Darwin Forest

A five-star lodge park on the edge of the Derbyshire Peak District

Darwin Forest is a lodge holiday park set within 47 acres of woodland between Matlock and Bakewell, on the edge of the Derbyshire Peak District. The site holds a five-star rating and comprises 141 self-catering lodges alongside a range of on-site facilities. Its own presentation describes it as one of the UK's leading holiday parks, a claim supported by the recognition it lists: a previous 'Best in Britain' title from Hoseasons and Gold awards at both the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence and the Derbyshire & Peak District Tourism Awards.

The park is family owned and operated. It belongs to Pinelodge Holidays, a business founded by Hugh Grayson in 1993 and now run by Beverley, Nick and Lyndsey Grayson. The company states that it has welcomed guests for more than 30 years and emphasises returning visitors among its clientele.

Lodge types and what each one includes

The accommodation is organised into eight distinct lodge types, with capacity ranging from two to eight guests. The range covers the Classic, Vogue and Elite Vogue categories as well as the Coppice Spa, Glade Exclusive Spa, Meadow Exclusive Spa, Spinney Exclusive Spa and Spinney Spa. Every lodge has a private veranda with outdoor furniture for dining outside, and the spa lodges add an outdoor hot tub. Many of the types accept dogs, and the park also maintains a separate Dog Friendly category and a Hot Tub Lodges selection for guests filtering by those needs.

Bookings can be filtered by arrival date, length of stay (from three to seven nights) and number of bedrooms (one to four), which reflects the range of party sizes the park accommodates. The site also lists late availability, items available to hire, and extras and gifts that can be added to a stay.

Facilities on site

Beyond the lodges, the park provides facilities aimed at guests of all ages. These include the Evolution Health and Fitness Centre, with a spa area and beauty treatment rooms, the Foresters bar and restaurant, and the Little Monkeys indoor play centre. An indoor swimming pool is part of the offer. Guests also have access to woodland walks and cycling trails within the grounds, and a programme of sporting activities runs throughout the stay.

The surrounding area

The park positions itself as a base for exploring the Peak District National Park, described as the UK's first national park. The material highlights walking routes and cycling trails across the area, together with stately homes, theme parks, family attractions and natural features such as caverns and dales.

Environmental credentials

Darwin Forest states that its lodges are integrated into the existing forest, and it reports more than 20 consecutive years of Gold in the David Bellamy Conservation Award Scheme. It also holds Green Key Accreditation. The park says it works with a range of local suppliers and employs a dedicated conservation champion responsible for protecting and enhancing the natural environment.

Group holidays and related businesses

A dedicated section addresses group bookings and group activities. The lodges and facility buildings are manufactured by sister company Pinelog in Chesterfield, which the group describes as committed to environmentally friendly and sustainable construction. Pinelog also supplies new and second-hand lodges and can be reached separately on 01246 942842.

Pinelodge Holidays owns and operates a second park, Sandybrook Lodges, near the market town of Ashbourne on the southern fringe of the Peak District. It is a smaller, quieter site with 53 lodges set in the former grounds of a 19th-century manor house, including a historic pinetum and a bluebell wood. Sandybrook offers sporting activities, a swimming pool and access to nearby walks and cycling trails, with Alton Towers in the vicinity.

Guest feedback

The park reports 1,672 independent reviews and a Travellers' Choice 2026 distinction on TripAdvisor, and it also references a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence. Two guest comments reproduced on the site, dated February 2026, praise the staff and describe a Spinney lodge as clean, modern and well equipped, with en-suites and dressing areas in each room.