The Counting House

Wirksworth, Derbyshire
Self-catering
+44 (0)1629 824377
Visit owner's website

From
£110 - £250
per night
From
£490 - £750
per week

Quirky townhouse on the edge of the Peak District, with shops and restaurants on your doorstep; sign up for workshops with your artist hosts

Bed

1 bed

Bedroom

1 bedroom

Sleeps

Sleeps 2

Babies welcome

£110 - £250 per night

£490 - £750 per week

The Experience

This tall Georgian house was built originally as a lawyer’s office, hence the name. It’s in the centre of a friendly market town, with plenty to dip into close by – independent shops, an arts cinema, heritage centre, bistros and pubs.

Peter and Alison have restored the house with much love and attention to detail adding original art throughout. You can let yourself in with the key box, but they’ll come and say hello once you’re settled. A miniature replica of the building houses a welcome bottle of Prosecco.

While away lazy days with books and board games in the sitting room; sit at the table in the little front yard to catch the afternoon sun and watch the world go by. Explore the town with its fascinating history, narrow alleyways and stunning views. Chatsworth House and Haddon Hall are half an hour by car; ramblers, cyclists and bird-watchers will love the surrounding Derbyshire Dales. The owners offer a tempting range of craft courses at nearby Zantium Studios.

The Counting House - Gallery

We think you'll love

  • Being right in the middle of town with plenty on your doorstep
  • The beautiful original artwork throughout the house
  • County walks and heritage trails straight from your door
The Counting House - Gallery

You should know

  • The stairs to the bedroom are steep-ish, but there are handrails either side
  • Parking is a 1 minute walk away - pull up outside to drop luggage off

Essentials

  • EV charger
  • Self check-in
  • Swimming pool
  • Hot tub
  • Garden
  • Open fire / woodburner
  • Breakfast included
  • Breakfast available
  • Meals available
  • Vegetarian meals
  • Oven
  • Parking on premises
  • Free parking nearby
  • Accessible by public transport
  • WiFi
  • Television
  • Central heating
  • Limited mobility
  • Wheelchair access
  • Mobile reception
  • Hob
  • Barbecue
  • Paid parking nearby
  • Air conditioning
  • Relaxation areas
  • Washing machine
  • Tennis court
  • Microwave oven
  • No smoking
  • Credit cards
  • Working farm
  • Owner has pets
  • Electricity included
  • Dishwasher
  • Pets welcome

Family friendly

  • Baby monitor
  • Books and toys
  • Children welcome
  • Babies welcome
  • Stair gates
  • High chair
  • Fire guard
  • Cot available

Nearby

  • Pub/bar within 3 miles
  • Restaurant within 3 miles
  • Shop within 3 miles

Activities

  • Bikes available
  • Food courses
  • Kayaking
  • Other courses
  • Sailing
  • Surfing
  • Wild swimming

Pricing

Nightly price
from £110
Weekly price
from £490
Surcharges
Extra bed/sofabed available. Short breaks: 3-night stays, £370-£595 .
1 House for 2
From £1101 bed1 bedroom

Information

Special offer: Unusually, we still have availability for Christmas & New Year. We are offering £50 off full week stays or £25 off short breaks (19th Dec 2024 - 4th Jan 2025 only). "The Counting House is magical!"

Booking information

Check in
From 3pm
Check out
By 10am
Other details
Minimum stay: 2 nights. 3 nights in high season.
Closed
Rarely.
No smoking
Smoking not permitted anywhere in the property.

Reviews

It has been a privilege to stay in your beautiful house. We have thoroughly enjoyed our visit and would highly recommend. Wirksworth is wonderful and steeped in history.

Ann & Paul, Staffordshire

The Counting House is full of Georgian character and we have both thoroughly enjoyed our stay. It was a welcome break to leave the car parked up for 3 days and take in a few of the local sights and hostelries. We recommend a walk up to The StarDisc for spectacular views of the area. The Northern Light Cinema is a great experience too

Paul & Anne, Coventry

Quite simply the nicest place I have ever stayed! Wirksworth is quirky and beautiful with an amazing church. The Counting House is gorgeous and well kept. Comfy bed and as for the bath...

Fiona, Bingley

We absolutely adored the Counting House. It has been a dream to stay here.

Shelby, London

Just to say how much we enjoyed our stay at the lovely Counting House. Everything was top notch. We loved the bedroom mural and the info sheet was really interesting. Wirksworth is a great little town. We loved the pubs and eateries that we visited - all very friendly and reasonably priced. All in all a great few days. We would certainly like to return before too long.

Mark & Annie, Oxford

We really enjoyed our stay at The Counting House and loved reading the story of how it was restored. The bedroom mural is absolutely beautiful. We were very impressed with the cleanliness of the property and the extra measures taken for covid. Thank you again

Angela and Garry, Hartlepool

We had a fabulous time at The Counting House. We especially liked the artwork in the bedroom - Wow! Comfortable bed, we slept very well...maybe it was the walking (or the beer/wine!) .Wirksworth is such a lovely friendly place. The Red Lion is worth recommending as they sell 'pop up' street food in the yard. Umami produces great dishes from around the World at very reasonable prices, delivered to you in the pub!

