Cosy Pennine Retreat - Relax, Revive & Rejuvenate

Cosy, quirky, spacious, newly-renovated apartment with double bedroom; shower-bath, living/dining room with king sofa-bed; TV/DVD; full kitchen/laundry; shared garden; private entrance & parking space. 5-10 min walk to 18th cent Delph village, Co-op, cafes & local bus. Canals, moors, wild scenery, real ale, country pubs, industrial heritage & Pennine-Peak District walking/cycling trails. Self-check in; Chromecast; free Wi-Fi; laptop-friendly workspace. 20 mins to M62/M60, 40 mins to Manchester. This newly-refurbished, fully self-contained, 19th century stone-built apartment with private entrance and shared garden has a quirky but charming layout with thick walls, sloping floors, leaning shelves and the occasional steep step. Perfect for those wanting to experience life in a traditional Pennine village; enjoy local food and hospitality and explore the delights of the moors and Peak District. Nancy’s Retreat is also popular with those visiting family and friends or attending local events, weddings and festivals. We welcome couples, families, friends, walkers, cyclists, business travellers and everyone in between. Nancy's Retreat is attached to our family home, located on the ground floor of a three-storey stone terrace and accessed via a small flight of steps from your private parking spot. It faces west and is sunlit in the afternoon. There is a secure private entrance with key lockbox for self-check in; central heating; free Wi-Fi and all amenities. A king-size brass bed (150 cm wide) in a separate bedroom with privacy screen plus a king-size sofa-bed in the living room can comfortably host 4 people. A single fold up Z-bed is also available. KITCHEN We have a fully equipped galley kitchen next to the living room with dishwasher, washing machine, tumble dryer, microwave, fridge, freezer, electric oven and hob. Kitchen equipment, recycling bins, cleaning products, laundry detergent and tea towels are all provided. LIVING ROOM The living room has a large sofa-bed with cushions and snuggle blankets; soft lighting; sturdy coffee table; TV/DVD player with Chromecast; selection of board games, playing cards, books & DVDs; and a dining table that seats four. The fold-up single bed is tucked away in the corner. The living room is a perfect space for business travellers and those working remotely, with a quiet, laptop-friendly workspace, complimentary tea and coffee; comfortable chairs, good lighting, plenty of power points, a USB socket for charging phones and fast reliable broadband with 50 mbps average download speeds. BEDROOM The double bedroom runs off the living room and has a king-size brass bed with luxury bedding, plenty of pillows and soft lighting. There's also a mirror, towel rail, chair and two small bedside tables. Access to the bathroom is through the bedroom. BATHROOM The newly-tiled bathroom has a toilet, wash basin and deep shower-bath with ample hot water to soak away tired limbs. Towels are provided. DRESSING/UTILITY ROOM Leading off the bathroom is a dressing/utility room with iron, ironing board, vacuum cleaner, hairdryer, full-length mirror, wardrobe, shelving, hooks and plenty of storage space. GARDEN You are welcome to use our communal garden to relax, enjoy a glass of wine or eat your breakfast. We share the garden with three other neighbours so you may meet them hanging out washing or doing a spot of gardening. We have fold up garden chairs and a small table and in the living room cupboard there are old cushions, blankets and a waterproof picnic rug which you can take outside. If you're arriving by bike there's an outdoor tap and hose to clean your bike, plus two sturdy bike anchors. HOW MANY GUESTS? A luxury king-size bed in a separate bedroom and a large, comfortable sofa-bed OR fold-up single bed in the living room can host a maximum of 4 people. (Please note if sleeping on the sofa-bed or fold-up single bed in the living room, access to the bathroom/toilet/dressing room is via the main bedroom). Nightly cost will vary depending on the number of guests. SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS 1) King size brass bed in bedroom sleeps two (screen available for extra privacy) 2) King size sofa-bed in living room sleeps two 3) Fold-up single bed in living room sleeps one PLEASE NOTE: there is NOT REALLY ENOUGH ROOM in the living room for both the sofa-bed AND the fold-up single bed UNLESS you don't mind the beds taking up most of the living space. This would be OK for one or two nights OR if you're not planning to spend much time in the apartment OR if you're prepared to fold away the beds during the day. (We've uploaded an image (photo 23) showing both beds set up together so you can see if this would work for you.) WHAT WE PROVIDE All towels & bedding Shampoo, shower gel, soap & toilet paper Tea towels Laundry detergent Dishwashing liquid & dishwasher tabs Bin liners Cloths & scourers Cleaning products Tea, coffee, oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, sugar Kitchen equipment Maps, books & local information Bike anchors & outdoor hose Umbrella Nancy's Retreat is completely private with its own car space, separate entrance and self check-in, so you can have as much privacy as you want. I live and work in the family home which is attached to the apartment, however Nancy's Retreat is completely private with its own car space, separate entrance and self check-in, so you can have as much privacy as you want. You'll have my phone number and email if you need assistance or want recommendations on places to visit/eat/ shop or info on public transport. There's also lots of useful information in the Guest Folder including walking/cycling routes; a list of local attractions and eateries; emergency phone numbers; website links and a special section on how to operate the heating, microwave, washing machine, TV etc. I really want you to enjoy your stay, so please do ask if you have a problem or need anything - I'll be just next door. The village of Delph is in Saddleworth, a picturesque upland region in the western foothills of the Pennines on the northern edge of the Peak District National Park. With its wild, windswept moors, rocky outcrops and rugged glaciated valleys, Saddleworth is a popular playground for walkers, climbers, mountain-bikers, fell-runners and other outdoor enthusiasts. Its