Claire's Guidebook
Sightseeing
Home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, it is an absolute must-see! Beautiful historic house and huge gardens to get lost in, as well as a large estate with roaming deer, perfect for a stroll. Don't forget to stop by the lovely shops and cafe afterwards! It is well worth booking in advance especially in busy season.
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Chatsworth House
Home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, it is an absolute must-see! Beautiful historic house and huge gardens to get lost in, as well as a large estate with roaming deer, perfect for a stroll. Don't forget to stop by the lovely shops and cafe afterwards! It is well worth booking in advance especially in busy season.
Sometimes overlooked in favour of larger Chatsworth House, Haddon is, in our opinion, even more beautiful and historically fascinating. Explore the ancient Tudor Hall which is carefully restored and maintained, and stroll around the Elizabethan rose gardens. TIP: Keep an eye on their website for events - they often hold artisan makers markets in the grounds of the Hall!
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Haddon Hall
Sometimes overlooked in favour of larger Chatsworth House, Haddon is, in our opinion, even more beautiful and historically fascinating. Explore the ancient Tudor Hall which is carefully restored and maintained, and stroll around the Elizabethan rose gardens. TIP: Keep an eye on their website for events - they often hold artisan makers markets in the grounds of the Hall!
An absolute must-do for anyone visting us, it really is a great trip. At the top clinging to the side of the cliff there is a great cafe in a beautiful glass sided ski-chalet style lodge that looks out across Matlock Bath and beyond. Take a tour down the mines, visit the museum, or just explore the walking trails. Grab an ice cream and take in the stunning views before catching the cable car back down. This is also a dog friendly place with dogs allowed in the cable cars and walking trails.
TIP: Book in advance especially in busy season!
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Las Alturas de Abraham
Dale RoadAn absolute must-do for anyone visting us, it really is a great trip. At the top clinging to the side of the cliff there is a great cafe in a beautiful glass sided ski-chalet style lodge that looks out across Matlock Bath and beyond. Take a tour down the mines, visit the museum, or just explore the walking trails. Grab an ice cream and take in the stunning views before catching the cable car back down. This is also a dog friendly place with dogs allowed in the cable cars and walking trails.
TIP: Book in advance especially in busy season!
A working history museum set in a period village with working pub, cafe, sweet shop etc. Filled with lots of old trams from 1873-1982, most of which are working and you can have endless rides on! Perfect for anyone who loves a bit of history, keep an eye out for their special themed days, such as 1940s weekend.
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Crich Tramway Village
A working history museum set in a period village with working pub, cafe, sweet shop etc. Filled with lots of old trams from 1873-1982, most of which are working and you can have endless rides on! Perfect for anyone who loves a bit of history, keep an eye out for their special themed days, such as 1940s weekend.
Just up the road, this is a must visit (and also a must book ahead as it gets very popular in high season!). Ride the steam trains through Darley Dale to Matlock and back. Volunteer/enthusiast run, they work so hard to keep steam heritage alive in the Dale.
Keep an eye on their social media and website for their themed train rides and weekends (1940s weekend, Christmas train rides etc).
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Peak Rail (Rowsley South Station)
off Harrison WayJust up the road, this is a must visit (and also a must book ahead as it gets very popular in high season!). Ride the steam trains through Darley Dale to Matlock and back. Volunteer/enthusiast run, they work so hard to keep steam heritage alive in the Dale.
Keep an eye on their social media and website for their themed train rides and weekends (1940s weekend, Christmas train rides etc).
Good for a wander around pretty gardens and lake area.
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Thornbridge Hall Gardens
Good for a wander around pretty gardens and lake area.
Local towns and villages
Wander around the pretty town and shops - don't forget to pick up a traditional Bakewell pudding from one of several traditional Bakewell pudding shops (different to a Bakewell tart!) to bring home for friends and family.
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Bakewell
Wander around the pretty town and shops - don't forget to pick up a traditional Bakewell pudding from one of several traditional Bakewell pudding shops (different to a Bakewell tart!) to bring home for friends and family.
Also known as the Plague Village - this little village has a terrible and fascinating history with the Plague. Wander around and read the signs all around the village, detailing the life and selfless sacrifices this village made during the Plague. There are a few great spots for a drink and bite to eat here too, including The Coolstone behind Eyam Hall, and the Village Green Cafe.
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Eyam
Also known as the Plague Village - this little village has a terrible and fascinating history with the Plague. Wander around and read the signs all around the village, detailing the life and selfless sacrifices this village made during the Plague. There are a few great spots for a drink and bite to eat here too, including The Coolstone behind Eyam Hall, and the Village Green Cafe.
This quirky little place is full of history, as well as being a bustling resort town with plenty of spots to grab a bite (fish and chips are a favourite here!) or a drink in one of several pubs/bars.
Take a stroll down 'Lovers Walk' by the river and watch mountain climbers scale the cliffs above the town, or kayakers test their nerve in the river.
