Farm cottage nr Alton Towers & Foxtail Barns for 9

Farm stay in Ipstones, United Kingdom

  1. 9 guests
  2. 3 bedrooms
  3. 7 beds
  4. 1.5 baths
Hosted by Sharon
  1. Superhost
  2. 7 years hosting

Listing highlights

10-min drive to Peak District National Park

This home is near the national park.

Self check-in

Check yourself in with the lockbox.

Beautiful area

Guests love this home’s scenic location.
Nestled in the picturesque setting of Ipstones Edge, Clockwork Cottage is a beautifully converted barn situated on a 60-acre working farm.

The Staffordshire Moorlands location feels blissfully remote. However, it’s less than 10 minutes away from Alton Towers, making it ideal for a family break away. 20 minutes from Foxtail Barns, too.

Enjoy outdoor dining and share special moments with our new pizza oven.

In a popular location for walking, cycling, hiking, and climbing in the Peak District.

The space
Clockwork Cottage has been thoughtfully converted into a spacious three-bedroom property that can sleep up to nine guests.

We are around ten minutes from Alton Towers and just under 20 minutes by car from Foxtail Barns Wedding Venue. Because of this, the cottage is especially popular with brides, grooms and wedding parties looking for somewhere peaceful to stay before the big day.

The area is wonderfully quiet. In the mornings, you may wake to the sound of birds singing and the occasional moo from one of our cows.

The cottage is surrounded by beautiful, unspoilt Staffordshire Moorlands countryside, making it a lovely place to relax, walk and spend time together.

It is important to say that Clockwork Cottage is not a party house. Parties and events are not permitted.

There are plenty of lovely properties on Airbnb that are better suited to stag weekends, hen parties and large celebrations, so we kindly ask guests planning that type of stay to choose somewhere more suitable.

Clockwork Cottage is ideal for families, wedding guests and groups looking for a peaceful break, plenty of countryside and time to relax together. If that sounds like the kind of stay you are looking for, please read on.

Downstairs, the cottage has a bright, open-plan layout with central heating throughout.

There is a large dining table with seating for up to eight guests, making it perfect for enjoying a meal together after a day of walking, sightseeing or visiting Alton Towers.

The spacious living area has comfortable sofas and a television, giving everyone plenty of room to sit back and relax.

The kitchen is fully equipped with everything you should need during your stay, including an oven, microwave, toaster, kettle and plenty of cooking equipment. You are very welcome to use it at your leisure and prepare meals for your group.

If you would prefer not to cook, we may also be able to make your stay extra special with catering at an additional cost.

Sharon has worked in hospitality and catering throughout her life and would be delighted to prepare something for you. Options may include a cooked breakfast, an easy supper or a traditional cream tea.

Please speak to us before your stay if this is something you would be interested in, and Sharon will be happy to discuss menus, availability and any dietary requirements.

Upstairs, there are three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

The large main bedroom has a king-size bed and two single guest beds, allowing it to sleep up to four people.

The second bedroom has a double bed, while the third bedroom has a small double bed.

There is also a sofa bed in the living area, which can be used as a double bed.

**THE ACCOMMODATION**

The ground floor includes:

* Two sofas, one of which is a sofa bed
* A fully equipped kitchen with an oven, microwave, toaster and kettle
* A large dining table and chairs
* A washer-dryer
* A television

The first floor includes:

* Main bathroom with a bath and separate shower — approximately 2m x 2.5m
* Large main bedroom — approximately 5m x 3.5m
* Second bedroom — approximately 3m x 2.9m
* Third bedroom — approximately 4.5m x 1.9m
* Second bathroom — approximately 2.6m x 1.9m

The nearest pub is within walking distance and takes around 30 minutes to reach on foot.

For guests who enjoy spending time outdoors, there are dozens of footpaths nearby, offering easy access to the surrounding countryside.

Dimmingsdale is also close by and is home to some of England’s finest sandstone bouldering crags, making it a popular destination for climbers.

The area is equally popular with mountain bikers and offers routes for a wide range of abilities. These include family-friendly cross-country trails, as well as steeper enduro and downhill routes for more experienced riders.

Whether you are visiting for Alton Towers, a wedding, a walking holiday or simply a peaceful break in the countryside, Clockwork Cottage offers plenty of space for your group to relax and enjoy time together.

