Bakewell, Derbyshire,
DE45 1DL, England.
M: 07764 261233
T: +44 (0) 1629 810333
F: +44 (0) 1629 813703
E: info@bakewellholidayapartments.com
E: info@sleeplodge.com
Experience
the best the Peak District has to offer; from fun filled activities to
arts and culture, we’ve plenty of things worth getting out of bed
for.
One of the best views in the Peak District is from the top of Monsal Head in Ashford near Bakewell. It really is the most spectacular view of Monsal Dale and the railway viaduct.
ARTS
AND CULTURE
Chatsworth House is set among Capability Brown Gardens, and is the classical
Palladian centrepiece of one of England’s most celebrated aristocratic
estates. Located just 5 minutes drive from Bakewell it also offers a fantastic
day out for children with a farmyard full of animals to pet and an adventure
playground. www.chatsworth.org
Bakewell Arts Festival takes place through August with everything from jazz concerts to Bakewell Youth Theatre performances to mask making workshops, all happening in and around Bakewell town centre. www.bakewellfestival.com
Visit Bakewell Arts and Design in a converted sawmill on the River Wye in Bakewell (next to Felicini Restaurant), see artists working in their studios and visit the art gallery. www.bakewellartsanddesign.com
ATTRACTIONS
Chatsworth House – See above in arts and culture – plus
• Textile workshops and Taster Days
• Chatsworth farm shop and gastronomic events
• Floral demonstrations and workshops
• Farmyard and Garden Discovery Days
• Behind the scenes days at Chatsworth House
• Exciting events in 2010 including Horse Trials, Country Fair,
etc
www.chatsworth.org T:01246 565300
Haddon Hall is a great visit for both adults and children, dating from the 12th century; it is the home of Lord and Lady Edward Manners whose family have owned it since 1567. The house is open to visitors from April to October, with a number of special events staged throughout the season. www.haddonhall.co.uk T:01629 812855
The Old House Museum is situated just up the road from Bagshaw Hall and is Derbyshire Museum of the Year showcasing 500 years of history it makes for interesting viewing. T:01629 813642
The Heights of Abraham is located in the heart of the Derbyshire Dales in Matlock Bath. The cable car ride offers spectacular views across the Derwent Valley while at the top waits Great Masson Cavern, Rutland Cavern Mine experience, a children’s play area and a café. www.heightsofabraham.com T:01629 582365
Crich Tramway Village is a unique street scene that truly takes you on a journey through times when cobbled streets and the rumble and clang of passing trams was part of everyday life. www.tramway.co.uk T:01773 854321
Peak Rail not only offers you a nostalgic steam train journey but the opportunity to enjoy the breath taking scenery of the Derbyshire countryside. Special events take place throughout the year. T:01629 580381 www.peakrail.co.uk
Matlock Bath Aquarium is fascinating and fun for all the family with a gemstone and fossil collection, the hologram gallery and a thermal pool. T:01629 583624 www.matlockbathaquarium.co.uk
Treak Cliff Cavern in Castleton is an ancient underground wonderland, formed by Blue John miners in the 1750's with hand toolsand. A fun and educational family day out. www.bluejohnstone.com T:01433 620571
Bakewell pudding (never ‘tart’) tastes best when you have purchased it ceremonially from the Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop in the main square. T:01629812193
Stilton lovers should make a pilgrimage to Hartington, where the Old Cheese Shop on Market Place showcases a fine selection of more than 30 British cheeses. T:01298 84935
Bakewell Farmers Markets take place right through the year, generally on the last Saturday of the month. Bakewell Farm Shop and Chatsworth Farm Shop also offer fantastic local produce all year round.
Local shopping centres include Masson Mills Shopping Village in Matlock Bath, T:01629 760208 and Peak Village Shopping Centre in Rowsley, T:01629 735326.
Visit the ‘plague village’ of Eyam (pronounced ‘eem’), whose residents helped stop the Black Death spreading in 1665 by quarantining themselves from the outside world. Various plaques commemorating the plague’s victims tell the story – but it’s more absorbing than morbid. There’s even one outside the popular Eyam Tea Room on the square T:01433 630725
WALKS
With its inexhaustible network of public footpaths and trails –
some 1,600 miles worth in total – the region couldn’t be
more of a walkers paradise. If you want accessible, the Pennine Way
is easily reached from Edale, and the Tissington Trail follows the gentile
slope of another disused railway track. However, the walk up Kinder
Scout makes for a classic, tough as boots excursion.
Free Ranger Guided Walks
- Peak Park Authority Rangers lead over 250 free guided walks each year.
There are walks suitable for everyone, many are accessible by public
transport, and dogs on leads are allowed.
