Such a lovely, generous and emotionally warm couple - who assisted us throughout the process. Their incredibly beautiful home and garden, far exceeded all of our expectations and was an absolute pleasure to explore and enjoy. 'Melbourne' is a delightful, friendly place with lots to see and do close by. Matlock and Bakewell etc, are well worth a days visit and generally exploring the beautiful Derbyshire countryside. 'Memories we will treasure'. Many, many thanks

Marcus and Deb's house and garden are a perfect setting and base for either getting to know Melbourne or exploring further afield. There are both town and country walks starting from the house, plenty of daytime cafes and evening bars and restaurants, always with a pleasant welcome. Close by are parks, National Trust properties and canalside inns and walks. Swadlincote has an interesting ceramics museum, Breedon on the Hill priory church has saxon carvings and wonderful views, and Melbourne Hall lake and woods are free to walk around. All in all a very enjoyable exchange, Marcus and Deb are very thoughtful hosts and we found Melbourne to be 'muy acogedora' as the spanish say - friendly and accepting.

We had a lovely time and this was a great homeswap. Everything was exactly as promised, and thanks so much for such a warm welcome.

Marcus and Deb went to great lengths to welcome us to their lovely home. Instructions and helpful hints were plentiful throughout the house. Both the front and back gardens had seating and it was very pleasant to sit out and catch the sunshine, early or late. Melbourne is a delightful little town and there are footpaths from their house to the town centre. The Melbourne Inn serves a monstrous carvery Sunday lunchtime. There was a very picturesque canal walk and cycle trail towards Swarkstone nearby. Melbourne Hall Gardens, an easy walk from the house, were beautiful. A visit to Calke Abbey was highly recommended by Bill Bryson and it is, indeed, a stately home like no other. A long day out exploring the Peak District took us to Castleton and, but not for the faint hearted, a visit to Speedwell Cavern was truly memorable! Thank you again both for a very enjoyable week in your home.

So many delightful touches in Deb and Marcus’s comfortable home, and a choice of spots to laze in their pretty garden. The gorgeous Melbourne Pool only a walk away, if you can resist the numerous watering holes in the town. The Cloud Trail (former railway line now cycle track) cuts through lovely countryside and follows the old canal. Close by Calke Abbey, Kedleston Hall and the Richard lll exhibition in Leicester fed our appetite for history. Many thanks again to our friendly hosts, Deb and Marcus. A wonderful exchange.

We had a great time at Deb and Marcus’s home. The house has all the home comforts you might need and you can always find a spot in the front or back garden to catch the sun. The hot tub was a welcome bonus at the end of a long day on the tourist trail. The location was ideal to visit Chatsworth House, the Peak District, Nottingham, Derby and many other places. The Richard III museum in nearby Leicester was a real highlight. Melbourne itself is a beautiful village with a lovely combination of local services, coffee shops, restaurants and older buildings. We really loved the local walks around Melbourne Hall and pool and the surrounding countryside. We had a fantastic week - many thanks for the exchange.

We had a very enjoyable exchange at Deb & Marcus's lovely home in Derbyshire. The home is centrally located for exploring the county and its surrounds. Deb & Marcus were excellent hosts and provided us with lots of great information. We also appreciated the care they took of our home and the lovely gifts they left for us. If you're looking for a calm and pleasant stay in the English Midlands, look no further!

The house was delightful and very comfortable. We loved the town of Melbourne and especially enjoyed visiting Melbourne Hall gardens. We got full use of our National Trust membership in the week as we visited lots of properties in the area. We did several interesting walks from the house, and one longer one in the High Peaks. Bluebells were still in bloom which was a bonus. Thee is lots to do and see in the area, especially if you admire Bess of Hardwick

Thank you Marcus and Deb for sharing your lovely home with us. It was a great base for some fabulous day trips. We visited Cliff Lakes to go on the inflatable course (brilliant), we did some Karting, we visited family in nearby Belper, and we spent the last day in Derby. Thank you so much for hospitality, the whole experience has been first class

Thank you for a great exchange in the original Melbourne. Having been to Melbourne, Australia 14 times, it was wonderful to visit South Derbyshire where it all started. A delightful small, very friendly town with great community spirit, even in this very strange year. Lots to do locally, especially the Staunton Harold Reservoir, Melbourne Hall & the lovely Pool - all within walking distance. Easy driving distance of the National Memorial Arboretum which was a lovely day out. Space Centre in Leicester was pretty good too. There were many places we wanted to visit but got sidetracked by local attractions. A very English exchange!