About Stainsborough Hall begins with us — Joanne and Tim Basford — and our return to Derbyshire to create a family-run country house and cottage collection close to Carsington Water, Wirksworth and the southern edge of the Peak District.
Stainsborough Hall is part of Peak and Dale Places, our small collection of group-stay accommodation in Derbyshire. Everything we do is shaped by a simple idea: creating comfortable, practical places where families, friends and groups can come together easily, without fuss or formality
A Return Home
After more then 20 years living and working abroad, we found ouselves wanting something different, a slower pace, more space and a return to the are where we both grew up.
When we discovered Stainsborough Hall, it felt like the kind of place we had always imagined coming back to. A country house with space to breathe, and a small collection of cottages in the grounds — a place with character, space and enough potential to grow into something special.
Building something over time
We have now been welcoming guests for more than ten years.
Over that time, Stainsborough Hall has evolved into what it is today — a place designed for groups to come together, spend time properly, and enjoy having space around them.
We’ve kept things simple:
- a house that works well for large groups
- cottages that offer flexibility
- and an approach that focuses on making stays easy and straightforward
We’re a small, hands-on business, and we care about the details — because we know they make a difference.
A place to spend time together
Stainsborough Hall isn’t about formality or over-complication.
It’s about:
- gathering around a table
- having space to relax
- and being able to spend time together without feeling restricted
Whether it’s a family celebration, a group of friends, or time away with colleagues, the aim is always the same — to provide a place that feels private, comfortable and easy to enjoy.
Still very much involved
Although the business has grown over the years, we remain closely involved.
We manage the properties ourselves, work with a small trusted team, and are always on hand if needed — while giving guests the space to enjoy their stay in their own way.
Our connection to the area
Being from this area originally, it’s important to us that Stainsborough Hall remains grounded in its surroundings.
We know the area well, and we’ve always felt that its appeal lies in its simplicity — countryside, space, and the ability to slow down a little.
A Family-Run Place to Stay in Derbyshire
About Stainsborough Hall is really about more than the history of the building. It is about how we want guests to feel when they arrive: relaxed, comfortable and properly looked after, with enough space for everyone to come together without feeling crowded.
We know that group stays can take a lot of organising, especially when families, friends or several generations are travelling together. That is why we try to make Stainsborough Hall practical as well as welcoming, with clear information, flexible spaces and a setting that makes it easy to enjoy time together.
Whether guests are staying in the Hall or the Cottage Collection, our aim is the same: to offer a warm, well-run place for group accommodation in Derbyshire, close to Carsington Water, local walks and the southern edge of the Peak District.
Today, guests can stay at Stainsborough Hall in two different ways, depending on the size and style of their group.
For larger groups who want to stay together under one roof, Stainsborough Hall offers 10 bedrooms, generous shared spaces, private gardens and a relaxed country house setting. It works well for family gatherings, special weekends, walking groups and countryside breaks where everyone wants to be based in one beautiful home.
For groups who prefer more flexibility, the Stainsborough Hall Cottage Collection offers five self-catering cottages arranged around one courtyard. When all five cottages are booked together, guests also have use of the communal barn, making it ideal for extended families, mixed-age groups and friends who want to stay close together while still having their own space.
Both options give you easy access to Carsington Water, Wirksworth, Ashbourne and the southern edge of the Peak District, with walks, pubs and local days out close by.