Hillcrest House

This was a great place for a group of friends to gather for a weekend of catching up, going for lovely walks on the doorstep and relaxing in the hot tub/sauna.

Worth noting that robes and hairdryers are provided in each room and towels for the hot tub and sauna are provided in the sauna area - not sure these were listed in the details. Lovely property, comfortable living area and bedrooms, fully equipped kitchen and beautiful views.

Overall, we had a great weekend.

We loved the location, and the property was largely as expected based on the information provided prior to arrival. The hot tubs and sauna were a fantastic addition and were thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. We also really appreciated the large dining table, which allowed us all to sit together, and with a few extra chairs we were able to comfortably use the living area as a group. However, there were several issues that unfortunately impacted our stay. On arrival, during heavy rain, there was a significant leak in the kitchen which progressively spread across the ground floor and into multiple rooms. While we contacted the number provided and were advised that it would stop once the rain eased (which it did), it substantially disrupted our evening. We had to repeatedly monitor and empty buckets and pans placed around the property, which detracted from our time together. In addition, two of the toilets were not functioning properly due to flushing issues. One of the bedrooms was unusable for the first two nights due to a very strong smell of petrol or fuel. This meant we effectively had one less bedroom than expected, which impacted the comfort of our group until the room had been aired out and we felt it was safe to use. We also experienced an issue with one of the ovens (the left-hand oven when facing them), which made a very loud and concerning noise when turned on. Although the noise subsided once it reached temperature, we were initially unsure whether it was safe to use. Given the cost of the stay, I was disappointed that these issues occurred. While we still had an enjoyable weekend overall, these problems did affect our experience.

There was a problem with the heating when we arrived in the house.

The house was freezing cold they had one night of oil. They did do the best to bring us heaters and firewood and we did have oil delivered the next afternoon. You just don’t expect to go to Rental and not have any heating oil. There is also leaks coming through the ceilings as well so the house needs a good maintenance update we did enjoy the area and overall the house was more than big enough for us as a family.

Had an excellent time.

Great location, well equipped property. Will be coming back!

Beautiful location in the Derbyshire countryside.

A great weekend for a big family get together. Our hosts had thought of everything for all our ages, from 2 to the seniors. Would definitely use Sykes again. Everything ran smoothly. The only thing missing in the kitchen was a microwave but maybe it was hidden from view.

What a fantastic place!

Eighteen of us had gone for a family birthday celebration & it was ideal for a party weekend. Everyone loved their rooms which were well decorated, very clean & comfortable. The kitchen was very well equipped & the dining area ideal for such a large party. The setting was fantastic, with lovely views all around the house with the hot tubs being a particular favourite place from which to savour them. We all had a fabulous time & would certainly look at coming back for any future similar event.

A lovely, spacious property.

Its well equipped. Was lovely & clean on arrival. A few of the bedrooms just need the paint touching up. The hot tubs & sauna are a bonus. A really lovely place for a family get together.

It is a beautiful property in a stunning part of the country and the staff are helpful.

We had a couple of issues that were ultimately dealt with in a generous and timely manner. We will be back.

This property is fantastic!

The location is beautiful and the facilities are above and beyond! The property was clean, comfortable, and had everything we needed for a fantastic weekend away for a large group. We cannot praise this property enough, thank you very much and we look forward to future stays!

The house is lovely, with a really good layout and en suite facilities.

We had to raise some maintenance issues with the owner, who responded well. We were disappointed with the bbq which we felt was not large enough to cater for the numbers the house can accommodate and unfortunately on the one day we used it, only one half of the grill was working. It seemed quite old and should probably be replaced, but with the very good cooking facilities in the kitchen we managed. Likewise we think the freezer compartment was not big enough for a party of 22. The garden area and hot tubs and sauna were so nice. All in all a lovely break in a lovely place.

Excellent setting, lovely garden space and seating options, superbly appointed rooms and kitchen.

magnificent dining and living room ideal for a large party at a special family birthday.

Our annual weekend family break at the house was great and the facilities were excellent .

The location was really lovely and walks plus pub ( Old Dog really recommended ) near by a great bonus ! We did have an issue with heating on the top floor but after a call the plumber attended quickly but only part fixed. The only picky poiny was the slow Toaster in mornings but we would not hesitate to come back again anytime !!

Our family had a wonderful time at Hillcrest House and were very appreciative of all the extra items we had not expected from the listing.

These included shower robes, dishwasher tablets and bin liners . We found lots of things to do locally and our little one loved the farm park experience. We did not get to the tramway museum early enough to be able to enjoy the full experience. Judith Charlesworth

Fantastic location & amazing views, property was well equipped to cater for large groups.

We were celebrating family milestone birthdays & the property was great for all ages, good to have ground floor bedrooms. Good size bedrooms with really comfortable beds, & beautifully decorated. Large dining table - we catered & also had an outside caterer in who commented it was one of the best kitchens she had used! As dog owners garden is secure as neighbouring fields have sheep & cows. Hot tubs are well positioned with great views of Thorpe Cloud & sunset. Would highly recommend!

