Peake's Retreats

Mongolian yurts, a Finnish glamping hut and a purely English location three miles from the heart of the British beer brewing industry; there’s a pretty multi-cultural mix at Peake's Retreats in Staffordshire. And, like hops and malt, or yeast and barley, it’s a blend that works wonderfully well. From the bucket full of footballs, frizbees and outdoor toys, to the eight-seater hot tub with a coaster for your Prosseco, this is a glamping site where every detail has been covered. On a starry night with the wood-burner roaring and the owls hooting from a nearby tree, there are very few places we would rather be.

12 miles south of the Peak District and three miles from busy Burton On Trent (still home to a handful of excellent breweries, even if it is no longer the powerhouse it once was), Peake’s Retreats is a family run glamping site with just two large luxury yurts big enough to comfortably sleep up to six people. Inside, the king-sized beds and singles come with all the bedding and towels you need, while modern, luxury shower rooms feature plush organic toiletries, hair-dryers and full-length mirrors.

Yet while the cosy Finnish barbecue hut (allowing you to toast your steaks and marshmallows even in the dead of winter) and the well-equipped kitchen cabin only add to the sense that this is glamping for the over-pampered holidaymaker, the place still very much has a connection with the great outdoors: children are welcome to help affable owner Sarah collect the farm’s eggs and help with some of the animals – including lambs and piglets if you arrive in spring and early summer – while campfire cooking is encouraged, with a long and kindling starter kit and a cooking tripod provided outside each yurt.

Beyond your yurt-step lies the local village of Anslow – home to an excellent farm shop and florist as well as the nearest pub – while Burton On Trent’s renowned Brewing Museum is just three miles away. For most, however, it’s the drive north into the nearby Peak District that reaps the real rewards. Walking in the White Peak Area is a treat. Family ramblers should head to the National Trust's Ilam Park, a dog-friendly spot with gentle riverside walks and a popular tea-room overlooking the Italian gardens, while those looking for something more intrepid should start in the ash woods of Dovedale National Nature Reserve and climb up Thorpe Cloud hill. At 942-feet it’s no giant, but on a clear day you can see all the way back south to Anslow where your evening’s hot tub awaits.