“We called it "Home" from the first day of our trip!”
The property: Arriving at Duncrest feels more like arriving at a friend's home than a holiday cottage. Everything we needed was provided, including a fully-equipped kitchen, WiFi and a washing machine and drying rack (which came in very handy after muddy walks). What made it truly special were the extra comforts - a lovely fireplace, hot water bottles (although the cottage is already well heated), a bottle of wine, chocolates and (as we stayed over the Christmas week) a fully decorated Christmas tree, plus a box of mince pies and a little gift for us! There is ample entertainment, with freeview TV, a DVD player, books, a jigsaw puzzle and board games provided.
Service: We found the service to exceed all expectations. The owners (Lynne and George) were not only friendly and approachable, but they went to great lengths to help us throughout our trip. Examples of this include picking us up from the Buxton rail station on our arrival, making calls to check the bus timetables for us, helping us receive our delivery of groceries before we arrived and even storing away our food for us in the kitchen.
Location: Duncrest is a 1-2 minute walk away from the village's market place, where there is a general store and a couple of pubs and cafes. It is helpful to have a car, but we were able to travel around easily by bus. There is a bus service (the High Peak service no. 442) that will take you through the lovely countryside to nearby towns (Buxton and Ashbourne) - it is infrequent but punctual and High Peak provides timetables online. Longnor is a small but well placed village in the Peak District and we were able to set off from here for leisurely countryside walks and more adventurous hikes up Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill.
We cannot recommend Duncrest enough - it is perfect for anyone in small groups / families on holiday in the Peak District, especially those looking for a quiet and scenic place to stay, instead of a busier town. There is nothing to disappoint!