Guest access
Clockwork Cottage is situated on Ipstones Edge. It's down a private 'rustic' traditional farm drive, roughly 400m from the main road.

There is space for three cars included in this booking.

Additional parking can be arranged, but guests must reserve in advance. Extra cars are charged at £10 per vehicle, per night.


You will enjoy access to the property from a private entrance to the side of the cottage. The door opens inwards to a utility/entrance room and provides the perfect space for your boots, cycling, and hiking gear. It then leads to the main living area.

Other things to note
Clockwork Cottage is for people keen to enjoy a tranquil break. If you’re looking for a hen weekend venue or accommodation for a wild party, this isn’t the place to book. Parties and events are not allowed. We live on the property and want to host groups seeking peace and relaxation.

We mentioned above that this is a working farm, but don’t worry; you won’t be disturbed by tractors growling through the night or milking kicking off at 4 am. However, there are cows here. We breed Dexters and have around 50. They’re kept in a shed on the other side of the farm in the winter months and are out in the fields during the summer. So do expect to hear some mooing.

This brings us to our next point. Because of the cattle, we cannot allow pets. Please accept our apologies; no dogs or cats are permitted, humans only.

We do have Wi-Fi. This is via a hotspot connection through 5G. It is not a traditional wired connection, so you may need to reconnect occasionally. So, if your stay is dependent on an excellent and solid Wi-Fi connection, Clockwork Cottage may not be for you.

Please note: additional guests will always be charged, so please reflect the number of guests staying when booking.

Where you’ll sleep

1 of 2 pages

What this place offers

Garden view
Resort view
Kitchen
Wifi
Dedicated workspace

Accessibility features

This info was provided by the Host and reviewed by Airbnb.

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Rated 4.97 out of 5 from 259 reviews.

Guest favorite
This home is a guest favorite based on ratings, reviews, and reliability

Overall rating

  1. 5 stars, 97% of reviews
  2. 4 stars, 3% of reviews
  3. 3 stars, 0% of reviews
  4. 2 stars, 0% of reviews
  5. 1 stars, 0% of reviews

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for cleanliness

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for accuracy

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for check-in

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for communication

Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars for location

Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars for value

Guest reviews mention

Where you’ll be

Ipstones, England, United Kingdom
This listing's location is verified.

Neighborhood highlights

We're close to a lot of things.

According to maps (it's better with directions than I am!), we're:

- 9 minutes from Alton Towers
- 7 minutes from the Peak District
- 4 minutes from Peak Wildlife Park
- 15 minutes from Leek
- 16 minutes to Ilam
- 18 minutes from Ashbourne
- 19 minutes from Hartington
- 27 minutes from Emma Bridgewater/The Potteries

You get the idea :)

Meet your host

Superhost
436 reviews
4.97 out of 5 average rating
7 years of hosting
Where I went to school: Nottinghamshire
My work: Shop assistant at Alton Towers hotel
Hi! I’m Sharon. My husband, Stephen, and two boys, Simon and Robert, moved to the Moorlands from Nottinghamshire in 2000. Since then we’ve made it our home. When we arrived, we farmed 10,000 free-range chickens. As you can imagine, that kept us busy! Then in 2013, our son and his wife converted one of the barns into their home. However, they then moved to Leek. And it was at this point that my husband and I decided to test out a new adventure by listing the property on Airbnb. It’s proven to be a fantastic decision. We’ve loved meeting all our guests so far. And it’s been a great addition to our lives, bearing in mind we still live in the main farmhouse on the property. If you come and stay, therefore, you will find yourself sharing our little piece of the Moorlands with… us, around 50 pedigree Dexter cows, 3 cats, and a handful of chickens. I'm so proud to be an Airbnb Superhost. We've had everyone from families, to brides, to newlyweds stay with us. We do everything we can to make sure every experience is special. Check-in is contactless. You’ll access the property through a separate entrance to the side and collect the key from a sanitised key safe. As I’ve explained, we live in the house on the farm. So we're around if you need us, mainly in our house or working just the other side of the farm. Please note: The access to our house runs to the rear of the cottage, so don’t be alarmed if you occasionally see us walking past.

Sharon is a Superhost

Superhosts are experienced, highly rated hosts who are committed to providing great stays for guests.

Co-hosts

  • Rob

Host details

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