Derbyshire (England)

...know where to start because Derbyshire is such a large place with lots of places to interest the tourist. So I left it and filed the start of this review in my documents folder and moved on. My interest in my local area has been rekindled recently because of the MANY trips we have made out into the countryside visiting local pubs.

I have decided from the outset (due to constraints of time and length) that this isn’t going to be a ...
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No visit to Derbyshire is complete without a tour of Chatsworth. Not only is the house beautiful (especially when decorated for Christmas), but the gardens are worth a look around (there are 105 acres of grounds) and there is a farmyard and adventure playground for the kids too. The house is open between March 16th and December 21st in 2005, but the gardens are open all year round (and FULL of sheep) and there is a lovely Garden Centre too ... more

When I saw this category here on Ciao I didn’t know where to start because Derbyshire is such a large place with lots of places to interest the tourist. So I left it and filed the start of this review in my documents folder and moved on. My interest in my local area has been rekindled recently because of the MANY trips we have made out into the countryside visiting local pubs.

I have decided from the outset (due to constraints of time and length) that this isn’t going to be a review of the WHOLE of Derbyshire, just the places I have recently been without repeating too much of what I wrote in my opinions about Ashford in the Water, Eyam and Bakewell. I have also tried to include a few places you might not normally have heard of to encourage visiting a few of the quieter villages and attractions.

~~~BUILDINGS OF NOTE.

***CHATSWORTH HOUSE***

No visit to Derbyshire is complete without a tour of Chatsworth. Not only is the house beautiful (especially when decorated for Christmas), but the gardens are worth a look around (there are 105 acres of grounds) and there is a farmyard and adventure playground for the kids too. The house is open between March 16th and December 21st in 2005, but the gardens are open all year round (and FULL of sheep) and there is a lovely Garden Centre too ~ this is where I got my wedding flowers from!

***HADDON HALL***

Haddon is my favourite stately home because it is so old yet so pretty. It has sections dating from medieval and Tudor times and has lovely paneled rooms, vaulted ceilings, tapestries and beautiful gardens with a terraced rose garden. Haddon can be found not far from Bakewell and is open between 1st April and 31st October in the coming year. There are a number of special events each year ~ these vary and sometimes incur an additional charge. We went there for a Medieval Day a couple of years ago ~ it is a perfect setting for archery and medieval combat.

***HARDWICK HALL***

You can see the hall from the M1 and it really is quite a site. A local poem says “Hardwick Hall, more glass than wall” and I think this really sums up the frontage well because it has lots of windows. Hardwick was built in Elizabethan times and is largely associated with Bess of Hardwick. The Hall and gardens open between the 31st March and 31st October this year and are well worth a visit. This year they opened the Stonemasons’ Centre and a family activity centre. We used to go to Hardwick Hall a lot when I was growing up and the place has fond memories for me.

***BOLSOVER CASTLE***

This is the closest one to me and I am ashamed to say I don’t visit as often as I should. I did go last year though to the annual Food & Drink fair that they hold in the grounds. Although Bolsover Castle was first built in the 12th Century the present building is primarily in a 17th Century style after substantial restoration. The castle is open all year round and is also a popular venue for weddings. The property is owned by English Heritage and holds a busy programme of special events throughout the year. The best are the various historical re-enactment days and the wonderful firework display they put on for Bonfire Night.

Other buildings include St. Mary & All Saints Church (the famous “Crooked Spire” in Chesterfield), Eyam Hall (in the famous plague village), Wingfield Manor (where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned), Kedleston Hall (designed by Robert Adam) and Renishaw Hall (home of the famous literary Sitwell family).

~~~ATTRACTIONS.

***AMERICAN ADVENTURE***

This is the theme park we always used to visit when we didn’t have enough money to go to Alton Towers! Strangely enough it has an American West theme and has over 100 rides and shows. The best thing about this place is that we could usually get cheap tickets and could even get there on the bus. They usually open between April and the end of October each year and is located near Ilkeston. The American Adventure web-site is currently being re-worked so is unavailable.

***CRICH TRAMWAY MUSEUM***

The National Tramway Museum is based just outside the Derbyshire village of Crich. We have visited many, many times and our family photo album has photos of me dating back to being a toddler riding on trams. There are loads of things to do when you are there, including tram rides, museum, film shows and loads of special events throughout the year ~ this year the highlight for me will be the 60th Anniversary of VE Day weekend with street parties, people in costume and late night opening. We have been to lots of vintage vehicle rallies there and they also have Teddy Bears’ picnics. For full details check out http://www.tramway.co.uk/ for opening times, prices and events.

***HEIGHTS OF ABRAHAM***

Located in Matlock Bath, the Heights of Abraham is a tourist attraction combining cable cars, caves, walks and adventure play areas. The cave tours are really interesting and the view from the top is worth a visit alone! For opening information and details of what there is to do I recommend you visit http://www.heights-of-abraham.co.uk/ and take a look. My favourite part is the Great Rutland Cavern ~ this is a former lead mining cave and shows you what life was like for a lead miner and his family.

