Welcome to Castle View, romantic holiday cottage for two
Welcome to ‘Castle View’, our charming holiday cottage designed for two, located in the beautiful historic market town of Tutbury, Staffordshire with amazing views of, you guessed it, Tutbury Castle.
In fact ‘amazing views’ doesn’t really cover it. The cottage backs directly onto the Castle (famous for housing Mary Queen of Scots for a large portion of her life whilst held prisoner by Queen Elizabeth I) and where the garden of the cottage ends the castle moat begins. In fact the review from our first ever guests sums it up perfectly;
“A beautiful and sympathetic refurbishment of this old property made it a pleasure to just walk into!
Amazing to be overlooked by the atmospheric castle ruins and a superb location so close to all the facilities in Tutbury”
Thanks Jo!
With the success of The Loft, our other holiday cottage in Staffordshire, we had been looking for something else that could match the already high standard we had set. One look at number 18 Castle Street and we knew we had found the perfect property. Book your stay today using code BOOKDIRECT for a discount
Renovations began in October 2022 and Castle view was ready to welcome guests in April 2023.
Castle View is a small but perfectly formed cottage consisting of downstairs lounge and kitchen and upstairs bedroom and bathroom. The perfect setting for a romantic getaway. Take a look at @katyv_x stay with us here and here.
The Lounge
Step into the heart of comfort and charm in the lounge, a small yet characterful space boasting the warmth of exposed beams and a welcoming brick fireplace, complete with working woodburner for cosy evenings by the fire.
The comfy two-seater sofa invites you to sink in and unwind whilst putting on your favourite Netflix film on the smart TV. Mix up your favourite cocktails using the equipment found on our gorgeous cocktail trolley. Or call up Mint Cocktail company to arrange for some pre-mixed cocktails to be waiting on arrival. Let Joe know that you are staying at Castle View, Peake’s Retreats and we’ll organise the rest for you.
The Kitchen
From the lounge enter into the kitchen where rustic charm meets modern convenience. Exposed brick arches and beams frame the space, creating an inviting atmosphere for your culinary holiday adventures, whether they be takeaway or home cooked.
Whether you’re a coffee connoisseur or a hot chocolate enthusiast, the kitchen is equipped with Nespresso Creatista and a Hotel Chocolat velvetiser to ensure your beverage desires are met. If you prefer a good ol’ English cuppa there is of course a kettle as well.
From pots and pans, to a selection of glasses, golden cutlery, utensils and crockery the kitchen is fully stocked with all of the equipment you need to whip up a delightful meal.
The bedroom
Retreat upstairs to the cosy haven of the bedroom where comfort and romance seamlessly intertwine. A large fitted double wardrobe offers ample storage, ensuring your stay is both stylish and organised.
Pamper yourself with the convenience of the Dyson hairdryer, complete with attachments for that perfect look, as you gaze out of the back window enjoying a picturesque view of the castle, adding that touch of historical charm to you getaway.
An ornamental cast iron fireplace graces the room, enhancing its character and providing a focal point for a touch of nostalgia. A versatile dressing table, doubling as a desk, invites you to sit and capture the beauty of your surroundings, whether being used to get ready for a meal out or to work with ease.
Of course the pièce de resistance is the sumptuous super king size bed, promising a restful nights sleep. Soft lighting delicately illuminates the room setting the stage for the perfect romantic ambience.
The bathroom
Finally the bathroom, where we invite you to indulge in a moment of tranquillity. The shower over bath gives you the option of a nice soak or a long hot shower both of which can be made luxurious with the selection of Neals Yard products you will find on the bath shelf. We have opted to use large re-fillable bottles, not only because they look really pretty, but also to help reduce our plastic waste. Therefore we invite you to use the products freely during your stay but please leave behind at the end of your stay. We know how popular our products are so if you wish to purchase any to recreate your stay at home just let us know.
We have gone backwards and forwards over whether towels should be placed on the bed or in the bathroom in holiday accommodation (and would love your opinion on this) but ultimately decided they belong in the bathroom for convenience. So this is where you will find your fluffy white towels, one hand, one bath per person.
Outside
Did you know that we are dog friendly in ALL of our accommodation? Castle View is the perfect dog friendly spot. With lots of local walks as well as an enclosed back yard leading up to the garden.
Step outside the back door of the cottage into an enclosed yard area with raised decking. A gate to the steps will stop any four legged friends going further than you want them to, with a further gate at the top of the steps where the garden starts. Our long narrow garden opens up at the end with a decking area fenced with 6ft panels for privacy. However we have left the very end of the garden completely open as this is where the views are.