moors and valleys are criss-crossed by a vast network of footpaths, bridleways and ancient packhorse trails. Come and explore Saddleworth's wonderful landscape, history, culture and people! DELPH VILLAGE Delph Village is a pleasant 10-minute stroll along the river, with Co-op supermarket, off-licence and cash machine; chemist; post office; cafe; restaurants (Italian, Indian, Modern Casual); a theatre, two churches, three pubs (The White Lion, The Bull, The Swan) and a traditional chippy. Buses leave every half hour to Saddleworth, Ashton and Oldham with transfers to Manchester. EAT, DRINK & SHOP The Old Bell Inn - a four-star hotel & restaurant, famous for its 1000+ varieties of gin - is just 120 metres down the road and serves full English breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, local beers and drinks/cocktails in the beer garden/terrace or dining room/bar. Albion Farm Shop and Cafe (1 mile) has ample parking and a delicious selection of locally raised and cured meats; English cheeses and pies; local ales & ciders; delicatessen; fresh organic produce, fruits, vegetables and gourmet meals, fresh and frozen. In the surrounding area you'll find 18th and 19th century pubs with open fires serving hearty local dishes and real ale; cafes and restaurants to tempt your palate; gift, antique and novelty shops; cake shops, a wine vault and bakery; canal walks; cycle paths, walking tracks and bridleways; live music and brass bands. OUTDOOR ADVENTURE We are right on the Tame Valley Way walking track; just 2.7 miles from the world-famous Pennine Way; 4.5 miles from Dovestone Reservoir on the boundary of the Peak District National Park (hang gliding, rock climbing, hill walking, fell running, mountain biking, sailing and stunning moorland scenery & wildlife); 1 mile from Castleshaw Valley with its Roman Fort, scenic reservoirs and Druid history and 6 miles from tranquil Sparth Reservoir, one of the UK's top wild swimming spots. SOMETHING MORE RELAXING? The beautifully restored Huddersfield Narrow Canal is 1.5 miles down the road with its tree-lined paths, waterside cafes, painted barges and railway viaducts, while a five-minute walk will take you to the start of the Delph Donkey Rail Trail which goes all the way to Uppermill. Both perfect for a relaxing stroll or easy bike ride. INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE Saddleworth Viaduct will impress as will Standedge Tunnel, the UK’s longest, deepest and highest canal tunnel where hardy men known as ‘leggers’ lay on their backs on top of the canal barges to push their cargo three miles though the Pennine tunnel to Marsden- an absolute marvel of 18th century engineering. Find out more at the Standedge Tunnel visitor centre in Marsden or head to Uppermill to see the viaduct. THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY Sheep have always thrived in the hardy Pennine climate and from the 17th century onwards, packhorse tracks were built to transport hand-woven woollen goods and raw materials across the country. Delph has an old packhorse bridge, the Barley Bridge, crossing the river near the village centre. You can see many examples of the three storey houses of these farmer-weavers, built alongside Saddleworth's hillside lanes and tracks. They have thick stone walls and mullioned windows to let in light for those working the top floor looms. Saddleworth became a centre of cotton spinning and weaving in the second half of the 18th century, as water-powered mills sprung up in places like Delph. Shaw Mill on the River Tame is a fine example. Turnpike roads were built to raise taxes and Saddleworth still has old toll houses dating back to this period and coach houses that stabled horses and provided overnight accommodation. Why not take a trip to Saddleworth Museum in Uppermill and discover more of the area’s rich history? DAY OUT IN MANCHESTER? If you fancy a day out in multi-cultural Manchester, Northern Powerhouse and home to the world's most famous football team, it's a 40-minute drive, or take the Metrolink tram from Oldham and in 30 minutes you'll be in the heart of Manchester, sampling everything this proud and famous city has to offer - concerts, plays, films, live music, opera, fine dining, high street shops, retro fashion, quirky bars, stylish cafes, major sporting events and award-winning museums and galleries. ANNUAL FESTIVALS & EVENTS Saddleworth Whit Friday & Brass Band Contest (May/June) Wellifest Music Festival (June) Saddleworth Show (June) Uppermill Summer Music Festival (July) Yorkshire Day (August) Yanks Weekend (August) Rushcart Festival & Morris Dancing (August) Diggle Blues Festival (September) Marsden Jazz Festival (October) Uppermill Cricket Club Bonfire & Fireworks (November) Saddleworth Santa Dash & Christmas Lights (December) PUBLIC TRANSPORT Delph is part of the Greater Manchester transport network (TFGM). There's a half-hourly bus, just minutes down the road that will ferry you around Saddleworth or to Oldham; a Metrolink tram in Oldham that will whisk you to central Manchester in 30 minutes and train stations at Greenfield (2.7 miles) and Marsden (6 miles) with connections to Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York. MOTORISTS From Delph it’s a 20-minute drive to the M62/M60 motorway; 40 minutes to central Manchester, 50 minutes to Leeds and 75 minutes to York. WALKING, CYCLING & FURTHER AFIELD Delph is a nature lover's paradise, but close enough to Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds & York for a day out by car or train. Our guest folder has information on local walking tracks, cycling trails and bus routes; the Manchester Metrolink tram; travelling to Manchester/Leeds plus laminated Ordnance Survey maps and books on the area. Just ask if you need travel advice or ideas on places to visit. Please note this is NOT a secluded moorland cottage – Nancy’s Retreat is on the ground floor of a small row of terraced houses in the middle of a bustling village. You'll have neighbours, there is a shared garden with a washing line and there may be occasional noise from above and next door. There may be cooking smells; the sound of music and laughter; footsteps on the stairs above and cars driving past. Our neighbours are kind, friendly and considerate, but if you’re noise-sensitive or are looking for a ‘get away from it all’ place, this is not it!