Guest adventures
Derbyshire and the Peak District often mean much the same thing
in peoples minds - a beautiful area, a place for relaxing holidays
and happy days out. Below you'll find lots of information and
links for the area, and whilst not exhaustive we think it lists
something for everyone!
You can also see our Ashover and Matlock pages.
Derbyshire
The county of Derbyshire, with it's county town of Matlock, takes its name from the city of Derby. It is a relatively rural county with around 75% of its population living in 25% of its space! Cities and towns like Derby, Ashbourne, Bolsover, Buxton, Chesterfield, Ilkeston, Swadlincote and Ripley have grown up around farming, textiles, engineering and mining.
Here are Holestone Moor we are situated in the Derbyshire district of Derbyshire Dales.
Peak District National Park
The
Peak
District National Park was designated in 1951 covers 555
square miles (1,438 square kilometres), its highest point,
Kinder Scout is 2,087 feet (636 metres).
The area is divided into the White and Dark Peak - characterised by their limestone and gritstone respectively. This beautiful area is perfect for relaxing - perfect for picnics and playing, leisurely rambles or serious hikes, dams and reservoirs for water sports or wild life spotting. Dotted with towns and villages there are pubs, cafes and markets to sample local produce and watch the world go by!
Activities
Cycling
There are miles and miles of country lanes and trails around us. Cycle hire is also available at Bakewell Cycle Hire, Manifold Valley Cycle Hire, Ashfield, Derwent and Parsley Hay Cromford Canal, Monsal Trail
Fishing
At Carsington Water you can fish for brown trout from either a boat or the banks.
Golf
There are many courses close by including Buxton and High Peak Golf Club, Morley Hayes Golf Centre, Tapton Park Golf Club
Horse riding and pony trekking
Northfield Farm Riding and Trekking Centre in Flash offer riding by the hour or day and have facilities for individuals, groups, disabled, novice or expert riders.
Paint balling and quad biking
Wild Park Leisure near Ashbourne provides all the facilities for paint balling and quad biking.
Rock climbing
There are miles of crags and edges, with over 10,000-recorded climbs, around Derbyshire and the Peak
District - these include Stanage Edge, Froggatt Edge, The Roaches,
Burbage Valley, Higgar Tor, Rivelin Edge, Cratcliffe Tor, Birchen
Edge, Black Rocks, Chee Tor, Ravensdale, Dovedale, Wild Cat Crags,
and really close by Willersley and High Tor. If you're just starting out you might
like the support of
Blue Mountain Activities or
David
Matthews Adventure Activities.
Water sports
At Carsington Water there are many water sports available - sailing, windsurfing, canoe and kayaking, as well as cycling, fishing and walking.
Walking
The countryside is diverse, with moor land, trails, canal tow paths, hills and dales, all wonderful to explore on foot. You could try one of the BBC Discover Derbyshire Walks, alternatively you can buy a book or a map in one of the local shops and explore to your hearts content.
Attractions
Caudwell's Mill, Rowsley
Denby Pottery Visitor Centre, Ripley
New Mills Heritage and Information Centre, High Peak
Poole’s Cavern, Buxton
Red House Stables Working Carriage Museum, Darley Dale
Revolution House, Old Whittington
Royal Crown Derby Visitors Centre, Derby
Strutt's North Mill, Belper
The Herb Garden, Hardstoft
Treak Cliff Cavern, Castleton
Toys of Yesteryear Museum and Toyshop, Rowsley
Stately homes
Bolsover Castle - An English Heritage site now, it was originally built by the Peverel family in the 12th century.
Chatsworth
House and Gardens - The seat of the Dukes of Devonshire.
Chatsworth House has a busy life open to the public, staging
many events and staring in movies (featuring as 'Pemberley' in
the 2005 adaptation of Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice').
Eyam Hall - Built by, and still home to, the Wright family this 17th century manor house is situated in the "Plague Village", Eyam. Watch out for the ghost of Sarah Mills, a servant who drowned in the well and still answers the night bell!!
Haddon Hall - This country house is home to the Duke of Rutland. It lies on the banks of the river Wye near Bakewell. This house too has stared in the movies including as Prince Humperdinck's castle in the 1986 'The Princess Bride', in the 1996 film 'Jane Eyre', and in the 1998 film Elizabeth. Its most recent appearance in a film was in the 2005 version of 'Pride and Prejudice' starring Keira Knightley. Most recently it has appeared in 2006 on BBC TVs 'Jane Eyre' as 'Thornfield'.
Hardwick Hall
- An Elizabethan country house designed for Bess of Hardwick by
Robert Smythson (architect of Longleat House and Wollaton Hall)
in late 16th century. Hardwick is now in the care of the
National Trust.
Kedleston Hall - Also in the care of the National Trust Kedleston is a fine neo-classical mansion designed by Robert Adam in the 18th century for the Curzon family.
Riber Castle - (NOT open to the public) - Built by local industrialist John Smedley in 1862 as his private home Riber Castle stands high on the hill overlooking Matlock and Matlock Bath. More recently it saw service as a boys school during World War 2 and as Riber Castle Wildlife Park. It too has had a movie role featuring in the scarily titled 2004 Shane Meadow's film "Dead Man's Shoes". There are currently plans to develop the site as residential properties.
Tissington Hall
- Like our parish village of Ashover,
Tissington (Tizinctun) was mentioned in the 1086 Doomsday book.
The current Tissington Hall was built by Francis FitzHerbert in
1609. The FitzHerbert family still inhabit the hall today. Each
year Tissington village displays some of the most beautiful well
dressing.
More ...
There is much more to see and do in Derbyshire and the Peak District National Park, below are some more websites to help:
NOTE:
We are not responsible for the content of external websites listed above, nor should their appearance here be taken as a recommendation by ourselves.