I’ll never forget the drive up to Buxton last month – me behind the wheel, sat-nav chirping away like it owned the road, and then bam, we hit a cheeky little diversion just outside Bakewell. Turned what should’ve been a straightforward hour from Derby into a proper scenic detour through some winding lanes, with cows eyeing us suspiciously over dry-stone walls. I was cursing my lack of Ordnance Survey skills under my breath, but honestly, it built this lovely anticipation. By the time we crested the hill and spotted the town nestled in the Peak District, I was buzzing to just flop down and forget the world.

Pulling up to the place, my first impressions were spot on – it’s this cracking first-floor apartment smack in the heart of Buxton’s historic spa town, all stylish and spacious with that airy feel. Those massive windows in the open-plan living area look straight out over the bustling town centre and The Slopes, that sweeping park with its bandstand and manicured lawns. You could sit there for hours, cuppa in hand, watching the world go by without a care. The kitchen’s a dream too, with top-notch appliances including a whopping American fridge-freezer that even makes ice – perfect for keeping the prosecco chilled without any faff.

But let’s be honest, the real joy of the whole trip was doing sod all. After that faffy drive, we dumped the bags and basically melted into the sofa. No grand plans, no hiking marathons up to the Heights of Abraham or anything mad like that – just pure, unadulterated lounging. I’d crack open a book (finally got through that piled-up stack of paperbacks I’d been ignoring), while the other half fiddled with a podcast on low volume. The light streaming in from those windows turned the room into a proper suntrap, and we’d graze on lazy snacks rustled up from the well-stocked kitchen – nothing fancy, just cheese on crackers and fresh fruit, with the ice maker clunking away like a contented robot.

Afternoons blurred into wandering down to The Slopes for a gentle amble – it’s right there below, so close you could pop out for five minutes, breathe in that crisp Peak District air, and be back before the kettle boiled. We’d snag a bench, watch families with ice creams from the Pavilion Gardens café, and let time stretch out. Evenings were for cooking up simple suppers – think pasta with whatever veg we’d grabbed from the local market – eaten at the dining table with the windows cracked open to catch the town’s evening hum. No telly blaring, no scrolling doom; just us, slowing right down.

There was this one moment, staring out at the sunset gilding The Slopes, when I caught myself reflecting – life’s so frantic back home, rushing from one thing to the next. Here, in this little haven, I realised how much I’d missed the art of bugger all. A proper reset. We left feeling lighter, already plotting a return to do even less. If you’re after a Derbyshire getaway that’s all about recharging without the rigmarole, this is your spot. Pure bliss.