LOCAL RECOMMENDATIONS
LUMSDALE WATERFALL
The stunning Lumsdale Falls is one of my absolute favourites! It explores the stunning Lumsdale Valley, just 5 minutes up the road from us. An area with a fascinating industrial past, it’s now a peaceful, wooded valley with romantically overgrown mill ruins standing beside waterfalls. The route goes on to follow quiet paths and country lanes with fabulous views across Matlock to Riber Castle. It really is a little spot of paradise!
CHATSWORTH HOUSE
I love visiting British heritage and Chatsworth is my absolute favourite of all the stately homes! Set in the Derbyshire Dales, just a 20 minute drive from us, it has belonged to the Cavendish family since 1549. Chatsworth House has over 30 rooms to explore, from the magnificent Painted Hall, to the family-used chapel, regal State Rooms and beautiful Sculpture Gallery. Chatsworth also houses the Devonshire Collections, one of Europe's most significant art collections, which is continually added to, encompassing Old Masters to contemporary ceramics and artefacts from Ancient Egypt to cutting edge modern sculpture. Each year Chatsworth hosts a number of special events including the Horse Trials, Country Fair and Christmas market; and from November the lower floors of the house are transformed for the annual Christmas displays. In addition to the busy events programme, each year Chatsworth also hosts a number of special exhibitions included with admission.
HADDON HALL
Haddon Hall is an English country house on the River Wye near Bakewell, Derbyshire and is one of the finest examples of a Medieval and Tudor Manor House. It takes 15 minutes to drive from our property. Haddon is acclaimed as one of the most beautiful medieval manor houses in the whole of England, and rightly so. It’s an absolute must-see for any visitor to the Peak District. With a rich history and beautiful sights, it has provided the backdrop for several film and TV versions of Jane Eyre, as well as The Princess Bride, Elizabeth, Pride and Prejudice and The Other Boleyn Girl.
CROMFORD MILL
Built in 1771 by Sir Richard Arkwright, Cromford Mills is the world’s first successful water-powered cotton spinning mill and a cornerstone of the Industrial Revolution. Just a 7 minute drive from our property, Cromford Mills and the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site showcase the captivating story of how the Derwent Valley changed the world in the 18th Century with the growth of the British cotton industry. A visit to Cromford Mills will introduce you to this amazing moment in history as you explore the mill yard, visitor centre and adjacent workers village in Cromford.
THE HEIGHTS OF ABRAHAM
Located on the edge of the Derbyshire Peak District, Matlock Bath is home to the Heights of Abraham. Famous for its cable cars, which take visitors on an exciting flight through the scenic Derwent Valley, passing over river, road and rail before reaching the summit of Masson Hill. Once at the summit the 235-year story of the Heights springs to life. Visitors can take two different tours through underground illuminated caverns, with professional guides to lead the way. Above ground, there are three exhibitions, delving deeper into the heritage of the 60-acre estate. Adventure playgrounds are on offer to keep the children busy, with heritage gardens and sculptures too. The Heights is a truly unique and memorable day out and I highly recommend!
BAKEWELL
Idyllically situated on the banks of the river Wye, the biggest town in the Peak District National Park's mellow stone buildings, medieval five-arched stone bridge and quaint courtyards are a magnet for painters, photographers and sightseers alike. Legend has it that the town's famous Bakewell Pudding was created by mistake by a local cook in the mid-19th century. Today her delectable 'jam tart that went wrong' can be sampled at various bakeries and cafés and posted virtually anywhere in the world.
HARDWICK HALL
Another National Trust treasure, from the Elizabethan era. Built between 1590 and 1597 for Bess of Hardwick, it was designed by the architect Robert Smythson and is a symbol of the Renaissance style.