The Archaeological Way is an 11-mile multi-use trail between Pleasley Pit Country Park and Creswell Crags. It also serves as a wildlife corridor for small mammals, insects and birds; the route is still under development. This example illustrates an appealing feature of Derbyshire: trails, landscapes, industrial heritage and historic places offer different ways to shape a trip around your own interests.
Trails and landscapes on different scales
The White Peak Loop is a little over 42 miles long and runs through the White Peak area of the Derbyshire Peak District; 37 miles of it are off-road. Check the condition of the surfaces before setting off. The Phoenix Greenways form a network of traffic-free walking, cycling and horse-riding routes. It includes over 20 miles of easily accessible off-road paths and quiet country lanes. These routes offer a range of options: a multi-use route between two named places, a circular route and a network accommodating several ways of getting around.
At Chatsworth, too, the landscape is paired with specific visitor attractions. The estate includes a working farm and a woodland playground with water and sand areas; the garden covers 105 acres. Individual facilities may change. If you particularly want to visit the farm or play areas, check the specific offerings before your trip.
Gardens, houses and industrial heritage
Haddon Hall is over 900 years old and has Elizabethan walled gardens. They are known for the roses that drape over the walls in summer. This seasonal detail gives the garden a different character from Chatsworth’s 105-acre grounds. At Hardwick Old Hall, the visit takes you through the four storeys of the tall, roofless ruin, where you can see 400-year-old plasterwork. Hardwick New Hall, meanwhile, is known for its exceptionally well-preserved Elizabethan interiors and textiles.
The modern factory system was developed and established in the Derwent Valley. The workers’ housing associated with the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site extends for 24 kilometres along the valley, from the edge of Matlock Bath in the north to almost the centre of Derby in the south. This figure refers to the workers’ housing. For a present-day glimpse of pottery production, Denby Pottery Village offers a guided, immersive factory tour through the pottery, which is still in operation. Check tour availability before your trip.
The National Tramway Museum offers rides on restored historic trams through a recreated historic village. The trams in operation may vary. At Bolsover Castle, a multimedia guide takes you through the Little Castle, from the basement kitchen area to the bedrooms on the top floor. A statue of Venus takes centre stage in the Fountain Garden. The castle is accessible by bus from Chesterfield, Mansfield and Sheffield; routes 1, 2, 49, 53 and 53a run near the castle entrance. Check the routes before travelling. You should also check access arrangements at the Little Castle before your visit.
Caves and views across the Derwent Valley
The Heights of Abraham cable cars take visitors up above the Derwent Valley to the summit of Masson Hill; operations are seasonal and should be checked before your trip. The winding woodland paths pass through stands of trees, some of which are over 300 years old. Underground, the caves offer different highlights: Blue John Cavern demonstrates how caves form in limestone through a series of caverns, and is home to 8 of the 15 known veins of the mineral Blue John. A tour lasts between 50 minutes and an hour; check tour arrangements in advance. At Great Masson Cavern, visitors explore geological formations on a guided underground tour. Great Rutland Cavern focuses on the life of a 17th-century mining family.
Discover local produce
The Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop invites visitors to get hands-on and make an Original Bakewell Pudding themselves. Booking details may change, so check them in advance. Farm shops in Derbyshire sell products including Bakewell Pudding, Ashbourne Gingerbread, Hartington Cheese and Derbyshire Oatcakes. These treats add a culinary selection to discoveries of gardens, historic buildings and landscapes, without requiring you to follow a fixed route.
Explore more destinations: Hackney, Edale, South Normanton, Repton, Newton Solney, Mickleover, Matlock, Marston, Long Eaton, Hayfield, Hathersage, Glossop, Clowne, Clay Cross, Chesterfield, Buxton, Brimington, Belper, Baslow, Bakewell, Ashbourne, Alton, Shottle, Ilkeston, Duckmanton, Scarcliffe, Swadlincote, Ticknall, Breadsall, Cromford, Ripley, Melbourne, Whaley Bridge, Risley, Little Eaton, Morley, Tibshelf, Castleton, Barlborough, Ault Hucknall, Alfreton, Dronfield, Froggatt, Birch Vale, Eyam, Hardstoft, Unstone, Walton, Duffield, Grassmoor, Sandiacre, Codnor, Hartington, Chinley, Smalley, Bamford, South Wingfield, Tideswell, Chapel-En-Le-Frith, Sutton On The Hill, Yeaveley, Taddington, Swanwick, Pilsley, Peak Forest, Litton, Kirk Langley, Hognaston, Furness Vale, Earl Sterndale, Draycott, Doveridge, Crich, Chelmorton, Hope Valley, Bonsall, Ashover, Eckington, Coton In The Elms, Shardlow, North Wingfield, Wirksworth, Tansley, Kilburn, Whitwell, Bolsover, Horsley Woodhouse, Kirk Ireton, Newton, High Peak, Willington, Whatstandwell, Stoney Middleton.
For the wider travel overview: East Midlands.
