Westhills Courtyard
A few miles from Bakewell, tucked away on a quiet equine farm near the village of Winster, sits a pair of holiday cottages that quietly embody everything a Peak District escape should be. Westhills Courtyard is the kind of place that feels discovered rather than advertised. Yet over the past few years it has earned a loyal following; it is an Airbnb Guest Favourite and consistently rated ‘Excellent’ on the platform. I have had the privilege of being involved in telling its visual story from the very beginning, both through photography and by building its website, so when owner Karen wrote me a recommendation, I knew her testimonial deserved to sit at the heart of a proper case study.
Karen’s words say it all, really. She told me:
“I have had the pleasure of working with Phil over the past five years. He has been incredibly helpful whilst setting up my new business, Westhills Courtyard Holiday Accommodation, from photography to building a website for me. I can highly recommend Phil’s business; he gets on with the job and always delivers a professional service, and to make it even better, he’s an incredibly nice person to deal with. I have no hesitation at all in recommending Phil Sproson.”
That feedback matters enormously, because it came from a project that demanded a sharp eye for detail, an understanding of rural luxury, and a collaborative approach from the first shoot to the final page going live.
The property itself is a lesson in considered conversion. Courtyard Cottage and Courtyard Loft were once a stable barn on this small farm in the Derbyshire Dales. Karen had a clear vision: transform the space into two high-quality holiday lets that would offer modern comfort while retaining every ounce of original character. Walking into the courtyard for the first time, I could see why. The setting is deeply peaceful. Uninterrupted views of gently rolling countryside stretch in all directions, yet a short walk brings you to the historic villages of Winster and Birchover, both with pubs serving excellent food and local ales. It is this balance of seclusion and accessibility that makes Westhills so special, and my job was to make sure the property photography and website communicated that balance instantly.
Inside, both cottages required a narrative. Courtyard Cottage is single-level, a bright and airy space with windows that flood the room with sunshine. I composed shots that led the eye from the large comfortable sofa and wood burner to the dining area and fitted kitchen beyond, making the open-plan layout feel generous and inviting. Small details mattered: the antique wooden desk with a stack of local guidebooks, the 55-inch smart TV with its articulated screen, and the fresh flowers Karen often leaves for guests. In the bedroom, I highlighted the king-size bed dressed in crisp cotton linen, the dressing table and double wardrobe, and the en-suite shower room that feels far larger than expected, complete with a Bluetooth mirror and a shower big enough for two. Every frame was designed to answer the unspoken question, “Can I picture myself here?”
Courtyard Loft, a first-floor retreat, presented a different set of opportunities. The thirteen stone steps leading up from the courtyard add a sense of arrival, and I made sure to photograph that ascent. Once inside, the lofty beamed ceilings and wooden floors echo the cottage below but with a more intimate, tucked-away feel. Two easy chairs sit beside the sofa, and a wooden dining table for four invites lazy breakfasts with a view. I paid careful attention to the kitchen’s bright modernity, the welcome pack of bacon, eggs, bread, butter and biscuits, and the soft Egyptian cotton bath sheets waiting in the modern en-suite. The whole sequence tells a story of comfort and rural luxury without ever feeling staged.
Crucially, all of this imagery had to work hard across multiple platforms. The same photos that draw in Airbnb guests also anchor the website, and I built westhillscourtyard.com with that visual flow in mind. The site is clean, easy to navigate, and unashamedly image-led. From the homepage hero photographs of rolling hills and key interiors to the dedicated pages for each cottage, every layout decision was made to let the photography breathe. I integrated clear calls to action and all the essential information a guest might need: the fully equipped kitchens, the log burners with kindling provided, the proximity to Bakewell, Ashbourne and Chatsworth House, and the walking routes including the nearby Limestone Way. I also made sure that Karen’s important practical notes, such as the presence of horses on the farm between 9am and 5pm, were clearly visible without disrupting the serene impression.
One of the greatest rewards has been seeing the tangible impact of that combined photography and web presence. Karen’s cottages continued accumulating glowing reviews, and before long the Airbnb Guest Favourite badge appeared, followed by the ‘Excellent’ rating. While a beautiful property will always attract attention, I believe that professional, cohesive visuals and a trustworthy, informative website accelerate that journey enormously. Guests arrive with expectations already set by the images they have seen, and the reality delivers every time. That consistency builds the kind of reputation that algorithms reward and that travellers actively seek out.
Working with Karen over five years has been a genuine pleasure. She is the sort of owner who cares deeply about every detail, from the quality of the kitchenware to the softness of the towels, and that made my job easier because there was so much authentic material to work with. Whether I was photographing Courtyard Cottage’s private garden at sunset, capturing the glow of the wood burner on a winter afternoon, or fine-tuning the mobile responsiveness of the website, I knew I was helping a dedicated small business owner present her labour of love to the world. Her testimonial, which I treasure, reflects a working relationship built on trust, clear communication, and a shared commitment to quality.
For property owners in the Peak District and beyond, the Westhills Courtyard project offers a clear lesson. Outstanding accommodation deserves outstanding presentation. The right photography does not just document a space; it conveys mood, invites emotional connection, and ultimately drives bookings. A well-crafted website then wraps that imagery in a seamless user experience that builds credibility and converts interest into reservations. Karen’s success, an Airbnb Guest Favourite with an ‘Excellent’ rating, is testament to what happens when a great property is matched with professional visual storytelling.
If you have a holiday let, a boutique guest house, or any accommodation business and you are ready to elevate how it is seen online, I would love to talk. You can explore more of my work and get in touch through my website. Whether you need a full library of inviting images, a bespoke website, or both, the approach remains the same: listen carefully, understand the unique character of the place, and deliver a professional service with as little fuss as possible. Just ask Karen.
