EXPLORE THE PEAK DISTRICT
There are 13 National Parks in England and Wales, and the Peak District was the first national park to be established in 1951. The Peak District is located centrally in England and covers more the 550 square miles. The park has stunning landscapes to enjoy throughout the year, from the edges, to the reservoirs, viaducts, cycleways and varied wildlife and habitats. The park has been shaped by people and nature over thousands of years.
CHATSWORTH HOUSE
Chatsworth House is a stately home in Derbyshire, England, in the Derbyshire Dales 3.5 miles (5.6 km) north-east of Bakewell and 9 miles (14 km) west of Chesterfield. The seat of the Duke of Devonshire, it has been home to the Cavendish family since 1549. Standing on the east bank of the River Derwent, it looks across to the low hills between the Derwent and Wye valleys. The house is set in expansive parkland and backed by wooded, rocky hills rising to heather moorland. It contains major collections of paintings, furniture, Old Master drawings, neoclassical sculptures, books and other artefacts. Chatsworth has been chosen as Britain's favourite country house several times
BUXTON THEATRE
Buxton Opera House is in The Square, Buxton, Derbyshire, England. It is a 902-seat opera house that hosts the annual Buxton Festival and, from 1994 to 2013, the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival, among others, as well as pantomime at Christmas, musicals and other entertainments year-round. Hosting live performances until 1927, the theatre then was used mostly as a cinema until 1976. In 1979, it was refurbished and reopened as a venue for live performance
WALKING IN THE PEAKS
The Peak District National Park is home to an amazingly diverse range of landscapes, ones with expansive and dramatic panoramic views, snapshots that you will fall in love with and remember forever.
From rugged limestone valleys to calm lakes and reservoirs, wherever you walk in the Derbyshire countryside or the Peak District National Park you can always be guaranteed to get the time and space to take a deep breath of fresh air and feel closer to nature. Exploring each walk in the Peak District National Park is always an adventure
CASTLETON CAVERNS
There are four show caves open to the public in and around Castleton. These are Peak Cavern, Speedwell Cavern, Treak Cliff Cavern and Blue John Mine.
Peak Cavern is the only wholly natural cavern of the four and is the least commercialised. It was known to locals as the Devil’s Arse and the stream issuing from it as the Styx, which give some idea of how the locals used to feel about it.
PEAK WILDLIFE PARK
Set on the edge of the Staffordshire Peak District; Peak Wildlife Park offers a truly unique and immersive animal experience. Its large walkthrough exhibits allow you to come face to face with exotic and endangered animals from across three continents. Whether you love lemurs, have a passion for penguins or want to wander with the wallabies (and feed them with your hand!), the park has something for you.
CARSINGTON WATER
Owned and managed by Severn Trent Water, Carsington Water is a large reservoir.
It was built by Severn Trent Water and opened in 1991. The reservoir is used to store the water supplying homes in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire. Carsington cost around £107 million to build and it rates as the country’s ninth largest reservoir. The reservoir is 31 metres deep – the height of seven double decker buses! At maximum capacity the reservoir is 300 hectares (741 acres) – 700 football pitches could fit on the surface!
There are 3 walking trails around the site.
A 1 mile, 3 miles and 8 miles walk. Maps are available from the main reception desk. Other options are the cycle hire, picnic areas, adventure playground and the sailing club.
SHOPPING
PEAK CYCLE ROUTES
The Peak District is home to fabulous off-road cycling routes including Tissington and High Peak Trails which meet at Parsley Hay and the quieter Manifold Track in the south-western Peak running from Waterhouses along the old Leek and Manifold light railway line. Explore the spectacular countryside of the Peak District by bicycle, on bridleways, quiet lanes and traffic-free trails. Pretty villages, superb views, interesting history, fascinating wildlife and geology – it’s all here for you to enjoy. Whether a mountain biker or a ‘roadie’, cycle tourist or family/leisure cyclist the Peak District has routes to suit you.
HERITAGE SITES
At the heart of Derbyshire’s history is the birthplace of the factory, which ushered in the Industrial Revolution. Arkwright's Cromford Mill is part of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, and allows you to see inside the world’s first water powered cotton mill! Discover this great monument of the industrial revolution - a fascinating and completely unique marker in history to experience today.
And why not Visit Royal Crown Derby or Denby Pottery to see another side of Derbyshire's industrial heritage, ceramics! The Denby Pottery Visitor Centre has everything one could want from a pottery-based day out; you can even paint your own piece of Denby to be fired in the kiln to take home!
Now when you visit Royal Crown Derby, you can wander round the accredited Museum, have a guided tour of the factory, then explore the Royal Crown Derby Retail Shop (the only place you can buy outlet items) and finally indulge in Afternoon Tea in the 1750 Tea Room!
You can also step back in time and visit the remains of the area’s lead mining history at the Peak District Mining Museum or in the show cavern at The Heights of Abraham- the Peak District & Derbyshire is full to the brim with history just waiting to be explored…
Although most famous for its gorgeous countryside, the Peak District & Derbyshire also has bags to offer on the retail therapy front. There are loads of unique shops and some fantastic markets to explore…
From Intu Derby, East Midlands Designer Outlet to Bakewell Market, Derbyshire and the Peak District is full of every type of shop you could want.
The big shopping centre of Derby and its award-winning Cathedral Quarter, are full of all types of shop- a great day out when coupled with a lovely lunch too!
Why not pop into some independent shops in Derbyshire & the Peak District’s charming towns and villages such as Ashbourne,Bakewell or Buxton; they’ve lots of offer and exploring them makes for a great day out.
Chesterfield Market is another reason why Derbyshire has lots of to offer if you’re in the mood to shop. The flea market comes to Chesterfield town every Thursday- full of vintage, second-hand and antique items.
So whether you chose to shop in one of Derbyshire’s big town centres or a weekly local market, you’re bound to find the thing that you’re after, and perhaps some lovely things that you didn’t even know you needed.
ADRENALIN
Abseiling, gorge-scrambling and high wire zip line adventures in the woods are all on offer in the Peak District & Derbyshire- perfect for adding a touch of action to your holiday.
Choose one of the Peak District’s many vast drops and have an instructor guide you through abseiling down back to earth!
Get a bird’s eye view as you zip through the trees in the area’s beautiful woodland at Go Ape in Buxton- this is an action outdoor activity that all the family can enjoy.