Complete with comfy outdoor furniture, Kadai firepit and fairy lights this stylish outdoor area is the perfect place to spend warm summer evenings or light the fire for extra warmth and cuddle up with a hot chocolate and some marshmallows during Autumn and Winter.
Immerse yourself in the perfect blend of old-world charm and contemporary comfort. Whether you’re curled up with a book, enjoying a cocktail by the fire or catching up on your favourite TV show. Castle View is a haven of relaxation where we have tried to ensure that every detail whispers ‘welcome’
Make your stay extra special
But it doesn’t end there. Staying at Castle View isn’t just a holiday accommodation its an experience that you can tailor to be exactly what you want. Book a massage treatment with Helena from Orenda Holistics (07971 921543) and she will come to the cottage and leave you feeling pampered and relaxed whether it’s reflexology, a head massage, back, neck and shoulder or a facial, Helena is passionate about what she does.
Or order in afternoon tea from TLC foods and bakery, Leanne and Adam own this small family run bakery located just one village over from Tutbury in Hilton. Their afternoon tea consists of a huge selection of cakes and savouries and there are always leftovers for the next day.
Are you celebrating a birthday, anniversary or other special occasion? We offer decoration as well as prosecco/champagne, flowers, cake and if you can think of any other special touches we are happy to look into it for you just text on 07725403070.
The Woodburner
You can really set the scene and create a cosy atmosphere at Castle View by lighting the woodburner. If you aren’t used to lighting fires then there are a few things you will need to know. We do supply everything you need to light the woodburner and here’s how to do it:
- Place a firelighter on the the grate at the bottom of the woodburner (an inch or two of ash can help to insulate the fire)
- Stack 5-10 pieces of kindling around the firelighter in a tipi shape
- Light the firelighter
- Shut and lock the woodburner door but open the vent on the front of the woodburner by turning the circle until it creates a gap for air to get into the fire.
- Once the kindling is burning well (but before it is all burnt out) carefully place 2-3 logs on top of the kindling.
- Close and lock the woodburner door again
- Once the fire is going well you can close the vent slightly so the gap is much smaller. This will mean the fire doesn’t get too hot and your logs will last longer
The Local area
As we mentioned earlier Tutbury is an old town just full of history. You can feel this as you walk down the High Street (which is just a 5 minute walk down the hill from the cottage) where the old buildings have nearly all been converted into independent retailers, cafes, bars, restaurants and even a spa.
Our favourites places to eat out include:
Number 12 The Courtyard; a cute, intimate bistro with outdoor seating in the courtyard. No12 offer a wide selection of drinks from gins and wines to ales from Swinkles Family Brewery (newly opened where the old bank used to be on Tutbury High street) Breakfast, lunch and dinner is served from Weds-Sun from 10am.
The Cask and Pottle; A traditional micropub offering a selection of drinks but with a menu focused on cask ales, grab a traditional pub snack in the form of scotch eggs and pork pies to go with your drink.
The Dog and Partridge; a 15th Century Inn with half timber frame this historical venue is a great traditional English pub made modern without losing it’s historical character. A great selection of food and drinks.
Willows Café; a cute little independent café right on the High Street in tutbury at Willows you will find home cooked food from a full English to freshly baked cakes. Open 7 days a week until 3:30pm. The perfect place to head for a late breakfast after checking out of Castle View before continueing on your journey.
Bistrot Max; fairly new to Tutbury, Bistrot Max is located in the quaint Tutbury Mews row of shops. With a focus on fish meals although we have not yet tasted the menu here we have heard great things.
The Hourglass; a bar with an extensive range of drinks, from gin to beer and cocktails to wine, the hourglass have got it covered. You can also eat here although we would note that the menu is more ‘snacky’ than somewhere to go for a three course meal.
Other local pubs and restaurants we recommend but that would require driving to include:
The Lighthouse, Ashbourne (recommended to us by a recent guest)
The Roebuck, Draycott In The Clay
The Bridge Inn, Branston (also offer takeaway to collect)
Takeaways
If you don’t fancy cooking but want to enjoy the cottage and not go out then why not grab a takeaway.
Tutbury offers plenty of takeaways but if none of the following take your fancy there is an even more extensive range of places that will deliver to your door on justeat just use the cottage address and postcode (18 Castle Street, DE13 9JF)
We can recommend:
The Tutbury fryer, fish and chips
Taxis
If you are wanting to venture further than Tutbury but also want to enjoy a drink or two then you may be looking to use a taxi. There are plenty of local firms available, as we don’t very often use them outselves we wouldn’t like to recommend one. However a simple google search of ‘taxis tutbury Staffordshire’ or ‘taxis burton on trent’ will bring up plenty of local firms. We have seen uber in the area recently, but again have not tried them ourselves yet so cannot comment to their reliability.