Louise & Brian, Oxford

A beautiful & lovingly restored building, that is both cozy, luxurious & is simply a unique building. Everything has been done to make sure the feel of the property is maintained whilst it feels completely Covid safe. There is everything that you need within the property for your break. The bedroom has a stunning mural, hand-painted by the owner's & furniture styled to the period. The bathroom is both large & luxurious, with both a walk-in shower & a stand alone bath to relax in after a day out walking & enjoying the beautiful Derbyshire countryside. A lovely building to match a lovely break!

Christine

We enjoyed 4 nights at The Counting House. It is an attractive period property which has been thoughtfully renovated. The bed is superbly comfortable- probably the best we have experienced in a rented holiday house and we loved the hand-painted frieze behind it which attracted us immediately in the photograph on the website. The location in Wirksworth allowed us to explore some wonderful walks along the Lathkill and Wye rivers. The simple and free parking arranged by the owners was much appreciated too. Picnic supplies were easily sourced in Wirksworth so we had a lovely holiday.

Holly, London

We really loved our stay at The Counting House. Such a chilled and relaxed home...with the best bath ever! Wirksworth is a pretty town with an excellent bus service. We enjoyed dinner at 'Le Mistral' and tapas at 'The Green Man' in Ashbourne. We do hope to come back and explore more. Thankyou to Alison and Peter

Maureen and John, London

Thank you for an exquisite stay in this beautiful house. We've had a lovely time exploring the hidden gem of Wirksworth. A huge thankyou to Alison for great recommendations including the fireworks on Bonfire Night - so perfect! A wonderful week in spite of the rain.

Molly and Felix, London

We had a very relaxing and enjoyable stay at The Counting House. The owners, Alison and Peter , have thought of everything to make this lovely property both attractive and practical. The location is also great as it's a perfect base to explore the area, and, in addition, the little high street is quite literally on your doorstep with a good selection of places to eat & drink. We would definitely recommend a stay here!

Janine, London

What a find! The Counting House is beautifully appointed and in a great location. It has a high quality, well equipped kitchen, a very comfortable lounge and the bedroom is exquisite. The bathroom again is of the highest quality. Parking close to the property is not a problem with the pass provided. Wirksworth is a lovely little market town with an excellent bistro, pubs, cafes and quirky shops. The cinema is fabulous and well worth a visit. Loads of walks over the Dales and Peak District close by, as well as a number of good National Trust properties. We had a fabulous week.

Louise, Stourbridge

Quirky and beautiful is how I would sum up The Counting House. It is situated in a prominent part of the town of Wirksworth and everything is on the doorstep: independent shops, cafés, restaurants and even a tiny cinema with sofas and armchairs. The artist owners have put their creative expertise to stunning effect with a fabulous hand painted mural in the bedroom. Every room has something beautiful to admire in it and comfort is a priority throughout.

Mandy, Sawday's inspector

Read more reviews

Location

The neighbourhood

Wirksworth is a characterful market town with a monthly farmers’ market and art and architecture festivals throughout the year. There’s a café for breakfast and lunch opposite the house, and good bistros, a fish and chip shop and pubs are within easy walking distance; there’s also a micro-brewery down the road. Walk five minutes (uphill) to see the StarDisc, a 21st-century stone circle with a celestial amphitheatre. As well as the Peak District, you’re in driving distance of several stately homes – Chatsworth House and Haddon Hall (30 mins), Hardwick Hall (40 mins).

Local points of interest from Alison Massey

  • Blow away the cobwebs at Carsington Water (sailing, fishing and bird watching). For walkers and cyclists there's an 8 mile track circling the Reservoir or the High Peak and Tissington Trails nearby (cycle hire available)
  • Take a stroll up Greenhill for rewarding views over Wirksworth and beyond. At the top you'll find "The StarDisc - a 21st century stone circle and celestial amphitheatre”. Explore the maze of paths and old miners' cottages know as "The Puzzle Gardens"
  • Follow your nose around the corner for coffee at "Otto's", brunch at "Sour Cow" or dinner at "Le Mistral". Book a sofa for two with a bottle of wine at the wonderful "Northern Light Cinema". Seating just 52, this is a small but beautiful experience
  • Wirksworth is steeped in history. Discover the significance of red tape, George Elliot and The Dream Cave on a visit to the Heritage Centre. Neighbouring Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage site provides a fascinating insight to the area's industrial past
  • Sign up for a craft course with your hosts at Zantium Studios. Try mosaic, stained glass, willow sculpture, jewellery and more. Professional tuition, quality materials and delicious lunches. Take home new skills and your own hand-crafted works of art
  • Wirksworth holds a weekly produce market, monthly farmers' market plus a host of annual events. These include the Arts Festival, Well Dressing Carnival, Open Gardens, Book Festival and ‘Antiques in the Streets’

Introducing

Alison Massey

Alison and Peter met at art college in London. They moved to Derbyshire after they married, living near Carsington Water and renting studio space in Derby. Their dream was to live in the Peak District with their home and studio on site, and they now live in Godfrey Hole, about a mile away from The Counting House. They offer workshops on a range of subjects: mosaics, silver clay jewellery, willow sculpture, willow basket weaving, needle felting, stained glass, creative paper cutting, letterpress printing and craft bookbinding. Photographs by Chris Webb.