***CARSINGTON WATER***

This is a reservoir and nature reserve near Carsington in Derbyshire. A day trip to a reservoir doesn’t sound too interesting but it actually is a great place to go. Many schools go there for the educational facilities and there is also a big water sports centre. We generally visit for the lovely walks, to see the birds on the water and for the wide variety of craft and gift shops. The Kugel Stone is worth a look too ~ this is a 1 tonne Bavarian stone that rotates on a pivot and can be moved using very little effort. Check out http://tinyurl.com/3qcsxfor all the usual info.

Other places worth going to include Chesterfield Central Library (I work there and really would LOVE to give you a tour), Gulliver’s Kingdom (an adventure park near Matlock Bath), Cromford Mill (the first water powered cotton mill set up by William Arkwright), the Midland Railway Centre (at Butterley Station, near Ripley you can get a ride on a steam train) and the National Stone Centre (not far from Wirksworth ~ you can find out all about different types of stone and even pan for gold!).

~~~TOWNS & VILLAGES.

***BOLSOVER***

Bolsover is around seven miles from Chesterfield and is a thriving little place full of history. The Castle (mentioned previously) is the main feature ~ it dominates the skyline. There is much more to Bolsover than that though! We normally end up there during our beer ratings outings and The Blue Bell has won awards this year ~ there are several historic pubs in the village, including the White Swan and the Hudson Bay Beer House (the old house of a man who worked for the Hudson Bay Company). Bolsover has a market, a good range of shops and is a good base for exploring the Peak District, while still being on a regular bus route.

***ELTON***

Elton is an old fashioned little village in the White Peak area of the Peak District. It is full of 17th and 18th century buildings and a lovely pub that has remained pretty much unchanged since it was built ~ The Duke of York is run by a lady in her 70’s who still changes the barrels herself! Elton is popular with walkers and has a Youth Hostel and a good few campsites and B & B’s are very close by. Nearby you will find some wonderful countryside, a prehistoric Hill fort and lots of other picturesque villages.

***HATHERSAGE***

Hathersage is most famous for being home to the grave of Robin Hood’s companion Little John. This village is a former industrial centre that has replaced smoky chimneys and mill-stones with Guest Houses and lovely walks. There are a couple of pubs in Hathersage and also a swimming pool ~ it is primarily a place for tourists and has quite a few commuters living there because of its close proximity to Sheffield and Chesterfield.

***HARTINGTON***

I hadn’t been to Hartington until a couple of years ago. We started going to deliver Innspires (our local Real Ale magazine) and then discovered the Hartington Cheese shop and the local Farmer’s Market at Biggin-by-Hartington. The Old Cheese Shop has a big range of local cheeses and is especially famous for its Hartington Stilton ~ the flavoured Stiltons are to die for! The village centres around a lovely village square and there are pubs, shops and picturesque cottages around this focal point. It is famous for its associations with Charles Cotton, a close friend of Isaac Walton and co-author of The Complete Angler. You will find Hartington about 12 miles from Ashbourne.

Other places of note include Newbold (a place just on the outskirts of Chesterfield and worthy of mention because I was born there), Old Brampton (just outside Chesterfield and home to a rather oddly numbered Church clock) and Edale (the village at the start of the Pennine Way).

I love living in Derbyshire! It is full of history, interesting customs and friendly people ~ it also has its fair share of excellent pubs too. There really is FAR too much to tell you about it just one review so the best advice I can give is to get out there and explore the county yourself. I have lived here all my life and there are places I have never visited, let alone heard of! You need to experience the beauty of Derbyshire yourself, get off the beaten track and see all the little villages and stunning scenery (especially in the Peak District).

I have only touched, let alone scratched, the surface of what you will find in my home county. Derbyshire as a county combines industry, farming and tourism. Whether you are in the industrial areas of the towns, the beautiful farmland and dry stone walls of the Peaks, or the impressive Castles and Stately Homes, you cannot fail to be impressed by Derbyshire’s uniqueness and charm. It has so much to offer and so much to enjoy!

A visit to Derbyshire is well worth the trip. I’m sure once you’ve been here you will come back and see us again and again!

~~~USEFUL INFORMATION.

Chesterfield Tourist Information Centre
Rykneld Square
Chesterfield
Derbyshire
S40 1SB
01246 345777/8

Matlock Bath Tourist Information Centre
The Pavilion South Parade
Matlock
Derbyshire
DE4 3NR
01629 55082

Peak National Park Information Centre
Old Market Hall
Bridge Street
Bakewell
DE45 1DS
01629 813227

***BTW...for those who don't know Derbsyhire is an inland county (ie, has no boundaries on the coast) and is surrounded by Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire, Leicestershire, Cheshire and Staffordshire. ***

 

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