individual client, the group and the leaders.
Exclusions
Although our leaders are well trained and experienced in dealing with different capabilities of our walking clients, if they have any concerns about any clients ability or suitability to undertake safely any walking activity we plan or they feel that participation of an individual may affect the groups safety and cohesion, then they have full permission to exclude that client from an activity.
They will try at all times to provide an alternative suggested activity, though this may involve the client in additional local cost.
We rarely have to enforce this above recommendation, but it is a sensible and necessary protection for the individual client, the group and the leaders.
Exclusions
Although our leaders are well trained and experienced in dealing with different capabilities of our walking clients, if they have any concerns about any clients ability or suitability to undertake safely any walking activity we plan or they feel that participation of an individual may affect the groups safety and cohesion, then they have full permission to exclude that client from an activity.
They will try at all times to provide an alternative suggested activity, though this may involve the client in additional local cost.
We rarely have to enforce this above recommendation, but it is a sensible and necessary protection for the individual client, the group and the leaders.
Our first walk is roughly half the distance covered during the full day walks and will show you the lovely valley to the east of the hotel, and maybe pass through the villages of Alsop en le Dale and Parwich, although, if time allows, we may even visit the beautiful village of Tissington. Sometimes we use a short stretch along the old Buxton to Ashbourne railway – the Tissington Trail.
Over the following four days, the walks will cover an area to the west, and centred around the lovely keynote location of Dovedale. Other well-known dales we may pass through include Hall Dale, Milldale, Nabs Dale, Beresford Dale, and Wolfscote Dale, and we may even reach the lovely Manifold Valley on the Staffordshire border. Each has its own particular features and beauty.
Its all about meeting new friends. Each holiday is designed to be a friendly, relaxed and stress free occasion. Talking is as important as walking on Secrethills Walking Holidays. We don’t go in for discos, we may use an event that is taking place in the area we are in to boost the weekends activities – but its good, old fashioned chat that makes our short breaks successful.
“Make new friends that turn into old friends” – that’s our motto.
You might be surprised by what fun you’ll have with people who are older or younger than you during a holiday with us, and that’s exactly the sort of atmosphere we encourage; people find it very rewarding. It doesn’t matter what your reasons for traveling with us are, we’ve had people who are single, divorced or widowed, people who have partners that are unable to travel, and people who can’t holiday with their friends anymore as they’ve all got married themselves. There are people who want to make friends, see sights, and experience something completely new. Whatever your reason, we’ll welcome you with open arms and our friendly hosts will help you to get the most out of your holiday.
Don’t worry if this is the first time you have ventured to join a group holiday – its always a bit daunting – but we will look after you and ensure that you get used to being amongst friends again. Trust us to to get you back into the swing of things.
Oh – by the way – its not a dating agency – over the years we have had people meet and fall in love – but that’s just chance. Our aim is that you make like minded friends – just relax and enjoy.
Just arrive and enjoy.
To reserve a place on any of our holidays, please follow these simple instructions.
Reserve online – once you have chosen your holiday, click on Proceed Booking and complete the online form. If you have difficulty reserving online, please contact us (tel: 01694 723600, email: info@secrethillswalking.co.uk) and we will assist you to complete your booking.
Payment
Please note we cannot take credit/debit card details over the phone. You may pay by the following methods when you book online…
Please note than an initial deposit is required with each booking regardless of which payment method you choose. Your booking will be accepted when your payment (deposit or full balance) is received. Note – if you are reserving a holiday within a month of the start date then the full amount is due immediately and no deposit should be paid.
It is important that you read the terms and conditions before you sign the booking form.
Note – if you are reserving a holiday within a month of the start date then the full amount is due immediately and no deposit should be paid.
Derbyshire and Peak District Dales- Water on Stone
The limestone dales found in Derbyshire Dales and the Peak District are cut by crystal clear rivers and flanked by precipitous cliffs or pinnacles. Some like Dovedale and Lathkill are extremely popular and busy, especially on fine weekends. This is hardly surprising as they are both beautiful and very accessible. Queues form at the stepping stones near the southern end of Dovedale at peak times. Others are not so well known and others, perhaps not so accessible. Many of them are now ‘dry’, without rippling trout streams, but nevertheless still a delight to explore.
Dovedale
Dovedale in Derbyshire and the Peak District, is owned by the National Trust and is farmed, with many sheep on the rocky slopes and in the woods. It is little more than 3 miles distance between Thorpe and Milldale in the north and the famous part is the wooded ravine between the stepping stones, a short distance from the car park at the front of Thorpe Cloud and the cave like Dove-holes. Dovedale`s stepping stones appear on thousands of post cards and the area attracts a million visitors a year. Keep away on sunny weekend afternoons.
Charming villages and bustling market towns
Within the Derbyshire Dales are several superb villages – Tissington with its well dressings and hall; Hartington – plenty of tea shops and a lovely village green; Youlgreave – stone and lead mining were original trades, now tourists flock there. Then there is Cromford where cotton spinning was invented; Baslow, part of the Chatsworth estate and Beeley, with its imposing moor behind.
Ashbourne at the southern end of the Derbyshire Dales simply delights with its quaint streets and bustling market place. Buxton – take the waters – a spa town high up on the moors; Bakewell, famous for puddings, not tarts you know, with the lovely River Wye running through its centre; Matlock on the Derwent -a place of historic industrial significance along with Matlock Bath.
Don’t forget the well dressings – a unique Derbyshire Dales custom described here.
The true origins of Well Dressing are lost in the mists of time. According to many sources, it developed from a pagan custom of making sacrifice to the gods of wells and springs to ensure a continued supply of fresh water. Like many folk traditions, it was later adopted by the Christian Church as a way of giving thanks to God for His gift to us of water. Tradition has it that it took on a special significance in 17th century.
I valued the ethos clearly demonstrated of caring for the walkers enjoyment and doing everything possible through the days to make that happen. Your primary concern.
I’ll be booking another with Secret Hills.
The reservation process was straightforward – no problems. The hotel had a nice, homely atmosphere & the staff were very friendly & ready to help. Wonderful breakfasts!
I thoroughly enjoyed the walks! Well-planned by a thoughtful and informative leader with lots of beautiful scenery and quiet routes. Keith (walk leader) did an excellent job. Every aspect of the holiday was very well organised.
Guided walking – Yes enjoyed. Keith (walk leader) is great. Fun happy nice person, makes a difference. Also very interesting and knowledgeable. I love hearing facts and history of the area too. Hotel – Loved it! Very much!
Guided walking Excellent – great to have Keith (walk leader) who knew the area so well and was very informative about local history etc. Also good that the slower walkers had the option of different routes. Very well organised, can’t think of any area for improvement. Thanks for a great holiday, it was a lovely group.
The reservation process was easy to follow…the equipment checklist was particularly useful.
Organisation of the holiday was excellent. I really appreciated Keith Oxby (walk leader) picking me up from the station.
The hotel was excellent and catered for all of our needs. I thought that the food was pretty good. I did enjoy the guided walking – it was great to see so many differing views and vistas! Keep doing what you are doing Alan! You are doing a great job!