Welcome to Douglas’s Barn
Douglas’s Barn is our ‘quirky but gorgeous’ romantic hideaway for two – the perfect retreat for stressed and overworked couples or singles of all ages.
It is stylish, warm and very peaceful – luxury self-catering accommodation within funny angles, weird nooks and unexpected crannies…
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Why Douglas?
The previous owner, Marion’s father Douglas, whom many of our ‘older’ guests will remember, used to live here, in Douglas’s Barn before it was re-converted into the luxury holiday cottage for two it is now.
He and Boots the cat came to live here in 1999, from South Devon where he and my mother had retired, and where he had lived for 40 years (my mother died in 1990).
Aged 90, he was still vigorous mentally and physically; he loved walking and even at 91 happily walked with us either to or from the Olde Gate in Brassington.
He loved walking and he loved talking; above all he was a great ‘people person’ and loved nothing better than the chance to enjoy the company of guests in Tom’s Barn, and more often than not a leisurely sundowner or two with them outside their cottage in the evening.
From an old Lowland Scots family, he actually grew up near Lichfield, used to holiday in the Peak District (his favourite place of all was Dovedale) and spent all his working life in Africa, where Marion grew up…
Douglas’s Barn History
Marion and John originally converted Douglas’s Barn 1999/2000, at the same time as Tom’s Barn, but initially as a home for Marion’s father Douglas.
Eventually, after Douglas’s death in 2004, they re-converted it in 2006 to form our second luxury holiday cottage for two, consciously making it as different from Tom’s Barn as we could so people had a real choice between two equally lovely romantic cottages for two.
Douglas’s Barn quickly became very popular. Several of our first holiday cottage guests find its unique ambience so relaxing and special that they have by now been back a dozen or more times already!
Our guests flock from all over the country to enjoy walking-holidays in the Peak District, eating-well-holidays, just pure ‘chilling out’ relaxing holidays, special celebrations and satisfying self-indulgent treats.