The Peak District
I love the Peak District, it’s special landscape has a rich tapestry of stories to tell.
Whether you are interested in wildlife, historic houses such as Chatsworth, Haddon and Renishaw with their lovely gardens, or the many beautiful villages and towns, ancient monuments, churches, museums, industrial heritage or traditional landscapes - this is where you can start to explore what the Peak District has to offer and why the Peak District landscape is so special.
My top 10 places to visit are:
Chatsworth House
This superb house and landscape garden by Capability Brown, is a must to visit at any time of the year - www.chatsworth.org/opening-times-prices
Haddon Hall
The home of the Manners family in Derbyshire is one of the finest medieval and Tudor houses in England - www.haddonhall.co.uk.
Hardwick Hall
One of Britain's greatest and most complete Elizabethan houses - a magnificent statement of the wealth and authority of its builder, Bess of Hardwick - www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-hardwickhall
Kedleston Hall
A classical Palladian Mansion built by Robert Adam, home of the Curzon family and Lords Scarsdale - www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-kedlestonhall
Winster village
Winster is a Derbyshire Peak District village with a famous medieval market hall. It was once a major local lead mining centre - www.winster.org/
Eyam village
Eyam, Derbyshire lies in the centre of the Peak District. In 1665 it was struck by the Bubonic Plague and went into voluntary isolation - www.eyamplaguevillage.co.uk
Carsington Water
Carsington Water is a Severn Trent Water reservoir in Derbyshire, a visit to this award-winning site makes for a full day out - www.carsingtonwater.com
Renishaw Hall
Another great stately home in Derbyshire, England which dates from the 17th century. Sir George Sitwell designed an Italian garden for the family seat c1890 - www.sitwell.co.uk
Hathersage village
Hathersage in the Derbyshire Peak District has associations with Robin Hood and the Eyre family - www.hathersage.org.uk
Caudwell's Mill and Craft Centre
Caudwell's Mill and Craft Centre at Rowsley, is set in a beautiful location close by the River Wye - www.caudwellsmillcraftcentre.co.uk.
With so many places of interest to explore in beautiful and accessible countryside you can spend a long weekend or longer holiday without the hassle of a long-distance journey.
If you wish to find out more about what the Peak District has to offer visit Visit Peak District and Derbyshire. there you will find out about visitor attractions, walks, sites and you can download public transport timetables - www.visitpeakdistrict.com.