Typical examples:
Sunday 5th September 2010;
• Tales
of Murder & Highway Robbery - a moor and dales walk with tales
of crime & punishment in bygone days - 5 miles.
• Pennine
Way Wander - Introducing the start of the famous 270 mile Pennine
Way - between 5 & 10 miles.
• Around
Thuristone Moor - A walk around Thuristone Moor from Langsett -
more than 10 miles.
There is a full list of guided walks and events in 2010 available as
a 1mb pdf which can be downloaded from: www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
or Here.
Visit
Peak District (the official tourist board of The Peak District &
Derbyshire) has a section dedicated to walking
breaks and routes. Here you can find out about any of the local
walking festivals which take place throughout the year, see popular
walking routes, and even download routes/ maps of a wide range of local
walks:
Will4Adventure offer weekend courses in scrambling, rock climbing, mountaineering and navigation plus a top selection of free walking weekends in the Peak District, perfect for corporate team building weekends.
John Tyzak Fly Fishing - If a weekend or afternoon of relaxed fishing is more up your street then John Tyzack - fly fishing instruction and guiding services from the 5 times English National Rivers Champion will be perfect for you.
Peak Tours –Cycling and walking holidays in the Peak District have plenty of great ideas for cycling routes and can offer cycle hire.
Helicoptors - For a totally different way to see the Peak District try Penine Helicopters-Pleasure flights, they offer flights such as the ‘Dambusters Run’ and ‘Compo’s Country Trail’.
Golf - Bring your
clubs and swing your way around Bakewell Golf Club’s 9 hole course.
www.bakewellgolfclub.co.uk
T:01629 812307
Cycle Hire - Bakewell Cycle Hire can be contacted on T:01335 348603.
To organise a fantastic ride in a hot air balloon Dragon
Balloon Company can be contacted on. T:01433 623007.
Go Ape – Climb 30ft rope ladders, Tarzan swing into a giant net, zip wire through trees, crawl through tunnels and tackle hire wire rope bridges www.goape.co.uk T:08450 949619
DIARY
August
• Buxton
Puppet Festival, 28th July – 2nd August - 3 performances in
the Opera House plus many other events including street theatre, workshops
and puppet cabaret.
• Dovedale Sheepdog Trials,
24th & 25th August - Sheep dog trails in the glorious Staffordshire
Peak District countryside around Ilam. This is always a great spectator
event, no matter what the weather and should not be missed.
• The Bakewell Show -
The 180th Bakewell Show takes place this year on the 4th & 5th of
August. Entertainment for all the family, trade stands, animal shows and
much, much more.
• The Bakewell Arts Festival
takes place over August, with a wide variety of live music, dramatic productions,
art shows, poetry readings, dancing & workshops there really is something
for everyone.
September
• Ranger
Event - Fundays for Families at Bakewell Visitor Centre, 1st September
- Join the Rangers for an activity walk collecting things to make something
to take home.
• Chatsworth Country
Fair takes place on the 3rd, 4th & 5th of September, 3 days of
ballooning, massed brass bands, ferret racing, vintage cars and a traditional
fun fair.
• Wirksworth Festival,
10th – 25th September - 200 artists display their work in venues
all over the town. The supporting programme includes street entertainment,
homemade food, refreshments on every corner and two special themed weekends.
• Darley Dale Transport
Show & Country Fair, 11th & 12th September - A great day out
for all the family. Free entertainment, Friday and Saturday evening in
the Beer Tent.
October
• Black
Rocks Woodland Festival, 2nd & 3rd October - A celebration of
traditional and modern woodland crafts such as hedgelaying, chair making,
pole lathe turning, campfire cooking, friction firelighting, chainsaw
carving, tree climbing, mobile sawmilling and log splitting. A horse and
dray is on hand to transport people through the festival site in the picturesque
setting of the High Peak Trail.
• Candle-lit Ghost Tours
at Peak Cavern, 1st – 31st October - Peak Cavern will run a
series of Candle-lit Ghost Tours through the cave (colourfully known as
“the devils arse”!) on Friday and Saturday nights through
October.
• Illuminations
at Matlock Bath, every weekend in October, with three firework nights
on the 2nd, 16th and 30th October. – A century old tradition dating
back to the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1897, where natural rock
formations are illuminated and decorated boats float down the river.
PEAK DISTRICT EATING, DRINKING AND DANCING
We’ve tracked down the best cafes for people watching, the bars with the coolest cocktails, the most accomplished restaurants and the most inviting pubs.
Restaurants
Felicini, Rutland Mill, Coombs
Road, Bakewell, DE45 2EB
www.felicini.co.uk T:01629 813813
Famous for serving first class modern Italian inspired cuisine with
a signature style of ‘traditional classic with a distinctive modern
twist’.
