The Lee Wood Hotel in Buxton has been acquired by the walking holiday co-operative with the Georgian property set to open under the HF Holidays brand in early 2027 following a refurbishment.
The acquisition of the Georgian property, which has been family-owned for seven decades, comes after a record-breaking trading year for the cooperative and follows significant recent investment.
HF Holidays has spent £4 million on its Shropshire Hills flagship property and recently completed the reopening and refurbishment of its Snowdonia National Park country house.
The Lee Wood Hotel’s location in the historic spa town of Buxton offers improved access to Peak District walking routes and good rail connections, supporting both guided and self-guided walking itineraries.
The central position will particularly benefit guests travelling by public transport, aligning with a growing demand for sustainable travel options.
Following the acquisition, HF Holidays will not renew its lease on Peveril of the Peak, situated on the southern edge of the national park near Dovedale, when it expires in spring 2027. Holidays will continue to operate from Peveril of the Peak as planned until the end of 2026.
Lee Wood Hotel is scheduled to open under the HF Holidays brand in early 2027 following a light refurbishment programme. The updates will incorporate HF Holidays’ nature-led, members’ club-style interior design approach whilst respecting the historic building’s character.
Holiday bookings for 2027 will launch this summer with HF members receiving priority access before sales open to the wider public.
In the interim, Lee Wood Hotel continues to operate as usual with no immediate changes for the existing team.
Chris Simmonds, CEO of HF Holidays, said: “The acquisition of Lee Wood Hotel gives HF Holidays a permanent base of our own at the heart of the Peak District – a destination that has long been a firm favourite with our members and guests. It is fitting that contracts exchanged in the same month the Peak District celebrates 75 years since it became the UK’s first National Park.
“Whilst Peveril of the Peak has been a much-loved home for HF Holidays for many years, it has always been a leased property. A centrally located base in Buxton will better support our Peak District walking programme and the growing number of guests choosing to travel by public transport.”
For more information about group holidays with HF Holidays, visit www.hfholidays.co.uk.