We loved our stay.

Perfect for a big family break. All rooms lovely with amazing views. House very clean. House well equipped with everything we needed. (Could do with a 2nd toaster as the one there takes forever and with so many people for breakfast it took a while) but everything else so well equipped for large numbers. 2 dishwashers really handy. All rooms nicely spaced apart so didn’t feel on top of each other during stay. Massive dining table to seat everyone. Loved that there were a couple of different lounges/cosy areas so guests can spread out and not be all stuck in one space. Outdoor area beautiful- most amazing views. Sooo nice to have that view to wake up to. Little lambs right there and bunnies hopping around. Outdoors would benefit from a comfier sofa/rattan type set or loungers for sunny days/more seating if everyone wanted to sit outside at table. Also an outdoor light nearer the house/table would be great for sitting out. 2 Hot tubs and sauna fab. Beautiful setting. Owners were helpful and easy to contact with couple of queries we had re cleaning and someone came out to check/clean one of them out that seemed to not be quite right. We had a couple of children with us who absolutely loved their stay and all the space in the garden (small children need close supervision as house very close to the road - no issue but garden gates are like metal farm gates so small children could easily get through them onto road) Ashbourne only a 10 min drive away for cafes shops etc and lots of nice walks on your doorstep. We absolutely loved our stay so much and wouldn’t hesitate to return/recommend to those looking for a special break.

We had an amazing stay at Hillcrest house.

It’s a fantastic property in a beautiful location. We were there to celebrate my partner’s 60th birthday with friends and family. Everyone loved it and nobody had a bad word to say about it. It was beautifully furnished and the beds were really comfortable. We were all sad to leave and would definitely go back to stay again.

This is a fantastic house in a wonderful position.

We did, however, have major issues with the electrics on the site. When we arrived the house was warm, but after that the heating went off and we had to resort to sweaters etc. The instructions sent out by the owners stated that “the heating is controlled via an outside app …. Do let us know if you would prefer it warmer or cooler.” We messaged Laura Holden at 18.01 on Saturday to ask for some heat, and she replied at 21.24 telling us that the reference to an outside app was copied from another property. Laura then told us where the thermostats were in the house; one of them would not work because the knob was worn. Guests staying in the cottage and on the third floor of the main house were cold. A further disappointment was the hot tubs. We decided to use them on Saturday evening, but found that there was no power in the areas of the sauna and hot tubs. On investigation we found an outside consumer unit with an RCD that had operated. The cause appeared to be a fault on the hot tub nearer the sauna, so we had to leave that disconnected in order to restore the outside power. We.messaged Laura and she promised to contact a local electrician; she did this and he came on Sunday around 1 pm when we were out walking. These issues with the heating and the hot tubs were most unsatisfactory: we were only there for the weekend and we manifestly did not get full value. OTHER ISSUES: kitchen well equipped but needs some small sharp knives, one or more decent sized cafetières, water jugs, and plugs for the sink. The “Welcome Guide” needs careful revision: what it says about the heating and the Wi-Fi is inaccurate.

Thank you for a wonderful stay.

Laura went above abd beyond to ensure decorations were up for my daughter's 21st birthday and also deal with a couple of other requests. An amazing family stay. Thank you

We stayed for a week in early December and had a great time.

The house was decorated for Christmas which was a lovely bonus. The location is amazing with views of Thorpe Cloud out the window and so many walks right on the doorstep. All the bedrooms are lovely and very spacious. It was a nice touch having robes, it made using the hot tubs a much nicer experience! Plus having 2 hot tubs is also a real bonus for a big group. We noticed one evening that the sauna wasn't working and let the owners know. First thing the next morning an engineer arrived and it was up and running. Really great service to get it sorted for us so quickly! Only thing I'd suggest is a few more large pans in the kitchen. We were a big group (19 adults) and love to cook, so maybe this isn't an issue for others but just thought I'd mention it! Didn't detract from a lovely stay though, we would definitely return.

When we arrived one part of the house was very cold not good when you have 3 small children as part of party we did manage to contact owner who talked us through thermosets and boiler and thankfully delivered some firewood the following day.

There was no information how to use hot tub and sauna laminated instructions in the house would be good boiler should also be included . There were 14 adults plus 3 small children and we used the 4 bin bags and 4 dishwasher tablets provided and had to purchase more plus extra toilet roll not good given the amount we paid. The hot tub lid was broken on one of them. A small welcome pack would be good just basic bread salt/pepper milk eggs butter? The house is in a fantastic location and the beds were really comfy. Just a few things the owners need to address.

We had a fabulous stay here as a group of friends with children and partners celebrating our 40th birthday.

I arrived in the dark so it wasn't until the next morning that I woke up to the beautiful views. The house was wonderful - lots of little spaces for quiet time and chilling out as well as communal spaces for group catch ups. The local walks and pubs were wonderful. The kitchen was well stocked with lots of equipment. And everything was really clean and comfy. The jacuzzi and steam room had wonderful views. It was the perfect location for a special event with friends

Quite a few lightbulbs needed replacing, one room all the lights stopped working completely.

