Plan your stay
Things to Do Near Hamps Hall and Barn
The Manifold Track from the village, Dovedale and Alton Towers 20 minutes away, and the best of the Peak District within an hour.
Hamps Hall and Barn sits in Waterhouses, on the southern edge of the Peak District between Leek and Ashbourne. It’s a brilliant base for wedding parties, hen and stag weekends, family gatherings and team retreats. Distances are driving distances from the house, and times vary with traffic.
On the doorstep
All within about 25 minutes of the house.
Photo: Martin Spamer, CC BY-SA 3.0
The Manifold Track & Thor’s Cave
On foot from Waterhouses
Walkers, cyclists & familiesA flat, traffic-free trail along the old railway line through the Hamps and Manifold valleys, with the huge mouth of Thor’s Cave about 4 miles along.
Photo: Ian Sanders, CC BY-SA 2.0
Peak Wildlife Park
4.2 miles · 11 min
FamiliesWalk through enclosures of lemurs, wallabies and penguins and meet dozens of other animals at this friendly wildlife park in Winkhill.
Photo: Dave.Dunford, CC BY-SA 4.0
Wetton Mill
About 5 miles by bike or on foot
Walkers & cyclistsA National Trust tea room beside the river, a perfect halfway stop on the Manifold Track with Nan Tor caves just behind.
Photo: Beep boop beep, CC BY-SA 4.0
Ilam Park
7.3 miles · 19 min
EveryoneNational Trust parkland where the Manifold meets the Dove, with riverside walks, a tea room and views towards Thorpe Cloud.
Photo: DJDunsie, CC BY 3.0
Dovedale
7.8 miles · 20 min
Walkers & familiesCross the famous stepping stones over the River Dove and climb Thorpe Cloud for one of the best views in the Peak District.
Photo: Dunderklumpen, CC BY-SA 3.0
Alton Towers
7.6 miles · 22 min
Stags, hens & familiesThe UK’s biggest theme park is on your doorstep, with record-breaking rollercoasters, a waterpark and the CBeebies Land for little ones.
Photo: Malcolm Neal, CC BY-SA 2.0
Ashbourne
9.5 miles · 20 min
EveryoneThe gateway to Dovedale, with independent shops, cafés, pubs and the start of the Tissington Trail on the edge of town.
Photo: Stephen McKay, CC BY-SA 2.0
Leek
9 miles · 19 min
EveryoneA historic market town with antique shops, independent cafés, craft beer bars and a busy market.
Photo: Peter Evans, CC BY-SA 2.0
Hartington
12.6 miles · 24 min
EveryoneA pretty village with a duck pond, cheese shop and tea rooms, and walks down into Beresford and Wolfscote Dale.
Great days out
From 25 minutes to around an hour away.
Photo: John Topping, CC BY-SA 2.0
Tittesworth Water
11.3 miles · 23 min
Families & walkersA reservoir with an easy lakeside trail, a play area, café and watersports beneath the Roaches.
Photo: Simon Burchell, CC BY-SA 4.0
Tissington Trail
13.1 miles · 26 min
Cyclists & familiesA flat, traffic-free former railway line from Ashbourne to Parsley Hay. Hire bikes at Ashbourne or Parsley Hay.
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The Roaches
13.1 miles · 26 min
Walkers & climbersA dramatic gritstone ridge with some of the best views in the Peak District, home to our sister venue Roaches Hall.
Photo: derek dye, CC BY-SA 2.0
Carsington Water
15.9 miles · 33 min
Families & groupsSailing, kayaking and paddleboarding, bike hire around the reservoir and a big adventure playground.
Photo: Eugene Birchall, CC BY-SA 2.0
Buxton & the Crescent Spa
20.6 miles · 36 min
Hens & familiesA Georgian spa town with a thermal spa at the Crescent, the Opera House and the Pavilion Gardens.
Photo: Paul Buckingham, CC BY-SA 2.0
Heights of Abraham
20.7 miles · 39 min
FamiliesRide the cable cars above Matlock Bath, explore show caverns and enjoy the views over the Derwent Valley.
Photo: David Martin, CC BY-SA 2.0
Bakewell
23.1 miles · 40 min
EveryoneThe home of the Bakewell pudding, with riverside walks, a Monday market and plenty of tea rooms.
Photo: René Cortin, CC BY-SA 4.0
Haddon Hall
22.8 miles · 41 min
EveryoneOne of England’s finest medieval manor houses, with terraced gardens above the River Wye.
Photo: Mike Peel, CC BY-SA 4.0
Trentham Monkey Forest
22.2 miles · 42 min
FamiliesWalk through woodland among free-roaming Barbary macaques, then visit the Trentham Estate gardens next door.
Photo: Rprof, CC BY-SA 3.0
Chatsworth
27.6 miles · 51 min
EveryoneThe great stately home of the Peak District, with world-famous gardens, a farmyard and adventure playground.
Photo: Graham Hogg, CC BY-SA 2.0
Castleton Caverns
30.2 miles · 52 min
Stags & familiesGo underground at Speedwell, Peak, Treak Cliff and Blue John caverns, then climb to Peveril Castle.
At the house
Bring the fun to Hamps Hall and Barn
Some of the best things to do are right here. The house sleeps 40 across the hall and the barn, with space for everyone to get together:
- The barn, with room for parties, dinners and dancing
- A private field for lawn games, marquees and festival-style celebrations
- A games room, living rooms and a snug for cosy evenings in
- A sound system for parties and celebrations
- Murder mysteries, cocktail classes, pampering and more, brought to the house by our partners
Closer to home
Head out on foot with our walking routes from the house, find a table at one of the pubs near Hamps Hall and Barn, or see what you can do at the house on our on-site activities page.
Activity FAQs
What is there to do near Hamps Hall and Barn?
The Manifold Track starts in Waterhouses, so you can walk or cycle to Thor’s Cave from the house. Peak Wildlife Park, Ilam Park, Dovedale, Alton Towers and Ashbourne are all within about 20 minutes’ drive.
How far is Alton Towers from Hamps Hall and Barn?
About 7.6 miles, or around 20 to 25 minutes by car.
Is Hamps Hall and Barn near Dovedale?
Yes. The Dovedale stepping stones are about 8 miles away, around 20 minutes’ drive, and Ilam Park is close by.
Can we hire bikes nearby?
Yes. You can bring bikes for the Manifold Track from the village, or hire bikes for the Tissington Trail at Ashbourne or Parsley Hay.
What is there to do for hen and stag parties?
Alton Towers, Castleton’s caverns and watersports at Carsington Water are popular days out, and our partners can bring activities like murder mysteries and cocktail classes to the house.
Plan your Peak District break
Hamps Hall and Barn sleeps 40. Check dates and prices online, or call us on 01273 271 332.