Ashford in the Water

Wheeldon Trees is surrounded by pretty English villages for you to explore including Ashford in the Water, which is just a short journey away.

Ashford in the Water sits on the River Wye, just two miles northwest of Bakewell. The village is known for its limestone cottages, well-tended gardens, and the Sheepwash Bridge, which is a popular spot for photographers.

Here are some things to do in Ashford in the Water:

Visit the Sheepwash Bridge

This medieval bridge is a popular spot for photographers and is a great place to take a stroll. The bridge is a packhorse bridge with an attached stone sheepwash. Years ago lambs were placed in the pen on one side of the river and the ewes swam across the river to get to them. While this was happening they would be pushed underwater by the shepherds to clean the fleece before shearing. Today, large trout inhabit the waters of the Wye around the bridge. It is a Scheduled Monument as well as a listed building.

Visit Holy Trinity Church

Holy Trinity Church in Ashford in the Water is a Grade I listed building that dates back to the 13th century. The oldest part of the church is the west tower, which is thought to have been built around 1205. The nave and chancel were added in the 14th century, and the south porch was added in the 15th century.

The church has a number of interesting features. Firstly, there’s a Norman tympanum over the south door, which depicts a tree of life with a wild boar and a wolf. Secondly, there is also a 14th-century font, a 15th-century rood screen, and a number of stained-glass windows.

The church was extensively remodelled in the 19th century when the interior was restored to its original medieval appearance. The church was also reroofed and the bells were recast.

Eat in a traditional village pub

There are two pubs in Ashford in the Water – The Ashford Arms and The Bulls Head.

The Ashford Arms is a 200-year-old pub that offers gastropub dining, theme nights, and a beer garden. It is located on Church Street, just a short walk from the village green.

The Bulls Head is a 17th-century country pub which is full of charm. It serves great quality traditional food, sourced locally and freshly made along with real ales and spirits. There’s a large back garden. It is located on Church Street, just opposite The Ashford Arms. The Bulls Head is a popular spot for walkers and cyclists, and it is known for its friendly atmosphere and good value food.

Wheeldon Trees – the perfect location for families

Wheeldon Trees Cottages is the perfect place to relax and unwind in the beautiful countryside. Our cottages are close to a variety of activities, such as hiking, biking, fishing, and visiting historic landmarks. In addition, we’re perfectly placed for wandering around charming English villages.

We have 10 stunning cottages set in 12 acres of Peak District National Park. Alongside luxury cottages, our rural retreat offers free EV charging and an honesty shop packed to the brim with goodies. In addition, we have a fantastic games room where you can play pool, air hockey or ping pong. We also have two new electric bikes for you to borrow to explore the local area.

In 2023 five of our cottages were rated 5-Star Gold by VisitEngland. The Farmhouse retained its 5-Star Gold rating from 2020. And now Priestley Cottage, Ollerenshaw Cottage, Nadin Cottage and Mycock Cottage join it with top marks. The remaining five cottages – Sheldon, Walker’s Rest, Critchlow, Elliott and Lomas were all rated 4-Star Gold. In addition, TripAdvisor recently named Wheeldon Trees in the top 10% of places to stay in the world. Thanks to our visitors’ amazing reviews, we were delighted to be awarded the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award 2022. To complete the hat trick, we were also the runner-up in best self-catering accommodation at this year’s Visit Peak District and Derbyshire Tourism Awards.

You can view our availability and pick your perfect cottage by following this link – view our availability.