Roseleigh Guest House, Buxton
Buxton, in Derbyshire is the highest market town in England. It is also a spa town
(think Buxton water) having first been discovered by the Romans for its therapeutic
waters and then substantially developed at the end of the 18th century by the Duke
of Devonshire and carried on since by many as a full-blown “inland resort” with plenty
to do and see. As a result there is practically a year round production of festivals,
the most important of which are the Buxton Opera Festival which takes place in July
and the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival which takes place in August.
Being the highest market town in England does mean that you should be prepared for
inclement weather, even in July and August and as a result a number of good hotels
and B & Bs have grown up to keep everybody nice and cosy.
Such a B & B is the Roseleigh, situated on the Broad Walk, overlooking the lake in
the stunningly beautiful Pavilion Gardens. Run for some years by Gerard and Maggi
Heelan, it is a haven of quality hospitality, from the lush carpeting throughout
the house, furnishings and period décor in the bedrooms - all en suite and equipped
with colour television and tea and coffee making facilities.
Room sizes vary but in the main also have compact bathrooms which can be a difficulty
for fat people, and prices vary according to the location in the house. Try for room
4 - a spacious room on the first floor which overlooks the lake - but even here the
bathroom is a bit small. Room 14, on the third floor, has the best bathroom, so go
for that if you want to stretch out in a tub. Be aware, though, that the B & B is
very popular and some people who stay there during the festivals book from one year
to the next, so you may not get either of these rooms when you want to.
Breakfasts are more than adequate, but nowhere near in the league of the McMenamin’s
or Tyddyn Llan - we were a bit disappointed with the industrial orange juice and
the tinned fruit, but there are good local ingredients in the “F’lEnglish” and there
are some pretty interesting jams, too.
There is a lovely residents’ lounge on the ground floor overlooking the lake where
you can read and/or contemplate the world accompanied by a very large Paddington
Bear who sits on the best armchair in the house! There is also free internet access
on a dedicated computer or if you have your own laptop there is free wi fi which
you can use in your bedroom although the signal is better in some bedrooms that others.
There is also off-street car parking at the rear of the house for up to 10 cars.
Maggi and Gerard are charming hosts who make one feel welcome and at home and are
a font of local knowledge. They are also spare time travel agents (do they ever get
any spare time?) so if you want to go further afield to, say, Panama or Timbuktoo,
they can help you out there too.
Ratings
Rooms 42
Breakfast 10
Service 8
Atmosphere 8
Value for Money 13
Total 81
For an explanation of the ratings click here
