Things to see and do in the area:

Houses and Gardens

Chatsworth Country House Circa 4 miles from either cottage, this ‘Palace of the Peaks’ is a must. House, gardens, parklands,shops, restaurant, farmyard and adventure playground.

Haddon Hall, Nr Bakewell One of England’s oldest and most romantic houses. Used in the film set for Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre.

Hardwick Hall Built by ‘Bess of Hardwick’, the richest woman in Elizabethan England. The house is remarkable for being almost unchanged since Bess lived there. There are outstanding collections of 16th Century embroidery, tapestries, furniture and portraits. Walled courtyards enclose fine gardens, orchards and a large herb garden.

Towns, villages and City!

Bakewell - Famous for its Bakewell Pudding, this pretty market town (including agricultural market) is well worth a visit. Less than 2 miles from Ashford in the Water and circa 25 mins from Holmesfield. Walk by the river and watch the ducks and swans.

Buxton - Historic spa town Founded by the Romans, visit the Victorian Pavilion Gardens, Buxton Opera House, the market and/or the shopping arcade.

Chesterfield - Famed for its crooked spire on its 13th Century Church, this market town is home to the Pomegranite Theatre, Queens Park, and of course shopping and restaurants.

Castleton - This pretty village nestles at the bottom of Winnets pass and is the home of the semi precious ‘Blue John’ stone. Purchase Blue John gifts in the shops and visit the various caverns, including the ‘Mighty Titan’ the largest cave in the UK.

Matlock/Matlock Bath - Set in a gorge alongside the River Derwent, this former 19th Century Spa town developed an inland ‘seaside’ resort image with its amusements, shops, cafes and museums. Watch out for the illuminations on the river.

Eyam - The most northern village hit by the plague in the 1665-6. Visit Eyam Hall, historic house and craft centre and learn the history of the village and its inhabitants.

Sheffield - Whether its the steel history and heritage, art galleries and museums, the Lyceum and Crucible theatres, the glass Winter gardens, or the shopping, Sheffield has a lot to offer. It has fabulous sports/leisure facilities, including an Olympic size swimming/leisure pool complete with water slides at Ponds Forge, and Europe’s largest all season ski resort, the Sheffield Ski Village.

Shopping Centres

Apart from the above towns and villages, the area also offers a number of select shopping centres including:

Meadowhall, Sheffield: One of the largest shopping malls in Europe and only 25mins away from Gooseberry Barn (about an hour from Foxglove Cottage).

Peak Village outlet shopping centre, Rowsley: A modest-sized shopping outlet selling all sorts from clothes to bedding to food. On the A6 out of Bakewell towards Matlock.

McArthur Glen Shopping Centre, Huthwaite: (Junction 28 on the M1)

Attractions

Too numerous to mention but a few are shown below:

Crich Tramway Museum Take a tram ride through time at this tramway museum near Matlock.

Chatsworth Adventure Playground Great for children!

Denby Pottery, Visitor Centre and Factory Shop Is circa 30 miles away (go through Buxton) but if you are a collector, there for discounts of up to 75% off clearance lines and discontinued stock.

Cresswell Crags, Crags Road, Welbeck, Workshop, S80 3LH. World famous archaeological site, home to Britain’s only known Ice Age cave art. Cave tours and café and interactive museum area

The Heights of Abraham and Gullivers Kingdom at Matlock Bath Visit the Heights of Abraham for cable cars, caverns and hilltop park or Gullivers Kingdom for a family theme park.

Tropical Butterfly House Wildlife and Falconry Centre: Woodsetts Road, North Anston, Sheffield See the alligator basking by his pool, watch exotic butterflies and birds, hold a python, watch the meercats, fly a hawk or cuddle baby chicks and kittens.

Caudwells Mill Visit this working Craft Centre and Country Parlour Café, at Rowsley, near Bakewell.

Great Scenery/walking/cycling/mountain biking

Most of Derbyshire is ‘picture postcard’ material but we have picked out just a few of our favourites below. With it’s beautiful scenery and rolling hills, the Peak District and Derbyshire are the perfect setting for walking, cycling and of course mountain biking.

Derwent Valley Reservoirs: Stunning scenery, these dams are where the famous 617 Squadron practised for the dam raids in World War 2. There is still a fly past every year by a Lancaster, Vulcan and a Spitfire.

Winnats Pass, Castleton

Hartington

Lathkill Dale, Monsal Dale, Dovedale