One room had a shower that leaked into the room below and we couldn’t get the heating to work in half of the house when we arrived. Also couldn’t get basic TV channels, which isn’t the end of the world but some of the older members of our party would have liked that. Other than that the house was as described and very clean and comfortable. Just missing some of the basics you usually get even in more budget rentals, e.g. three ovens but no oven gloves, salt and pepper would have been handy, bin bags

The place is great for large groups.

That’s the first thing. Two large fridges, 2 ovens and a microwave/oven in a large kitchen. So catering is easily done. The common spaces in the house are comfortable and nicely decorated. It has a charming country hotel feel. Outside is absolutely beautiful. Plenty of parking space. Stunning views. Great hikes on your doorstep. AND two hot tubs and a sauna. That’s a great facility. The cherry on top was the owner, Nico coming to welcome us when we arrived, being in contact throughout our stay to make sure everything was fine and seeing us off at the end. We loved our stay and will be back.

Lovely house in a great location, perfect for a big family gathering.

Well equipped, nice welcome pack on arrival. The owner could not have been more helpful. Highly recommended.

"We stayed at Hillcrest House 17th - 21st July 2023 and the stay was amazing!

" A family holiday with 15 adults and 5 children aged 4 to 10 years. There was more than enough space to comfortably accommodate us all and not once did we feel like we were on top of each other! All bedrooms were spacious with their own bathroom and an extra shower downstairs. There were 3 lounges all beautifully furnished and decorated and the dining room table and chairs were enough for all of us. Highlights included the two hot tubs and the amazing views! The house is fully equipped with all mod cons to enjoy your stay. And the house was also close enough to some great walking paths. The children (and the adults) appreciated the Children's room as well with its own tv, games and books. Laura (the host) was very helpful with all messages regarding questions about the stay answered promptly. We will definitely be staying there again!

Beautiful house with everything you need.

Owners lovely too, our weekend was just perfect!

We spent a week at Hillcrest House.

A family holiday with 10 adults 3 children age 2 to 6 years and 2 dogs. To say there was plenty of space is an understatement. All bedrooms had stunning views except one of the downstairs ones, which to make up for it had its own little private sitting room. On entering the property there was certainly a wow factor. All bedrooms were spacious with their own bathroom and an extra shower downstairs. There were 3 lounges all beautifully furnished and decorated and the dining room table and chairs were enough for 22 people. High chairs provided and travel cot available as requested. A nice little touch was the childrens room with its own tv, games and books. 2 Hot Tubs, spa and a bbq in the garden area. I cant fault anything about this property and could say so much more. It didnt disappoint. Also the owner Nicho was contactable and supportive throughout. Would I stay again? Most definetly

We stayed at hillcrest house 5-8th may 2023 and the stay was phenomenal!

Nothing was too much trouble for the hosts all messages regarding questions about our stay were answered promptly even advice on nice walks in the area and trust me there are so many! 20 of us stayed in the house and 2 children and there was more than enough space to comfortably accomodate us all and not once did we feel like we were on top of eachother! The veiws from the hot tubs are something i cant even explain just breath taking! Our group especially enjoyed the sauna and hot tubs after the walks up the hills. The house is like home from home fully equip to enjoy your stay! We will absolutely be returning in the future.

Fantastic house.

Ideal for our group for a 60th birthday. Good location. Everyone really enjoyed. A printed welcome book would have been helpful for things like the WiFi password, what to do prior to departure etc.

Overall ok but need to give some feedback on certain things to help the owner.

Not elderly friendly, doors make lot of noises and were very heavy to open due to the door closures. Door stoppers(few were provided) did not do their job. Shower cubicles are too tiny in some rooms, nothing inside the shower cubicle to hold shower gel etc Radiators are not working properly. Heating should be checked. More comfortable sitting arrangement are required. Sofa not comfortable and friendly for family to watch telly. Proximity to road not seen in the picture. People walking by could peep inside. Lastly we were ready with all our stuff to check out however at 9am for outside hot tub cleaning people arrived. Another car arrived at 9.30am came in which I assume was the cleaner for inside cleaning who stood outside the main door looking inside the house at us. This was very uncomfortable as we were loading our stuff into the cars.

Fantastic property we had the best stay with 14 adults and 8 kids ranging from 3 months to 10 years old.

The location is walking distance to dovedale / stepping stones. The house is warm and comfortable and all of the bedrooms and en-suite bathrooms are great. The kitchen is fantastic lots of storage, ample cups, glasses plates etc and even plastic bowls plates and cutlery for the little ones. The owners were great and we literally had the best time and hope to come back!

Hillcrest House was absolutely fabulous.

Well equipped, comfortable and luxurious. It is in a great location and the owner couldn’t have been more helpful at very short notice. The layout was great for our large family and the decor and resources were first class. Each and every bedroom was clean and stylish, and catered so well for the wide range of ages in our family. There is a lovely, ambient feel to the house and we had everything we needed.