In a quiet countryside valley sits an historic pub with a huge free outdoor play park for children and a wealth of outdoor seating next to a tranquil river. The Little Mill Inn in Rowarth, Derbyshire, has become a hotspot on sunny days for families thanks to its secluded location in a valley and wealth of things to do outdoors.
The pub is also well-known for its homemade menu of pub classics, and for two years has won the TripAdvisor 'Best of the Best' travellers' choice award for ranking in the top 1 per cent of reviews worldwide. Reviewers on the website hail it as a "hidden gem" and "warm and welcoming to those with dogs and muddy boots".
The Grade-II listed building dates back to 1781 and sits next to the Rowarth Brook with a huge water wheel (that until recently was still operational) right next to it. It is based in the tiny High Peak village which is close to New Mills, and around a 20 minute drive from Stockport.
The pub has been owned by Sarah and Iain Gilman since 2019. They had a TV shop in Disley but had long known and loved the pub. When the previous landlord was selling up he encouraged them to make the move into the hospitality world.
Over the past three years, including through lockdown, they spent hours and hours upgrading the outdoor areas, including putting astroturf on the riverside beer garden. There's even a Gruffalo statue for little fans of the Julia Donaldson story to seek out.
Across the river, accessed by a pretty little bridge, youngsters can explore an adventure park with swings and a huge slide down the hillside. Chickens and ducks also wander freely around the site, while customers can also visit rabbits in a hutch next to the pub.
Sarah said: "We'd always known of the pub, and the retail world with a TV shop was getting increasingly difficult, so we decided to give it a shot.
"Obviously when lockdown hit it was tough - but we made use of that time to redo all the garden. We ripped it all out, extended it and redid it all while adding a new kitchen extension."
Inside the pub the couple set to work on a refresh, with traditional but modern interior details as well as the roaring fire to greet guests on the way in. The team are proud of their fully home-made pub classics, like steak and Guinness pie with mash, chef's burger of the day and handmade sausage rolls.
The dog-friendly pub also offers accommodation in the upstairs rooms, with five B&B rooms and a self-catering apartment. Back in the day, there was also rather quirky accommodation in the site to be found inside a traditional railway carriage next to the pub.
The train, an original carriage from the historic Pullman Brighton Belle, has sat next to the pub for the past 50 years. It had at one time been used as a quirky restaurant space before being converted to accommodation.
But it has now been retired from that service as it requires too much refurbishment and is currently under green hoardings. The Gilmans have now sold the carriage, for a nominal £1, to a collector who is going to completely refurbish it to bring it back to life.
While the pub is somewhat hidden away in its Derbyshire valley, it has long been known as a popular spot for families from Stockport and Manchester. Sarah said: "When it's a sunny day it gets so busy.
"If people have young children they seem to know about us and head here from Stockport and Manchester. It's a great spot because there's lots to do outside while you have a drink and some food."
The spot is also popular for its wealth of walking trails around this beautiful part of the world. Indeed, free leaflets at the pub offer suggestions for a range of walks depending on how far you feel like walking.
There's a popular three mile circular route where walkers can head through the wooded valley, known as "Little Switzerland" to locals here. Heading up hill to the moors at the top of Rowarth rewards walkers with spectacular panoramic views out across the Peak District, Kinder Scout and the Cheshire plain.
How to get there
The Little Mill Inn is located in the village of Rowarth, in the High Peak, with the postcode SK22 1EB. It's around a 20 minute drive from Stockport, on the A626 through Marple and Mellor. If you are driving, it's a beautiful scenic route with views out towards Kinder Scout and the moors of the Dark Peak.
If you are driving back into Stockport after your visit, go via Mellor to marvel from the village lanes at some of the best views across Stockport and Manchester that you could ever hope to get.
Or if you are using public transport, the nearest train station is in New Mills, with bus routes 341 and 375 serving Rowarth.
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