There is also a little aquarium, as well as typical resort town arcades, seaside style rock and ice cream shops and other quirky little places to explore.
It is also a hugely popular destination for Motorbikers, particularly on a sunny Sunday, it is quite a sight to behold to see huge numbers of motorbikes lining up beside the cafes while their owners mingle - it will delight petrolheads especially
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Matlock Bath
This quirky little place is full of history, as well as being a bustling resort town with plenty of spots to grab a bite (fish and chips are a favourite here!) or a drink in one of several pubs/bars.
Take a stroll down 'Lovers Walk' by the river and watch mountain climbers scale the cliffs above the town, or kayakers test their nerve in the river.
There is also a little aquarium, as well as typical resort town arcades, seaside style rock and ice cream shops and other quirky little places to explore.
It is also a hugely popular destination for Motorbikers, particularly on a sunny Sunday, it is quite a sight to behold to see huge numbers of motorbikes lining up beside the cafes while their owners mingle - it will delight petrolheads especially
A slightly slower pace of life than Matlock Bath, Matlock has many small independent retailers and fantastic spots for food and drink (see your welcome pack for details).
Wander around Hall Leys Park, and in summer there are also boats to hire on the boating lake.
TIP:
Matlock is our go-to town for essential shopping - There are more mainstream essential shops here such as Boots, Superdrug, Costa, M&S food, Co-op, petrol stations etc for any forgotten essentials. Just outside of Matlock is also a large Sainsburys supermarket and petrol station.
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Matlock
A slightly slower pace of life than Matlock Bath, Matlock has many small independent retailers and fantastic spots for food and drink (see your welcome pack for details).
Wander around Hall Leys Park, and in summer there are also boats to hire on the boating lake.
TIP:
Matlock is our go-to town for essential shopping - There are more mainstream essential shops here such as Boots, Superdrug, Costa, M&S food, Co-op, petrol stations etc for any forgotten essentials. Just outside of Matlock is also a large Sainsburys supermarket and petrol station.
A pretty little place surrounded by lots of walking/hiking/climbing options.
Home to numerous show caves which are open to visitors.
Plenty of local pubs and cafes and village shops such as sweet shops etc. A walk up to Peveril Castle is well worth the entrance fee (it's a English heritage site). Gets very busy in high season, so always good to visit early if you can!
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Castleton
A pretty little place surrounded by lots of walking/hiking/climbing options.
Home to numerous show caves which are open to visitors.
Plenty of local pubs and cafes and village shops such as sweet shops etc. A walk up to Peveril Castle is well worth the entrance fee (it's a English heritage site). Gets very busy in high season, so always good to visit early if you can!
Nature lovers
Huge reservoir with visitor centre and cafe. Ideal for a walk (easy pathways many of which are accessible) as well as for bird lovers and wildlife photographers.
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Carsington Water
Huge reservoir with visitor centre and cafe. Ideal for a walk (easy pathways many of which are accessible) as well as for bird lovers and wildlife photographers.
Curbar Edge (with Baslow and Froggat Edges also close by) is a fantastic spot for walking, hiking and climbing. Lots of different trail/walk options with incredible views. Don't forget your walking boots!
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Curbar Edge
Curbar Edge (with Baslow and Froggat Edges also close by) is a fantastic spot for walking, hiking and climbing. Lots of different trail/walk options with incredible views. Don't forget your walking boots!
Beautiful rocky outcrop surrounded by walks (dogs on leads as it's surrounded by farmland). Popular with climbers and walkers, we love a trip here as it's just so beautiful.
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Robin Hood's Stride
Beautiful rocky outcrop surrounded by walks (dogs on leads as it's surrounded by farmland). Popular with climbers and walkers, we love a trip here as it's just so beautiful.
A bronze age stone circle - lore says that 9 women were turned to stone here for the crime of dancing on a Sunday. Surrounded by peaceful woodland and beautiful open moors, you have the option of a short walk to the stone circle, or of walking for hours across moorland. One of our favourite places to walk.
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Nine Ladies Stone Circle
Lees RoadA bronze age stone circle - lore says that 9 women were turned to stone here for the crime of dancing on a Sunday. Surrounded by peaceful woodland and beautiful open moors, you have the option of a short walk to the stone circle, or of walking for hours across moorland. One of our favourite places to walk.
Actually also lots of managed woodland, Farley Moor is a great local walk especially for dogs. Pathways lead through the woods.
Farley Moor
Actually also lots of managed woodland, Farley Moor is a great local walk especially for dogs. Pathways lead through the woods.
Neighbourhoods
Just up the road from Darley Bridge is this pretty local park with duck pond. Great for a short stroll around and to grab a coffee in the cafe.
Whitworth Institute
Just up the road from Darley Bridge is this pretty local park with duck pond. Great for a short stroll around and to grab a coffee in the cafe.
Food Scene
In our opinion, does the best traditional Bakewell Puddings around!
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The Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop
The SquareIn our opinion, does the best traditional Bakewell Puddings around!