Some of the best places to visit in Derbyshire

The Peak District

The Peak District provides opportunities for many types of outdoor activity. An extensive network of public footpaths and numerous long-distance trails (over 3000 km in total), as well as large open-access areas, are available for hillwalking and hiking. Bridleways are commonly used by mountain bikers, as well as horse riders. Some of the long-distance trails, such as the Tissington Trail, re-use former railway lines; they are much used by walkers, horse riders and cyclists. The Park authorities run cycle hire centres at Ashbourne, Parsley Hay and Ladybower Reservoir. Wheelchair access is possible at several places on the former railway trails, and cycle hire centres offer vehicles adapted to wheelchair users. There is a programme to make footpaths more accessible to less-agile walkers by replacing climbing stiles with walkers' gates.

The many gritstone outcrops, such as Stanage and the Roaches, are recognised as some of the finest rock climbing sites in the world. The Peak limestone also provides many testing climbs. Some of the area's large reservoirs (for example, Carsington Water) have become centres for water sports, including sailing, fishing and canoeing, in this most landlocked and beautiful part of the UK.

More at Peak District

Bakewell

Bakewell is a beautiful, small market town and major tourist attraction, situated on the River Wye in Derbyshire and in the heart of the Peak District. Bakewell attracts many tourists both local and from abroad to the large town centre which is busy all year round with plenty of attractions including gardens, museums,arts and crafts, pubs, coffee shops, and numerous shops selling books, clothes and gifts. Bakewell is home to one of the country's major agricultural and horticultural events of the year. The Bakewell Show attracts some 65,000 people during the 2 day annual event.

More at Bakewell

Castleton

Castleton is an outstandingly pretty village situated at the head of the lovely Vale of Hope, in the heart of the Derbyshire Peak District National Park. Castleton is surrounded on 3 sides by steep hills and the mighty bulk of Mam Tor looms high, 2 miles to the north west of the village. On a hill, overlooking Castleton, is the ancient Peveril Castle.

Castleton has a lot to offer the large numbers of visitors it attracts in terms of interest and history and has always attracted many visitors. There is a large carpark and plenty of onroad parking during busy times. Castleton is famous for its display of Christmas lights and decorations during the festive season. The many shops offering everything from outdoor clothing to gifts stay open late. Castleton is popular with walkers with many public footpaths leading from the village. A short strenuous walk up onto the Great Ridge provides magnificent views of both Edale Vale and the Hope Valley.

Castleton has 4 underground show caves, all worth a visit, for their own interesting features. These are Blue John Cavern, Speedwell Cavern, Treak Cliff Cavern and Peak Cavern.

Blue John Cavern and Treak Cliff contain the treasured, pretty blue and yellow fluorspar called Blue John.

More at Castleton

Chatsworth House	Bakewell
Dovedale	Dovedale
Calke Abbey	Calke Abbey
Cable car st Matlock Bath	Monsal Dale
Carsington Water	Cromford Mill
Chesterfield Church	Well Dressing at Tissington

Matlock and Matlock Bath

Matlock Bath attractions include the Heights of Abraham, Cable cars, Gulliver's Kingdom theme park and the Peak District Mining Museum as well as many other amusements and museums making Matlock Bath a mecca for thousands of visitors.

The Matlock Bath Illuminations are fun-packed family event featuring a spectacular parade of illuminated and decorated boats along the River Derwent. The show normally runs every Saturday and Sunday in September and October.

More at Matlock Bath

Buxton

Buxton is an old market and spa town, nestling amongst the surrounding Derbyshire hills at a height of over 1000ft, making it the highest town in England. There is a variety of accommodation available in the town and surrounding area as well as plenty of local attractions and things to do, making Buxton a great place to spend a few nights or longer.

Buxton is often refered to as the Festival Town or the cultural capital of the Peak District and with such a diverse mix of festivals and other attractions, there is something in the town for everybody.

More at Buxton

Chatsworth

Known as one of the wonders of the Peak, Chatsworth House in Derbyshire is the home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire ,the Cavendish Family. Chatsworth house and gardens have attracted visitors, from all over the world, for many generations.

At Chatsworth gardens you can explore 5 miles of walks with rare trees, shrubs, the kitchen, cottage and rose gardens, temples, sculptures, fountains, streams and ponds.

More at Chatsworth

Calke Abbey in Derbyshire - The House that time forgot

Calke Abbey is the second largest house in Derbyshire, built in 1703 for Sir John Harpur to replace his Swarkestone home. One of the treasures of the Peak, it was aquired in the 1980`s by the National Trust and some of the rooms had remained untouched for nearly 100 years. They have been carefully restored, but left as close to what they were when the trust took over.

Calke Abbey stands in its own large beautiful park, with gardens, a chapel, a 19th century ice house, stables and a carriage collection that are all also open to the public. There is also a shop and a restaurant.

More at Calke Abbey

Cromford Mill at Cromford in Derbyshire - A world heritage site

Richard Arkwright and his partners established a mill in Cromford in 1771 and without delay set about perfecting the machinery and production methods for water - powered cotton spinning.The mill is open everyday and attracts visitors from all over the world. It has a visitors centre, shops and a cafe and plans are in hand for a major exhibition with working machinery, meeting rooms for schools and other educational groups, a library and a study centre.

More at Cromford Mill

Derby

Derby in Derbyshire is the UK's most central city, benefiting from the best of both worlds - a great cultural base situated in the East Midlands on the edge of the Peak District National park. Derby City Centre is quite compact with much of the central area a pedestrianised zone making shopping quite easy.

There are a good range of High street stores lining the Victorian buildings of pedestrianised Cornmarket and Victoria Street. Babington Buildings on nearby St Peter's Street houses a large Waterstones bookshop. Sadler Gate and Iron Gate ( part of Derby Cathedral Quarter ) are lined with 16th-century buildings and boast numerous gift shops, clothes shops, pubs and restaurants.

More at Derby

Dovedale

Dovedale is one of Derbyshire's finest and most popular dales. It is little more than 3 miles distance between Thorpe to the south of the dale and Milldale in the north with the famous part being the wooded ravine between the stepping stones, a short distance from the car park at the front of Thorpe Cloud and the cave like Dove Holes. Dovedale's stepping stones appear on thousands of post cards and the area attracts a million visitors a year. Keep away on sunny weekend afternoons.

More at Dovedale

More Derbyshire dales including Monsal, Lathkill and Bradford dale at Derbyshire dales

Chesterfield

Chesterfield is synonymous with the crooked spire on top of the church of Our Lady and All Saints. It gives Chesterfield its identity.

Queen's park has been the focus of much of Chesterfields leisure since Victorian times. It provides a boating lake, gardens, childrens play area.

In the middle of the market is the Victorian market hall which is open throughout the week providing shopping facilities and function rooms. Nearby is a part of the town known as the Shambles which originally dates back to the 12th century. The shamble's narrow streets are both quaint and home to good shops, tea rooms and an interesting timber framed pub called the Royal Oak.

More at Chesterfield

Carsington Water

Carsington Water is home to local and migrating bird species all year round, which can be observed from the site’s bird-watching hides and wildlife centre. For the more active the site has numerous cycle paths and trails, an adventure playground for the young and a full calendar of outdoor activities at the water sports centre. Bicycle hire is also available.

More at Carsington water