Last Updated on 14 January 2025 by Colette
This post features a hosted stay
Last week, Dave and I took ourselves off to Darwin Forest in the Peak District for a sneaky mid-week break without the kids and honestly it was glorious.
This wasn’t our first visit to Darwin Forest – quite a few years ago now we stayed in a Glade Exclusive Lodge with the kids – but this time we took advantage of my Mum being able to come and take care of the kids for us to get some time to ourselves.
Whilst Darwin Forest is brilliant for families with a soft play and swimming pool, a woodland trail and plenty of extra activities you can book, it’s also ideal for couples or groups of friends – we especially appreciated that having booked a mid-week break, the whole site felt really quiet and peaceful.
Check in for Darwin Forest is typically 4pm but if your lodge is ready ahead of time they will email you to let you know – which I think is briliant. We had stopped in Matlock for lunch on the way to Darwin Forest and had just finished eating when we got the email to say that could actually check in an hour or so early which was perfectly timed.
The lodges at Darwin Forest are self-catering – you can actually get a supermarket delivery straight to your lodge (though you are asked to do this after 5pm to ensure that you have arrived safely and are ready to great your delivery driver). Having just got back from a week’s holiday in France, Dave and I weren’t quite as organised as I’d have perhaps liked so hadn’t really got round to sorting groceries – this mattered less as it was just the two of us and we didn’t really have any fixed plans so we popped to M&S in Matlock to get steak, beer and snacks to see us through our first night.
Our Darwin Forest Lodge (number 112) was tucked away in the furthest corner of the site meaning that we were completely undisturbed. The layout out of Darwin Forest is really clever and allows for maximum privacy between lodges anyway but in this instance we really did feel like we had our own little woodland den with our deck, hot tub and two sets of double doors looking out into the forest.
Having stayed in a quite a large lodge on our last visit, I had worried that our 2-person lodge might feel a little pokey but it was just perfect for the two of us. With an open plan kitchen and living space featuring a corner sofa (which we spent plenty of time lounging on watching films and reading books), a small dining table and a kitchen with cooker, microwave and dishwasher we were well set up for a very relaxing few nights!
The bathroom is huge considering the overall size of the lodge with a spa bath, separate shower and a sauna (we didn’t use this – I don’t love them!)
My only niggle was that the bed wasn’t quite as comfy as I might have liked but I think with my dodgy back and hips, I’m a bit like the princess and the pea!
Our stay at Darwin Forest was super relaxing – we had nowhere we needed to go and nothing we needed to do so we took full advantage of lie ins, soaks in the hot tub, lazy afternoons reading on the sofa and delicious lunches in the onsite bar and restaurant. We actually only left the site to go to the supermarket and to visit the nearby towns of Buxton and Bakewell for lunch and a wander.
We’ve come home feeling well rested and very much reconnected (which I appreciate sounds a little cheesy but it’s honestly true!)
If there’s anything you want to know about Darwin Forest, ask away and I’ll do my best to answer!
You can book your stay at Darwin Forest here: www.darwinforest.co.uk
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