The Peacock at Rowsley near
Bakewell, DE4 2EB
T:01629 733518
A restaurant with unimpeachable quality, where you might eat Arctic
Char with crab risotto or first class beef fillet with snails. The dining
room is formal, the sitting room classily comfortable and the bar a
malt whiskey fan’s nemesis.
Fischer’s at Baslow
Hall, Calver Road, Baslow, Bakewell, DE45 1RR
T:01246 583259
Michelin rated country house restaurant with a ‘no jeans or trainers’
policy and elements such as ‘chef’s surprise savoury’
at dinner. Lunch here is a bargain at between £20 and £24
a head, but there’s also an excellent six-course PRESTIGE Menu
of tasting dishes for dinner. Reservations advisable.
The Barrel Inn, Bretton,
Eyam, S32 5QD
T:01433 630856
Lots of space in this high-perched turnpike inn on Eyam Edge, with country
paraphernalia and views over 5 counties, makes it a good stop for Sunday
lunch with children or a pint of bitter by the fire.
Devonshire Arms, Beeley,
nr Matlock, DE4 2NR
T:01629 733259
The vegetarian choice at this Chatsworth Estate village pub is especially
good, with dishes such as mushroom crumble, Stilton and walnut salad
and slow roasted vegetable risotto. There’s also a sweet little
brassiere and bar.
Piedanials, Bath Street,
Bakewell, DE451DX
T:01629 812687
A French restaurant located in the centre of Bakewell with a light and
smart atmosphere, all the food here is locally sourced and cooked fresh
on the premises.
The Cavendish Hotel Gallery
Restaurant, The Green, Baslow,
T:01246 582311
Provides ‘imaginative food, using the freshest ingredients in
relaxed and sumptuous surroundings’. With a varied seasonal menu
and a wine list which offers around 70 different wines, you might get
spoiled for choice!
Rowley’s Restaurant
and Bar, Church Street, Baslow, DE45 1RY
T:01246 583880
Three contemporary dining areas compose the main area of this relaxed
and informal restaurant, serving exciting seasonal and local food. The
bar area has a stone flagged floor with a log burner which creates a
perfect place to enjoy a drink.
The best pub food you’ve ever tasted!
The Plough, Leadmill Bridge,
Hathersage, S32 1BA
T:01433 630231
Emphatically a food pub - try pigs trotter and crab patties with chorizo
basil oil-this 16th century inn has a garden rolling down to the River
Derwent. Log fires and some 30 whiskeys and brandies add warmth in the
winter.
The Chequers Inn, Froggat
Edge
T:01298 871458
The good food at this busy pub includes super sausage and mash, calf’s
liver and tandoori chicken salad - book to get a table in the country
cottage interior or the secret garden.
The Bulls Head, Church Street, Ashford in the Water, DE451QB
T:01629 812931
This is a proper pub, open fires in each room, locals at the bar and
a fantastic, award-winning menu. Offering classics such as steak and
Stockport ale pie with braised red cabbage and dripping roast potatoes,
and remarkable puddings.
The Druid Inn, Main Street,
Birchover, Matlock. DE4 2BL
T:01629 650302
A creeper clad, child friendly pub near the Nine Ladies stone circle,
with a terrace and garden seats-perfect for enjoying a leisurely Sunday
lunch.
Red Lion, Stonedge, Ashover,
Chesterfield, S45 OLW
T:01246 566142
This modern pub and bistro offers such delights as a specialist seafood
counter, 21 day matured, locally sourced steaks and herbs and vegetables
grown in their own polytunnel.
Cafes
Post Office Tea Room, Japp
Lane, Edensor, DE45 1PH
T:01246 582283
Pronounced ‘Ensor’, the Chatsworth village of Edensor is
among the prettiest on the estate. Inside it’s post office and
shop you’ll find soups and cream teas all from locally sourced
ingredients.
The Cavendish Rooms, Chatsworth,
Bakewell, DE45 1PP.
T:01246 565300
Enjoy a British tradition by booking a delicious afternoon tea; with
full waitress service and a sophisticated menu, it’s quintessentially
English. Open between 10am and 4pm.
Rose Cottage Café,
Cross Street, Castleton, S33 8WH
A pretty, traditional tearoom serving fine sandwiches, home made cakes,
and good coffee, in the gateway village for Mam Tor, Speedwell Caves
and Peveril Castle.
The Old Original Bakewell
Pudding Shop-The Square, Bakewell, DE451BT
T:01629 812193
Taste the Original Bakewell Pudding in the quaint café above
the shop. The original really is the best!
